About Best Bench Band Saw, A benchtop bandsaw is necessary for any hobbyist or expert woodworker seeking to resaw, make intricate cuts, or cut joints.
This saw can create clean and accurate cuts and curves on wood, metal, and plastic materials.
With many models and brands available, choosing the best bench bandsaw for your requirements may take time and effort.
This article analyzes some of the best available benchtop bandsaws, including a thorough buying guide.
Table of Contents
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Bench Band Saw
Type Best Bench Band Saw
- Free-standing (benchtop) bandsaw: It features a larger table and cutting capacity, making it ideal for working on larger pieces.
- Compact bandsaw: It’s a small, compact, portable bandsaw suitable for hobbyists and DIYers working on small pieces.
Motor
The motor type and power determine the bandsaw’s durability and how quickly and efficiently it can cut through materials.
- Brushed motor: This older technology utilizes carbon brushes to facilitate current flow. Saw with these motors are less expensive but have low performance, efficiency, and longevity.
- Brushless motor: This newest technology uses electronic controllers instead of brushes. Bandsaws with these motors are efficient and more durable but more expensive than brushless motors.
Types of blades
Select the bandsaw with the most appropriate blade to suit your cutting requirements. The three common blade types include:
- Hook-tooth blade: With deep gullets and widely spaced teeth suitable for fast cuts in thick materials, such as hardwoods and metals.
- Skip-tooth blade: These come with widely spaced teeth to prevent blade clogging and are ideal for curved cuts.
- Regular tooth blade: It features evenly-spaced teeth ideal for straight cuts and smooth finishes on various materials.
Cutting Capacity
Consider the cutting capacity of the bandsaw to ensure its versatility in handling the materials you intend to cut. The two cutting capacity measurements to consider are:
- The Throat Measurement: The distance between the blade and the saw’s vertical frame determines the materials’ maximum cutting width. The larger the throat, the wider the materials it can cut.
- Cutting Depth: The distance between the table and the blade determines the maximum thickness of the material the saw can cut. The bigger the cutting depth, the better its ability to cut thicker materials.
Bevel
The slope is the angle that the table of the bandsaw tilts to make angled cuts.
While most bandsaws have bevel adjustments between 0- 45 degrees, ensure you buy one that suits your project.
Dust Collection
Buying a bench band saw with a robust dust collection mechanism is crucial because sawdust might be inconvenient. By doing this, you’ll be able to maintain your workspace tidy and avoid respiratory problems.
Additional Features and Accessories
- Miter Gauge: Ensures accurate angled cuts by guiding the angles of the cutting material
- Rip Fence: Guides the cutting material to help you make straight and accurate cuts
- Safety Features include an emergency stop button and a clear blade tracking window to prevent injuries and accidents.
- Built-in Work Light: The light illuminates the cutting area to improve visibility and precision.
- Also, consider easy tensioning mechanisms such as quick-release blade tension to ensure seamless blade changing.
Best Bench Band Saw Review
WEN 3962T 3.5-Amp 10-Inch Two-Speed Band Saw
The WEN bandsaw features a powerful 3.5-amp motor and 1520 or 2620 FPM.
Pros and cons
- Can cut up to six inches deep and 9-3/4 inches wide, which is ideal for various projects
- With a spacious worktable angle of 45 degrees for various angled cuts
- It utilizes a ball-bearing mechanism for smooth operation
- Includes a work light and dust port for cutting line viability and precision
- The work light is not bright enough in lowly workshops
Customer review
I was skeptical about buying this bandsaw, but its precision exceeded my expectations.
Woodskil 3A 9-Inch Band Saw
The Woodskil benchtop bandsaw features motor speeds of 1720RPM to provide a 2500FPM blade speed ideal for cutting different materials.
Pros and cons
- With low noise induction motor for a quiet, powerful, and efficient performance
- It’s quick and versatile for wood, plastic, and other materials.
- Features a rip fence to ensure straight, accurate cuts.
- It comes with a removable safety key for preventing unauthorized use
- Its dust exhaust port and saw wheel dust brush ensure workplace cleanliness
- Insufficient cutting depth and width for larger projects
Customer reviews
As a woodwork instructor, I always recommend this saw to my students due to its performance and precision.
RIKON Power Tools 10-3061 10″ Deluxe Bandsaw
The RIKON Power Bandsaw has a powerful 1720RPM motor capable of producing 1/2HP, ideal for various material cutting.
Pros and cons
- With blade speeds of 1515 or 3280 ft/min for versatility and flexibility
- Features a tiltable table for easy and precise angled cuts
- Comes with a tool-less blade guide and a quick-release blade tensioner for seamless adjustments
- Its dust collection mechanism ensures a clean workspace clean
- Backed by a 5-year warranty
- Its cutting capacity may not be enough for heavy-duty tasks
Customer review
I like this saw’s easy adjustments and its ability to make smooth and precise cuts.
JET JWBS-14DXPRO, 14-Inch Deluxe Pro Bandsaw
The JET JWBS-14DXPRO bandsaw boasts innovative features and enhanced cutting capacity for handling resawing tasks efficiently.
Pros and cons
- Offers a high cutting capacity for versatility in tasks
- Comes with a cast iron frame for performance and durability
- With a large 15 x 15-inch tiltable work table for angled cutting versatility
- Features ball bearing guides mechanisms for friction reduction to ensure performance
- Its clear blade tracking window ensures user safety
- The blade may require frequent adjustments
- Its maintenance is challenging due to the storage that limits lower-side access.
Customer review
Assembling this saw is straightforward and provides a smooth and quiet operation.
Shop Fox W1706 14″ Bandsaw
The Shop Fox W1706 is a compact 14-inch bandsaw featuring 1HP and a 1,725 RPM motor for enhanced performance.
Pros and cons
- Features cast iron construction for stability, reliability, and longevity
- With a large cutting capacity to suit many woodworking projects
- Comes with a miter gauge and an aluminum fence for accurate cuts
- Its quick-release blade tensioner ensures easy blade adjustments
- With an enhanced dust collection system to provide a clean workshop
- The included blade may be of low quality
- It may be heavy, thus limiting portability
Customer review
The price is a bargain mainly due to its performance and enhanced safety features.
POWERTEC BS900 9 Inch Benchtop Bandsaw
This bandsaw accommodates 62-inch blades with a miter gauge and angle stops for versatility and accuracy.
Pros and cons
- Compact and lightweight making it portable
- Suitable for cutting various shapes and ripping lumber
- With rack and pinion mechanism for easy angle and height adjustments
- Features a quick-release blade tensioning system for quick blade changing
- Its tracking window allows for easy blade alignment to ensure precision
- It may not be ideal for large projects
Customer review
I can’t complain about the saw; it’s perfect for my intricate home decoration cuts.
Conclusion
A perfect bandsaw is durable, efficient, reliable, and safe. Considering all these factors, we have highlighted some of the best models for your projects.
Remember to consider your project’s specifications to ensure you make an informed purchase.
