What Is the Best Band Saw in 2023? Complete Guide and Review: Dewalt, WEN, JET, RIKON, Grizzly & Shop Fox
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When you want the most versatile tool for your shop, a band saw might be the best choice. However, there are hundreds of products out there, so it can be hard to find the best band saws. If you’re a beginner who doesn’t know how to pick one, it can be even more challenging.
Therefore, this review can help you choose the best band saw for your woodworking projects. You’re sure to find something that fits your budget and requirements.
Top Picks:
Dewalt 20V Max Portable Band Saw Portable – best overall
WEN 3959 2.5-amp 9-inch (Bench Top) Stationary – best overall
JET JWBS 14DXPRO 15 1.75 HP Bandsaw Hing in demand
RIKON 10 305 Cast-iron Table Bandsaw Heavy-duty applications
Grizzly Industrial GO555LX Deluxe Portability Design
Shop Fox W1715 3/4 HP Metal Cutting Bandsaw Excellent Choice
Full Reviews for the Best Band Saws of 2023:
Dewalt 20V Max Portable
The Dewalt 20V Max offers a center handle position, so the saw is very easy to use. In fact, it could be the best band saw to handle difficult jobs and long hours. With it, you can balance the tool effectively while you work. Plus, you’ve got access to the latest technological features because the LED work light comes with a 20-second delay.
Since it is a heavy-duty portable band saw, the product serves you in so many ways. It offers an integrated hang hook, so you can put it anywhere in the shop. With that, you can save space without damaging the tool.
You’re sure to appreciate the blade tracking adjustment option. That way, you get better tracking and increased blade life.
WEN 3959 2.5-amp 9-inch (Bench Top)
When it comes to the best band saws, the WEN brand is ideal. If you need the band saw to serve you and be efficient, the WEN 3959 is a great choice. This high-quality product offers a rotating 2.5-amp motor that produces 2500 feet per minute.
As a DIY woodworking pro, you can use the saw for wood up to 3.5 inches deep, and it offers 9-inch cutting for width. With that, it provides a spacious work table and can bevel up to 45 degrees. If that weren’t enough, you can cut as much as you want and work comfortably because the 9-inch band saw is perfect for long projects.
Ultimately, this 9-inch band saw also features additional tools to enhance the work. In the package, you get dust ports of 2.5 inches, a miter gauge, a rip fence, and a 1/4-inch wide blade.
This is one of the best benchtop band saw options around!
JET JWBS 14DXPRO 15 1.75 HP Bandsaw
The JET JWBS 14DXPRO band saw has a higher price tag, but that’s for a good reason. For one, you get a durable work surface. However, the cast-iron frame on the table gives you more support for your heavy-duty projects.
To ensure that the blade length and blade width are well supported for your safety and hard cuts, the guidepost offers four sides and a rack/pinion fence adjustment feature. There are also different settings for blade tension on this band saw, ranging from partial and full tension to a full quick-release option.
It’s easy to improve your vision of the cut line or tracking with the tracking window of this band saw. This gives you a clearer view. Plus, it offers a 12-inch resaw cutting capacity compared to other brands. With that, you get a 5-year warranty!
WEN 3962 Two-speed Saw
The WEN 3962 is a two-speed band saw. This type lets you work at 2620 or 1520 FPM. As a power tool, you’re sure to realize that this band saw meets the most advanced specifications because of the 3.5-amp motor and the 9.75-inch throat capacity. You can effortlessly cut about 6 inches deep with no problem.
Plus, the strong motor delivers enough power for large wooden items and sturdy materials with little struggle.
This band saw offers a three-in-one dust collection system. The table can tilt to 45 degrees, which lets you make angled cuts. Plus, the rip fence is adjustable so that you can always work efficiently.
The structure of the band saw makes it usable for benchtop and floor-standing applications. Plus, it offers a sliding miter gauge and flexible work light!
RIKON 10 305 Cast-iron Table Bandsaw
RIKON power tools are one of the best in the nation. Its band saw is made using a solid steel material that’s stronger than traditional plastic frames. You don’t have to worry about it wearing out after a short period.
With the RIKON 10 305, you can use the cutting tools on the wood for long periods with little trouble.
On top of that, the work surface is made of cast iron, and it’s 13.75×12.5 inches wide. That way, you have a sturdy surface to use your band saw to cut wood. Plus, this product offers a guidepost that is easy to use and quite efficient. Just turn the handle to move or adjust it.
