If you plan to use your band saw on a continuous basis for large and heavy gauge wood, metal, or plastic cuts, you should lean towards a larger 18″ band saw. Your depth of cut will help indicate how thick of wood you are able to cut with your band saw while the throat will tell you the distance from the blade to the vertical frame of the band saw. With the help of this guide, you should have a thorough understanding to answer the question of what size band saw should I buy.
A bandsaw blade tracks on rubber “Tires” on the rims of the wheels. Another important component of a bandsaw is the guidepost, which contains the upper blade guide assembly and blade guard. Most woodworkers seem to have preferences in bandsaw blade guides but, in most cases, quality’s the most important thing.
Many band saws are marketed on this feature alone, which tells the prospective buyer how thick of stock can be cut using the band saw. Not only will the owner’s manual help you set up your saw properly, but it will also help you become much more familiar with the proper methods for safely cutting with your saw. A band saw is among the safest of power woodworking tools, but the saw must be set up properly before use.
There are lots of recommendations about the smallest diameter curve you can cut with each blade width, but the simple answer is “The narrower the blade, the tighter the curve.” I generally keep a 3/16 or 1/4 inch blade on the smaller bandsaw I use for “Scrolling” – general curved work. An expert on bandsaw boxes suggested that a 3/16 inch blade seemed ideal. I have seen a 1/8 inch bandsaw blade, but that is so small that conventional bandsaw guides don’t work – there isn’t room for them to hold the side of the blade behind the teeth … replace the side guides with “Cool blocks” or hardwood blocks soaked in mineral oil, and “Bury” the blade in the blocks.
A bandsaw is a power saw with a long, sharp blade consisting of a continuous band of toothed metal stretched between two or more wheels to cut material. The size of a band saw is given in inches, with 14-inch being the most common. The size refers to the distance between the blade and the saw’s throat, or the column that supports the upper wheel.
It’s clearly a heavier saw than the Delta, but I’m not sure how much difference that makes in the real world. “How much bandsaw you need really depends on what you intend to do with it. More than 1/2 of the debate though is settled for you because you have a second bandsaw. Not swapping between one task or another, and the requisite blade changes makes it easier. Once your saw setup for re-saw, it’s set. I’ve never seen a finish ready surface come off a bandsaw, so no matter what, you still have some additional work ahead. I have two bandsaws, and one is set for re-sawing only. It’s a Rikon 540, first year, with a 1”, 2/3 varipitch, Lennox Tri-Master. “You can never have too much HP, too much mass, or too much height. My advise is to get the biggest, heaviest saw that will fit and that you can afford, whether new or used. Whatever the manufacturer says for max. blade width, deduct one size. If they say it can handle a 1″ blade, then it probably can only put adequate tension on a 3/4” one.
how big a bandsaw do i need Related Question:
What is a good size for a bandsaw?
For the small shop furniture maker, go with 14″ as the minimum for a bandsaw, though 16″ is better. Those doing larger work might even want 18″ or 20″ machines. Just make sure you have a minimum resaw height of 12″ for versatility.
Is a 14 bandsaw big enough?
Re: Bandsaws: 14″, or is bigger better? If you are not going to do any resawing, then a 14″ will do just fine. If you may be cutting out bowl blanks for a lathe, then you should consider a riser to get more vertical clearance.
Is 1 hp enough for a bandsaw?
1 Horespower is a lot of power, it is aproximately 50% more work than a horse can do on a long term basis, and aproximately 6 times what a person can do. A 3/4 or 1 HP bandsaw is pefectly adequate for re-sawing stock at home….
How thick of wood can a 9 band saw cut?
There are several $99, 9 inch band saws on the market in my area (Ryobi, Skill). The are able to cut a thickness of 2 ½ inches.
How do I choose a bandsaw?
The two main things to consider when choosing a band saw are the depth of cut and the throat. The saw’s depth of cut is the distance from the table to the upper blade guides. Many band saws are marketed on this feature alone, which tells the prospective buyer how thick of stock can be cut using the band saw.
What is a 14-inch bandsaw?
Rob Johnstone: Band saw sizes are derived from the diameter of the wheels in the saw. So a 14-inch band saw will have wheels that are 14-inches in diameter. There is another measure that indicates how wide a board you can resaw.
What is resawing on a bandsaw?
Bandsaw Resawing from the beginning: resawing is cutting a sawn plank of wood into thinner planks on a bandsaw. Thus the cut runs through the plank’s width, which distinguishes bandsaw resawing from ordinary bandsaw rip cuts where the blade runs through the stock’s thickness.
How much power does a bandsaw use?
For ordinary work, cutting through no more than 1.5″ (4 cm) of wood, at speeds below 2000 fpm, 1/3 HP is adequate. If you want to do a lot of resawing, and run the saw at high speeds, you may want up to 1.5 hp. A sharp blade will use less than half the power of a dull blade.
What is the throat on a bandsaw?
The throat is the distance from the blade to the vertical frame section of the body of the saw. This distance determines the width of cut that can be completed on the band saw. The throat on a free-standing cabinet band saw typically exceeds the 12 to 14-inch throat of smaller, bench-top models.
What is the maximum thickness of material to be cut for a bandsaw?
A coarse tooth blade (2, 3 TPI) should be used for re-sawing wood and cutting thicker stock up to 8″ thick. A fine toothed blade (18 to 32 TPI) should be used for thinner metals and plastics under 1/4″.
How wide can a bandsaw cut?
Band saws are the undisputed champ when it comes to cutting curves and slicing through thick material. Many small band saws can slice though lumber a full four inches thick, and bigger saws handle six-inch cuts.
What is the difference between a band saw and a scroll saw?
Now, one of the really big differences is that the scroll saw’s blade moves up and down, whereas the band saw’s blade moves in a continuous downward motion. Band saws also differ in the thickness and size of materials which they can handle.
Are band saws useful?
A band saw can be used to cut curves, even in thick lumber, such as in creating cabriole legs, to rip lumber and to crosscut short pieces. The most common use for the band saw, however, is in cutting irregular shapes. The second most common use is in resawing or ripping lumber into thinner slabs.
What size blade does a 14-inch bandsaw take?
Olson® All Pro&trade band saw blades 93-1/2″ length fits most 14″ band saws (Delta, Jet, etc.), hard back and exclusive material, in skip, hook, or regular teeth.
What do band saw sizes mean?
The size of a band saw is given in inches, with 14-inch being the most common. The size refers to the distance between the blade and the saw’s throat, or the column that supports the upper wheel. Band saws range in size (and price) from 10-inch benchtop machines to 24-inch freestanding ones for professional shops.