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A band saw is a versatile and powerful tool. If you're considering adding one to your shop, here's a list of the top options on the market. Standard 1-Phase Motor
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Band saws are amazingly versatile tools. They’re primarily used for making curved cuts, resawing boards and ripping rough material. They’re also relatively free of kickback because the blade only moves downward, not out toward the user like the blade on a table saw.
Band saws can cut wood, metal and other materials, but they’re most often found in woodworking. As a former residential remodeler, commercial site supervisor and maintenance manager, I’ve worked on nearly all aspects of building and DIY, including carpentry, plumbing, drywall, tiling and more. Using my extensive knowledge, I scoured the market for the best band saw models, at every price point.
If you’re on a tight budget with modest sawing needs, this Wen option is an excellent choice. It offers a 9-inch throat depth and 3-1/2-inch vertical capacity, powered by a 1/3-hp, 2.8-amp motor. It ships with a 1/4-inch blade and can accept blade widths up to 3/8-inch.
It doesn’t have the blade width or vertical capacity to handle resawing boards, but it’s a strong pick if you’re making curved cuts in thinner material. And for less than $160, the price is right.
I do like that the work table is larger than most other 9-inch bench saws at 12-1/4 inches x 11-7/8 inches, and it can be beveled to 45 degrees. This band saw features a single 2-1/2-inch dust port, and it’s backed by a two-year warranty.
Grizzly makes high-quality and high-end band saws, but they’re not for the casual user. If you’re making furniture and selling your custom pieces, or if you have a deep passion for woodworking, go for the Grizzly G0513X2BF Band Saw.
This saw lives up to the Grizzly name with a 16-1/4-inch throat depth, 12-inch vertical capacity and 2-hp motor. It requires a 220-volt electrical supply. It also features a blade brake, spinning it down to a full stop in three seconds, and foot pedal controls so you can keep both hands on the cutting material while powering up and stopping the blade.
It offers a pair of 4-inch dust extraction ports and a table size of 23-5/8 inches x 17-1/4 inches, with a tilt of five degrees left and 45 degrees right. You can buy a much more expensive band saw, but for most DIYers, this is everything you’ll need and then some.
While it makes sense for pros to invest money in highly-specialized tools, DIYers are often better served by multi-purpose tools. The 14-inch stand-mounted Delta 28-400 Band Saw provides users with multiple ways to tackle a project.
The two-speed selector lets you cut materials with the proper amount of aggressiveness, while the dual-voltage motor can be wired for a standard 110-volt or 220-volt outlet. The latter, combined with the bench top format, makes this a smart call for renters, because it can be tough to find a rental with 220-volt outlets.
The Delta 28-400 offers a steel frame body, 13-5/8-inch throat depth, 6-inch vertical clearance, a 4-inch dust port and a 15-3/4-inches x 18-7/8-inches cast iron table. It’s covered by a five-year limited warranty.
The Jet JWBS-15 15-in. Band Saw works for DIYers who value versatility, especially for those who might be moving their shop in the future. The Jet’s steel frame makes it much lighter and easier to move than cast iron, although at 382 pounds, it won’t vibrate around your shop every time you turn it on.
The dual-voltage motor means it can function in DIY shops without a 220-volt outlet. However, the 1-3/4-hp motor will draw a hefty 15 amps from a 110-volt outlet, so you’ve got two choices: Install a dedicated breaker, or don’t run anything else while you operate the saw.
It offers a 14-inch vertical capacity with 14-1/8-inch throat depth. The 21-1/2-inches x 16-inches cast iron table tilts five degrees left and 45 degrees right. It can mount saw blades from 1/8- to 1-inch wide, and comes with dual 4-inch dust ports to help keep the sawdust manageable.
One feature I particularly like: The viewing window, which makes it easy to see the blade respond during tracking adjustments.
While lots of floor-standing saws offer a high vertical capacity, the Rikon 10-324TG 14-inch Band Saw sticks out as a more affordable option in the stand-mounted category.
With a 13-inch vertical clearance, this pick is ideal for stretching out your supply of expensive boards. Even better, it comes with a 6-inch-tall resaw fence and a resaw bar. A resaw or drift bar supports boards and compensates for blade drift.
I love its 110-volt outlet for accessories, along with its sight window, dual-voltage motor and two-tier speed to suit whatever materials you’re working with. The 21-1/2-inches x 15-3/4-inches table tilts five degrees left and 45 degrees right. It has a single 4-inch dust port and accepts blades from 3/16 to 3/4-inches wide.