Grizzly band saws are well-known in the industrial industry. It offers many power tools, and the band saw is the best. With that, the band saw blade of the G055LX Deluxe gets guarded by a rack and pinion guide and a deluxe extruded aluminum fence.
You’re sure to appreciate that this saw is a great choice for woodworking projects that don’t have to go through heavy lumber or thicker materials. It works best on thinner pieces and smaller ones because of the 1-horsepower motor. Plus, it’s more compact and smaller with only a 14×14-inch working area. Still, it’s suitable for simple DIY projects, such as for beginners.
Shop Fox W1715 3/4 HP Metal Cutting Bandsaw
All band saws don’t work well for cutting metal, such as the Grizzly brand from above. However, if you do dabble with metalworks, the Shop Fox band saw is a suitable product for your workshop.
Its band saw blade is heavy-duty and can handle any piece of scrap metal you want to cut. Plus, the band saw features a stand with cast-aluminum wheels and handles for easy portability.
You get three cutting speeds available, and the band saw offers a horizontal or vertical cut. As with other power tools, it offers an automatic shut-off system for safety purposes. With that, you get a 2-year warranty on the components.
Buyer’s Guide
When it comes to the best band saw, you want all the features you can find. How do you start to figure out which option is best? Most band saws have a few necessities, but this buying guide can help you get all the information necessary to make the right choice.
Type of Band Saw
Band saws are often classified into different categories, depending on their design, shape, and purpose. Let’s take a look at them all to see how they measure up:
Meat Band Saws
A meat band saw is designed to cut through the meat. It’s often found in a butcher shop, and the frame and blade are made using stainless steel. That way, it’s easier to clean and maintain while being resistant to corrosion.
Metal Band Saws
The metal band saw is designed to cut metal, which is often harder than other materials. With that, these band saws are usually the most heavy-duty band saws you can find. They’re constructed of durable materials so that they may cut metal efficiently.
Wood Band Saws
One of the most common types of band saws is the one for wood. These machines are highly versatile, and each woodworker needs one. They can cut large timber and small wood pieces.
Floor-standing Band Saws
If you categorize the band saws by their design, then the floor-standing band saws are the ones that use the most space.
A floor-standing model is just a band saw with a stand. No one can say if the greatest band saws are those of a certain design. It is based on what you require from the band saw and the band saw blades. Just remember that they can take up plenty of space, so you need a large work area.
Benchtop Band Saws
A benchtop band saw is great for those who have less space or a small workshop. You can put it on a flat surface and keep it off of the floor.
Horizontal Band Saws
Horizontal band saws are designed to cut through materials horizontally.
Vertical Band Saws
Vertical band saws cut through the wood vertically with a quick rotation of the blades that fit between two wheels, also situated vertically.
Portable Band Saws
You can also find portable band saws, which are smaller in size and easier to transport. They are excellent for construction workers and woodworkers who move from site to site.
Horsepower
A band saw gets its power through horsepower, just like a car. The most common range for horsepower you can find in a band saw is between 0.5 and 1.5.
Depending on the type of project and materials you must cut through, you may go lower on the horsepower for a lighter project. However, you need a heavy-duty machine for bigger tasks.
When you find bandsaws for sale, you must focus on the teeth per inch. This affects cutting power. Typically, the teeth per inch of the saw blade are listed in the specifications that come with your blades.
If you get a 0.5 to 1 HP band saw, it’s likely to be smaller in size. They’re often compact and have handheld options. Anything over 1 HP is sure to be a larger model. Those who require even more power may find 2 HP models, but they are sure to be quite big.
Throat Capacity
Throat capacity focuses on the space between the frame of your power tool and its blade. The throat is quite important because when you have more throat space in the band saw, you have more room to maneuver the wood pieces. That is required for intricate cuts.
Since throat capacity affects maneuverability and the blade, it’s the first thing you should consider when buying a band saw.
Frame
How hard-wearing and durable the band saw is depends a lot on the frame. The frame’s construction sets the precedence for how long your band saw might last. Often, you want to use a cast-iron table, but aluminum and stainless steel are good for a table saw, too.
Typically, cast-iron frames are recommended wherever possible. They are heavier than the alternatives, but they hold up longer. You may find a cast-iron frame with a 9-inch band saw or something bigger.
The band saw blades and frame could be made of different materials. Don’t be alarmed if the description mentions a cast-iron band saw. That’s mainly focused on the construction of the product instead of the blades.
Weight
The weight of your band saw correlates directly with the construction material. As stated earlier, cast iron is the heaviest, and most of the products in this review featured that material. It’s hard to be one of the best band saws if it isn’t designed to last.
