Best Band Saws for Woodworking: Budget To Premium 2023

Band saws are a very versatile and useful tool to have inside your workshop.

They’re perfect not simply for making intricate details and curves but can also tear by means of thicker pieces of wood proficiently.

If you’re wondering, what size do I need? – look no further. We’re here to help with our reviews and buyer’s guide.

Table of Contents

QUICK PICKS

Here’s 3 products we picked out that thought you would be interested in based on your budget…

BEST PICK

Grizzly G0555LX

durable and Powerful, this is great for a professional or a serious hobbyist who’s looking for a sturdy device that’s capable of tackling heavy jobs.

BEST VALUE

Rikon 10-305 Music group Saw

Our best value, you’ll pay a fair price for the saw that’s durable and sturdy while still being able to match on the top of your workbench.

Greatest BUDGET

This one is affordable and dependable for small jobs if you’re looking for a model to start out with. This is the best band saw under 500.

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Best Band Saws for Woodworking Reviews 2020

Here’s a long list of the best band saws we found on the market today:

	Product	Rating	Price
	Grizzly G0555LX Deluxe Bandsaw, 14"	4.1	See It Now
	Rikon 10-305 Bandsaw With Fence, 10-Inch	4.2	See It Now
	WEN 3962 Two-Speed Band Saw	4.4	See It Now
	SKIL 3386-01 120-Volt 9-Inch Band Saw	4.0	See It Now
	Powermatic 1791216K Model PWBS-14CS Deluxe 14-Inch 1-3/4-Inch Woodworking Bandsaw	3.5	See It Now
	JET JWBS-14DXPRO 14-Inch Deluxe Pro Band Saw Kit	4.4	See It Now
	POWERTEC BS900 9 Inch Benchtop Bandsaw	4.0	See It Now

1. GRIZZLY G0555LX DELUXE BANDSAW

Horsepower: 1

Blade length: 93 ½ inches

Blade thickness (min/max): ? / ¾ inch

Blade pace: 1800 – 3100 FPM

Table tilt (R/L): 45/10 degrees

Weight: 247 lbs

OVERVIEW

That is important because it’s much more able withstand a lot of stress and won’t warp or bend, the Grizzly G0555LX has a cast iron table and frame. It has two-speed settings and can perform well against any wood. The computer balanced cast iron wheels make is easy and precise to control.

The thing that stands out about this model is its weight. At 247 pounds, this is a heavy device. It’stough and solid, and can take a lot of pressure. The one disadvantage? Its weight affects its convenience drastically. Once you get it create it won’t be easy to move this one.

Whether or not you’ll be prepared to invest in the Grizzly G0555LX depends on what you’ll be utilising it for. It’s pricey and has the chops to execute in a professional workshop, doing frequent, heavy-duty jobs without issue. For a hobbyist or for occasional operate around the house, this might be too much of a financial investment. Some tweaks will need to be made, even though this is also the best metal band saw we reviewed.

One small disadvantage to this one is that it’s only 1 HP. While that’s more than enough for work around the house, it’s at the very low end of performance for the professional machine. Still, it cuts beautifully and is a dependable piece of equipment.

Pros:

Sturdy cast steel frame
Computer balanced cast iron wheels

Adjustable fence with magnifying window
Lower and upper ball bearing blade guideline

Cons:

Low horse power when compared to other professional grade models
Shallow dust slot

2. RIKON 10-305 BAND SAW – BEST FOR THE MONEY

Horsepower: ? HP

Blade length: 70 ? inches

Blade width (min/max): ? / ½ inch

Blade speed: 2780 FPM

Dinner table tilt (R/L): 45/ degrees

Weight: 76 pounds

OVERVIEW

The Rikon 10-305 is one of the best benchtop band saws on the market. It is compact and also the perfect size to have in a home workshop. You’ll get the results you need even if you don’t have a lot of space. One is available but has to be ordered separately if you choose you want to use this on a stand instead of a benchtop.