I love the Rikon 10-3061 Band Saw for a few reasons: It’s got less vertical capacity than the 10-324TG above. But if you don’t plan on resawing wide material, this slightly smaller band saw is an exceptional deal.
It has a 5-inch vertical capacity compared to the 10-324TG’s 13-inch, but it costs about 50 percent less. Sure, it’s pricey for a bench top, but the power and features make it worth the money.
This is an upgrade to Rikon’s previous 10-inch model, the 10-306. Like its more costly counterpart, this saw offers two speeds. The 2-1/2-inch dust port tilts upward, making it easier to connect and disconnect hoses in a small shop. It has a pair of viewing windows and takes up to a 1/2-inch blade. The 13-3/4 x 12-1/2-inch table tilts five degrees left and 45 degrees right.
I saved portable band saws for last because they’re so different from bench and floor-standing models. Often used to cut metal or PVC at a jobsite, these saws can also cut almost any material with the right blade, especially curves and straight flush cuts. Instead of throat depth and vertical clearance, portable band saws describe cut depth (blade to saw frame) and cut width (end to end of the exposed blade).
For dependable cutting and good battery life, the Wen 94396 10-amp Band Saw provides both portability and power. And at less than $100, it’s the lowest-priced tool on this list.
With a 5-inch depth and 5-inch cut width, it has one of the largest cutting capacities on the market. The variable speed dial lets you select a blade speed between 60 and 420 feet per minute so you can find the right cutting speed for the material at hand. This saw ships with a 1/2-inch blade, and it’s backed by a two-year warranty.
For the ultimate in portable band saws, choose a cordless model. The Milwaukee M18 Compact Band Saw offers a 3-1/4-inch x 3-1/4-inch cutting capacity, and the brushless motor features trigger-controlled variable speed.
Milwaukee’s “Jobsite Armor Technology” protects the tool’s mechanisms from the rough and tumble reality of jobsite use, and the integrated rafter hook allows for easy storage. Plus, this band saw is compatible with more than 200 tools in the M18 system. So if you’ve already invested in an M18 battery and charger, you’re all set.
Drawing on my background as a former residential remodeler, commercial site supervisor and maintenance manager, I bring extensive knowledge shaped by years of hands-on experience in the construction and DIY field. Throughout my career, I’ve engaged in nearly every facet of building and DIY projects, spanning from project planning and permitting to hands-on tasks such as plumbing, basic electrical work, drywall installation, carpentry, tiling, painting and beyond. With substantial experience in both residential and commercial settings, I have a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies involved in these projects, assuring that the information provided is firmly rooted in practical, real-world expertise.
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This varies with size and quality. Benchtop models range from $175 to $1,000, while freestanding floor saws start at around $1,000 and go up to $5,000 or more. A portable band saw is only $100 to $400.
Like every type of saw, a band saw is only as good as the blade. Less expensive models often come with a lower-quality blade, so you may want to upgrade right away. Pros keep multiple blades on hand to save time and material, while DIYers tend to keep a more limited selection of blades. The best width depends on the usage. If you’re doing a lot of curvy and delicate work, a narrow blade is best—many DIYers like a 1/4-inch blade.
Greater width provides more stability for steady straight cuts, often a 3/4-inch blade or greater. A half-inch blade is a good compromise. As with most other saw blades, a higher tooth count provides a smoother but potentially slower cut. Manufacturers describe band saw blades by teeth per inch (tpi) rather than full tooth count. Bi-metal blades can cut wood but are often used for metal.
A band saw can make a variety of cuts, including straight cuts for large panels, curved cuts for intricate shapes, resawing to create thinner pieces from a thick board, rip cuts along the length of the material, miter cuts for angled edges, crosscuts for shorter pieces and scroll cuts for detailed designs. Its versatility makes it suitable for woodworking, metalworking and cutting various materials with precision and flexibility.
A jigsaw is a versatile handheld tool with a reciprocating blade that moves up and down, allowing for intricate and curved cuts in wood, metal and other materials. It’s particularly useful for detailed work and cutting shapes.
On the other hand, a band saw is a stationary tool with a continuous looped blade that moves in a vertical or horizontal direction. Band saws are generally larger and more powerful, making them ideal for straight cuts in thick materials and resawing lumber.
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