The Best Band Saws

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Murray
Published on
August 10th, 2019

Expert BioExpert Bio

Ben’s formal training and certifications in cleaning include the ASD (Advanced Structural Drying), AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician),
WRT (Water restoration technician), CCT (Carpet Cleaning technician), and bio hazard cleanup, as well as several other certifications from the IICRC. Ben has managed teams involved in cleaning projects around the United States. Ben’s passion for cleaning dates all the way back to keeping his rugby gear tidy while a young lad. Ben holds an undergraduate degree from Oxford, a Master’s degree from Oxford, and a mountain of hands on experience at the school of hard knocks.

The Cleaning Institute

The band saw is a shop basic and has nearly endless uses. The right band saw can open up your world as a woodworker. We know how daunting it can be to find what you are looking for, and hope our testing experience can help you select the right model.

Testing Categories

When deciding which band saws made the cut, there were a few things we looked for in each model to provide well-rounded advice.

Power – Pretty self-explanatory – can the blade and frame handle the amount of work required of it?

Features – Here we tested varying types of cuts and the throat capacity, which is the space between the blade and the column. Also what style of frame was most durable?

Ease of Use – In this category we asked questions such as, how easy was the setup? Do you need advanced training to operate?

Top Pick

WEN 3962 Two-Speed
Band Saw with Stand
and Worklight, 10"

This smooth operator cuts up to 6 inches with a spacious work area. Two speeds and flexible lighting provide the power and precision you need for every job.

Price Check

Most notable upside: We found the WEN 3962 the perfect option for first time band saw users. The WEN was correctly calibrated right out of the box so we could start testing right away. The loud sawing noise we expected was non-existent; it ran silently, cutting through piles of test material like butter. The built-in LED lamp was great for spotlighting exactly where we needed.

Biggest downsides: Our only issues were with the height of the stand, which may be low, especially if you are on the taller side. Also, the WEN doesn’t have a tension guidee, which could make setup take longer.

Honorable Mention

SKIL 3386-01
2.5-Amp 9-Inch
Band Saw

Work faster than ever with this irregular shape cutting wiz. Offering super-straight line ripping abilities, the 2.5 comes equipped with a blade tracking system for extra precision and alignment.

Price Check

Most notable upside: Our team could not have been more impressed with the power on the SKIL. It tackled smaller projects with ease and was eager to take on more. The 4 TPI blade that came standard worked well with everything we tested, including plastic and different types of wood. When the blade did require replacement, it was simple to change.

Biggest downsides: There are a few things we didn’t like, such as the fact that you do have to clear away debris and build up quite frequently. Also, the blade guidee can start to pop out after extended use.

Also Consider

WEN 3959 2.5-Amp
9-Inch Benchtop
Band Saw

Small enough for any workspace with the power of a larger model, this WEN slices through up to 2500 feet per minute, so your productivity will definitely see a speed increase.

Price Check

Most notable upside: Another win for WEN, the 3959 model caught our attention even though it didn’t look like much at first. The 2.5-AMP really packed a punch. It only took us a few moments to dial in the blade tension so the set-up was quick and easy. The 3959 tested above models in the same price range and is super easy to maintain. It is an all-around solid and well-built choice.

Biggest downsides: However, while the WEN 3959 is perfect if you are only working on smaller projects, it has some issues when running tougher jobs.

All Our Picks

Band saws aren’t the cheapest cutting equipment out there, so make sure to have all things considered once you decide to buy one and look at it as a fairly big investment for your woodworking career. With the wide array of band saw models available on the market today, it is quite hard to decide which one is actually the best for you. Nevertheless, here are some things you should consider when choosing a band saw.

Band Saw vs Table Saw

Band saws and table saws are probably the two pieces of equipment most suitable for heavy-duty woodwork and carpentry. Both are known for their cutting capabilities and durability, but which saw type would actually suit you best? Depending on the woodwork that you deal with, table saws are great for simple cutting jobs. However, for cutting curves and large scrolls, the band saw would be the best option. Table saws are arguably the most efficient and cost-effective variant for smaller-scale wood cutting purposes like those in workshop while band saws are often preferred for large-scale jobs such as those in lumber mills. Simply put, the band saw fills the gap between tasks that a table saw could not handle such as cutting curves, scrolls, and other irregular shapes as well as getting through relatively thick pieces of wood, metal, bricks, and other materials.