One thing that stands out about this model will be the price. Although you will find some that are cheaper, you will not get the same performance from them, it’s the best benefit because. Also, with the Rikon 10-305, you obtain the brand’s limited 5-year warranty.

If you’re looking for a model to take your woodworking to the next level, it is a great choice. It’s moderately priced and performs well despite the fact that it is small enough to fit on top of your workbench.

It only has a ? HP engine, which is a little on the low side and can mean it will bog down with thicker, heavier species of wooden. For most jobs, though, this will be more than enough power to see you right through to the end. It’s the best band saw for woodworking if that’s all you will be planning to use it for.

Pros:

Hassle-free size

Durable cast iron table
Easy to use tracking changes
5-year minimal warranty is one of the best in the business

Cons:

Low horsepower when compared to other models
Is not going to come with a stand

Adjusting table tilt can be difficult
Does not have several speeds

3. WEN 3962 BAND SAW – BEST BUDGET

Horsepower: ? Hewlett packard

Blade length: 72 in .

Blade width (min/max): ? to ½ ”

Blade speed: 1520/2620

Table tilt (R/L): 45/ degrees

Weight: 73 kilos

OVERVIEW

The WEN 3962 another benchtop model which comes with a is and stand a good found for anyone just getting started. It is a high performance saw to the price and can cut by way of just about anything you would need to do at home for DIY projects or woodworking.

What stands out regarding this saw is how well it performs for its price. We’re calling it our best price range item and that’s exactly why – you can get great outcomes for a fraction of the cost of some of the other models we analyzed.

That said, it’s important to point out that there are some downsides to acquiring this band saw, even with its fair price. The handles are super sensitive along with a bit unforgiving so it might be hard to get the settings to exactly where you want them. This is especially true with smaller, thinner blades. But, once you find the sweet spot on the controls, this saw works as perfectly.

It arrives with a work light that is a toss up – when you’re able to position it, it’s great. But at times, it shifts and winds up shining in the eyes from the user. Also, while this found does have two speeds, the motor belt actually should be adjusted and removed to switch between them. There’s no easy control to travel back and forth between the fast speed and the slow one.

Pros:

Comes with stand
Reasonably priced

precise and Powerful
Has a work light attached for far better visibility

Cons:

Belt has to be readjusted to change rates as it doesn’t have a real two-speed engine
Difficult to set up initially
Hypersensitive controls need frequent adjusting

4. SKIL 3386-01 BENCH TOP Music group SAW

Horsepower: .4 Hewlett packard

Blade length: 59 ½ inches

Blade width (min/max): ? / ? ”

Blade speed: 2800 FPM

Table tilt (R/L): 45/ qualifications

Weight: 30 pounds

Summary

The SKIL 3306-01 is a small, lightweight benchtop band saw that features a handful of attractive features. In spite of being lightweight, the cast iron base helps have stability to keep the found stable during use. The controls are easy to understand along with the large angle scale is a lot easier to read.

What stands out about this saw is how user-friendly it is. The regulates are easy to see and use as well as the EZ view blade checking helps make precise cuts.

It is really an ideal tool for a beginner. It’s very inexpensive and a great starter tool for someone just learning how to use a band discovered. Because it has so couple of horsepower, it will only be helpful for small DIY jobs or crafts and won’t have the ability to handle too much pressure with out bogging down. But it does the job it was actually designed to do well.

Hardwood, you’ll probably be disappointed in its performance, if you attempt to use this model for large jobs or with thicker. It wasn’t made to tackle difficult jobs, it’s important to keep in mind that since it is so lightweight and only has .4 HP. This will work just fine without emptying your wallet if you’re looking for some thing to do small jobs with.