Unless you’ve got a portable option, you may still need the machine to have some weight. That’s because a weighted design (not overly heavy) provides the best amount of support while you work.
Floor-standing options are often larger and heavier, but they are more stable. Lighter versions have less support but should still be heavy enough to ground your machine.
You may also look into table saw models. These options require you to have the strength to support them. Therefore, they aren’t advisable for beginners.
Bevel Capacity
The bevel capacity focuses on the tilt of the blade so that you can make bevel cuts. You may find band saws that tilt to the right, which isn’t ideal for left-handed people. This is because of the design of its band saw cut, though you could find some that slightly tilt to the left about 10 degrees.
Ultimately, the bevel capacity for regular band saw blades is about 45 degrees. This is also determined by the throat capacity, which focuses on the distance between your table and the end of the structure guiding the saw blade.
Usually, bevel capacity is adjustable, so make sure it’s easy to access and find. You want it to be easy to make these adjustments while working. That way, you don’t have to turn off the machine and make other arrangements.
Dust Collection System
The dust collection port feature is crucial for a band saw. However, most people focus more on features like the ball-bearing blade guides, cutting capacity, and the blade tracking window.
Ultimately, the dust collection feature is crucial for reducing mess and cleanup times. Unfortunately, the cutting capacity of your saw can’t compete with circular saws and miter saws. Because of this, it’s likely that your band saw accumulates dust with time and creates a messy workspace. One way around this is to get couplings to attach the shop vac to the dust port.
Tension Indicator
This is a useful feature when you’re using the band saw to cut various materials. For example, the JET brand reviewed earlier is an example that has this option. It’s typically found on expensive models, so if the tension indicator is crucial, be prepared to spend a little extra.
Tension should always be an adjustable feature, and this indicator tells you the settings. You must know the right setting and pick it for the object you’re cutting.
Two-speed models require more research into finding the right setting at each speed. Usually, a saw blade with a high tension could snap or wear down soon. Intricate designs and cross-cuts require different tensions, too.
However, if you’re attempting to cut materials with a loose tension setting, the cuts could be messy or uneven. Just remember that the tension indicator might not be perfect, so you should practice and use the indicator as a guide.
Safety Features
You can’t operate the band saw without focusing on the safety features. Ultimately, a blade guard or guide can help you move the blade along the track to reduce accidents. A retractable blade guard can be helpful, especially when you’re working with large pieces of wood.
It’s also important to think about kickback. Pay attention to what you’re doing while cutting wood at a lift or angle. Always read and understand the user manual to reduce the risk of having an accident.
With that, you should wear safety gear, such as goggles and gloves. If you’re very worried about safety, consider a band saw with an emergency stop or brake function. That way, you can stop the machine quickly if necessary.
To make the workplace safer, it might be better to use a band saw fence. If your model doesn’t come with it, you can buy one separately to ensure straight cuts without the danger.
Frequently asked questions
How Do You Pick a Band Saw?
Ultimately, you choose your band saw based on your needs. The best band saws are those that don’t take up much space and have the features you want.
Therefore, it’s important to know how much space is available in the shop, the features you crave, and what objects you’re cutting. Understanding all of that can narrow the choices down a lot.
What Size Band Saw Do You Need?
The size of your saw is determined by the materials you need to cut and the space you have. When you have plenty of room, floor-standing models can be the most supportive, but they’re heavy. If you’ve got a smaller workshop, a portable or benchtop model might be better for you.
Should You Get a Band Saw?
Yes, you need a band saw if cutting wood is something you do frequently. Plus, it can be safer than a table saw or something else. If you’ve got the space and money, a band saw is a great idea.
Conclusion
You’ve just learned of the top band saws on the market. Any of the products listed above can be beneficial to you. However, you also focused on what points to consider to get the right product. That included tension, dust collection, and all the rest.
If you want the best band saw, you can’t go wrong with the Dewalt 20V Max. Though it features a portable design, it has an electric motor and is considerably lighter than the other options.
This light-duty model requires a bit more effort from you, but it has tons of features that shoot it to the top of the list.
For example, you’re sure to appreciate the centered handle, giving you precision-balanced stability. It also has a light to illuminate your blade track. While it might not make complicated cuts, it’s sure to be exactly what you need.
Those who want something a little sturdier may like the JET JWBS 14DXPRO. It’s a floor-standing option that makes an accurate cut. If you have the floor space for large machines, this particular model can do almost anything.