Types of Band Saws

Band saws are categorized into two types: the horizontal band saw and the vertical band saw. Although they basically work under the same principle, there are still several specifications and features special to each type. Vertical band saws are most commonly used for making scroll cuts and curved cuts, as well as resawing thick pieces of wood with other materials. A vertical band saw basically needs the medium to be pushed in to the looping blade in order to make the cut. Vertical band saws often feature two sets of blade guidees that also serve as guards that limit the overall length of the exposed blade. On the other hand, horizontal band saws are often used when cutting metal and other materials that are not ideal for other saw types. Horizontal band saws utilize hydraulic pistons to carefully lower the blade to the piece to be cut and are notably not ideal when making scrolls and curving cuts.

Another categorization feature of band saws is their portability. Fixed band saws are embedded on a frame and work at a height or on a table and are basically onsite. Portable hand saws are more lightweight and compact and are designed to be held against a piece of wood or material to be cut.

Things to Consider When Buying a Band Saw

Use and Application

One of the first things to consider when choosing a bandsaw is its purpose and overall application. Band saws are most commonly used for woodworking, metalworking, and lumbering. Since band saws are not exactly cheap, take into consideration whether a band saw is necessary or whether a more economical tool can do the job for you.

Motor

The motor is basically the source of power for any equipment, and a good motor results in better support and a more efficient and balanced performance. Furthermore, take into consideration how much horsepower you need depending on the material you would use the band saw on.

Blade

The blade of any cutting equipment basically dictates what the machine can do. Some of the things you should consider are the blade’s thickness, width, the TPI or teeth per inch. These factors play a significant role in the overall performance of the blade and the machine.

The Best Band Saws Available

JET JWBS-14DXPRO Band Saw

Widely considered the best performing budget-friendly band saw model, the JET JWBS-14XPRO is renowned for its enormous capacity that can work with pieces reaching 12” in height and features a wide 15” by 15” table. Praised for its fast and easy blade adjustments such as the retractable blade guard and easy-view blade tracking window, the only downside of this model is the lack of a rip fence.

Rikon 10-305 Band-Saw

The Rikon 10-305 is best suited for smaller projects as it has limited horsepower compared to other models. Limited primarily to woodwork, the Rikon cannot deal with hard wood varieties or metal. Regardless, the Rikon still works great with soft wood and is known for its special features and quality parts.

SHOP FOX W1729

Although compact in size, the Grizzly G0513ANV is known for its 14” band saw and well-balanced features. Built with a cast iron body, the SHOP FOX features a 4” dust port, an aluminum miter gauge, enclosed cabinet stand, and hinged wheel covers.

The Best Band Saws

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Murray

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

WEN 3962 Two-Speed
Band Saw with Stand
and Worklight, 10"

SKIL 3386-01
2.5-Amp 9-Inch
Band Saw

WEN 3959 2.5-Amp
9-Inch Benchtop
Band Saw

All Our Picks

WEN 3962 Two-Speed
Band Saw with Stand
and Worklight, 10"

SKIL 3386-01
2.5-Amp 9-Inch
Band Saw

WEN 3959 2.5-Amp
9-Inch Benchtop
Band Saw

Band Saw vs Table Saw

Types of Band Saws

Things to Consider When Buying a Band Saw

The Best Band Saws Available

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

The Best Band Saws

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Murray

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

WEN 3962 Two-SpeedBand Saw with Stand and Worklight, 10"

SKIL 3386-01 2.5-Amp 9-InchBand Saw

WEN 3959 2.5-Amp9-Inch BenchtopBand Saw

All Our Picks

WEN 3962 Two-SpeedBand Saw with Stand and Worklight, 10"

SKIL 3386-01 2.5-Amp 9-InchBand Saw

WEN 3959 2.5-Amp9-Inch BenchtopBand Saw

Band Saw vs Table Saw

Types of Band Saws

Things to Consider When Buying a Band Saw

The Best Band Saws Available

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

WEN 3962 Two-Speed
Band Saw with Stand
and Worklight, 10"

SKIL 3386-01
2.5-Amp 9-Inch
Band Saw

WEN 3959 2.5-Amp
9-Inch Benchtop
Band Saw

WEN 3962 Two-Speed
Band Saw with Stand
and Worklight, 10"

SKIL 3386-01
2.5-Amp 9-Inch
Band Saw

WEN 3959 2.5-Amp
9-Inch Benchtop
Band Saw