Pros:

Lightweight and easily movable from the workshop
Inexpensive
LED light-weight to help users get a obvious view of their work

An easy task to make adjustments

Cons:

Low horsepower

One-speed engine
A little shaky because of its lightweight despite becoming mounted to a cast steel base
Not powerful sufficient for larger jobs

5. POWERMATIC PWBS-14CS Carpentry BANDSAW

Horsepower: 1 ½ HP

Blade length: 93 ½ inches

Blade thickness (min/max): ? / ¾ inch

Blade velocity: 3000 FPM

Table lean (R/L): 45/10 degrees

Body weight: 178 pounds

OVERVIEW

It may be a little difficult to get the two pieces set up, even though the Powermatic PWBS-14CS has a large, expandable work dinner table that’s so big, it’s made of two pieces. The control gauges are easy to go through and set to different size blades. Changing rotor blades is also made easier with a fast release lever. It’s a person-friendly machine that is perfect for hobbyists, woodworkers, and DIYers.

The 60-watt halogen lamp definitely makes this model be noticeable. It’s built right into the entire body and shines light specifically onto the blade so you can easily see what you’re utilizing. You also get a lot of hp for the price.

This is amongst the least expensive models we analyzed and it’s pretty amazing. The power alone is astonishing for such a low price, as it is the weight. This is a solid piece of equipment that should be able to tackle most home jobs and some gentle professional ones.

The assembly and operating instructions are confusing so initial set up might take awhile, as will learning how to make various adjustments to the machine. It comes with a 5-year limited warranty that’s one of the most nice in the business.

Pros:

Halogen work lamp built in
Extra large expandable cast iron work table for balance
No assembly required

Has a 5-year warranty

Cons:

Heavy and hard to lift alone

Difficult to adjust the tensioning belt
Expandable work table trick to adjust
Alignment can be difficult to adjust

6. JET JWBS-14DXPRO DELUXE PRO BAND SAW

Horsepower: 1 ¼ HP

Blade length: 105 inches

Blade width (min/max): ? – ¾

Blade speed: 1500/3000 FPM

Table tilt (R/L): 45/10 degrees

Weight: 258 pounds

OVERVIEW

The Jet JWBS-14XD Master is a powerful, versatile resource. It can handle material 13.5 inches wide and 12 inches thick but will also work with smaller, far more delicate pieces thanks to the retracting blade guard. The cast iron frame keeps the saw steady and no riser block is needed to help with the toughest jobs. To make sure this saw keeps up its level of performance year after year, a high tension spring provides uniformity and the quick release stress makes it easy to make quick alterations.

In addition to how precise and potent this model is, it also comes with a unique stand that features storage to help you keep your work area less cluttered and more structured.

This saw in a rather big financial investment but is a great, powerful tool to obtain for heavy duty projects or any kind of professional, long-term operate.

With the lower and upper ball bearing instructions, quick adjustment, and blade tracking window, this tool is powerful and accurate enough for professional use. There are some issues with the tension spring not holding onto larger blades well, but once you play with it and get an understanding for how it’s supposed to go, this problem usually rectifies by itself.

Pros:

High stress spring design for elevated power and control
Tough cast iron frame
Built in space for storing
5-year limited warranty

Cons:

High-priced
Heavy to be moved about
Rip fence is not integrated and will need to be bought separately if needed
Many folks reported that the tension isn’t even across all dimension blades

7. POWERTEC BS900 BENCHTOP BAND Found

Horsepower: ½ HP

Blade length: 62 inches

Blade width (min/maximum): ? / ?

Blade speed: 1725 FPM

Table tilt (R/L): 45/ degrees

Weight: 44 pounds

OVERVIEW

For a lightweight group saw that’s perfect for gentle use in a home workshop, the Powertec BS900 is ideal. It is easy to adjust the blade and has a patented window so that the user can see the location where the blade is cutting all the time.

What makes this one special is how many functions you get for your price. This is the least expensive model in our reviews and it nevertheless has a lot of features to offer. Its quick release blade measures makes it easy to make adjustments. Despite the fact that it’s lightweight, it comes with an aluminum cast table for stability when in use.

The Powertec BS900 is really affordably priced and worth it providing you use it as it was planned. It’s ideal for smallworkshops and crafts, or small Do it yourself projects but can’t take care of much else because of its lower horsepower and slow blade speed.

The downsides are that it’s only really useful for thinner resources and can only hold cutting blades up to ? inch. That said, if you’re looking for something with not a lot of frills that’s easily affordable, the Powertec BS900 is a great tool for anyone just learning or someone trying to find something for small tasks.

Pros:

Comes with tracking windowpane to easily see the blade
Only takes smaller blades for more detailed work
Inexpensive
Lightweight and ideal for smaller jobs

Cons:

Only has one reasonably slow speed
Low horse power
Cannot handle big jobs
Generally limited in function and power

HOW TO BUY A BAND Found

Because there are so many different models on the market, it might be a little overwhelming to try and figure out which one it the best for you. There are some things you should think of before you decide to purchase a band discovered to make sure that you get the one that has exactly what you need, without having too few or too many capabilities.

USES

If you’re considering buying a band saw, it is likely you know that they’re ideal for producing intricate, precise curves and reductions but they’re also just the thing for resawing thin strips of wood and ripping larger sized ones. There are so many different features available, the very first thing you’ll have to do is decide what you are going to be using it for.

Are you wanting something for occasional, lighting, detailed work? Or do you need something that can handle thicker materials and heavier jobs? After you figure this out, you’ll know what specs you’ll will need.

DIFFERENT TYPES

There are two basic types types:

Floor-standing upright Cabinet Models: areheavier and larger, and built so that you can handle a lot of heavy operate. These are usually the kind that specialist woodworkers or contractors favor. They’re usually more stable and sturdy but are also higher priced.

Bench Top Models: are less heavy and smaller. They’re well suited for home use and can be established on the top of a workbench. If you do not want to take up too much place on your work area, you can get great results from a bench top rated model and some have holders designed for them that you can acquire separately.

MAIN FEATURES

Allow me to share the features you should be aware of when selecting a band saw:

Body – support for the whole device. You want this to be created from steel or cast metal. Plastic frames aren’t beneficial to much beyond very lighting work as they’re not as strong or durable as more reliable metals. If you’re considering using larger pieces of fabric, this is particularly important.

Horse power – how much power the motor is able to produce. Most bandsaws have around 1 HP. Professional ones are often more than 1 HP although band saws meant for gentle home use will often be less, typically around ½ HP. The heavier the jobs you’re planning, the more horsepower you will need. Keep in mind that if your band discovered has an HP less than 1, it will only be good for small jobs around the house. If you anticipate you will down the road, it’s worth investing in a better saw so that you have more alternatives, even if you’re not intending on using it for large jobs straight away.

Throat – distance in the blade to the vertical structure. This will determine the size that your model will be able to deal with. Again, even if you don’t want to right away, if you’re intending to use large pieces of materials down the line it’s worth seeking a band saw that can allow for larger material.

Table – The task table should be made or castiron and metallic, or perhaps an aluminum alloy in order to give a strong, sturdy support for your personal material while you work. Some are quite sizeable and even have options to extend them. Most will also tilt to the right and/or left. A common tilt for a band found table is 45 levels to the right. This will give you far more options and make your noticed more versatile.

Blade Size – the size of the blade that can be used. This will typically get as a minimum measurement and maximum measurement. The saw will be able to use blades that are great for within the range.

Weight – Some models are really heavy. So heavy that one particular person will not be able to move them. Others are quite lightweight to become moved around.

Extras – Some come with things you don’t necessarily need but are definitely nice convenient to have, including a fast release for fast blade changes, work lights, house windows to see the blade and where you’re cutting, onboard storage.

CONCLUSION

The first thing you need to do is decide the kind of jobs you will be using it for if you’re looking for a band noticed. Then, you can figure out which one will suit your needs. Use our acquiring guide to help figure out what features you need to look for. If you are looking for something versatile and powerful, we recommend the Grizzly G0555LX. It’s perfect for a professional or even a DIYer and can handle any job, big or small.

Jerome T has tested home security systems in his own apartment, installed GPS trackers in his own car, and watched her cat, Toki, nap all day through a live nanny cam feed. As an expert reviewer, he believes that firsthand experience is the best way to learn about new products (even if it requires being the guinea pig).And a huge Nascar fan who loves to go camping and enjoys the outdoors.