Rob Johnstone: Band saw sizes are derived from the diameter of the wheels in the saw. Tim Inman: Following from Rob’s answer regarding wheel size, you also need to allow for the frame of the saw, and some safety gear, which reduces the actual cutting depth of a band saw to a couple of inches less than the wheel diameter. Rod Burrow, RIKON Power Tools: Band saws are sized by both wheel diameter and throat depth.
In order to determine bandsaw blade length for your saw, please reference our Bandsaw Blade Lengths & Manufacturers page for a list of common saws and sizes. If you cannot find your saw model or are unable to locate a manual, Detroit Band Saw can teach you how to determine bandsaw blade length. If you do not have an existing blade, there is a mathematical equation to help determine saw blade length in inches.
In case you do not own a table saw and want to use the band saw occasionally for ripping short boards, consider a 10″ band saw with a hp motor – it is not fast, but will get the job done. “The minimum blade width for most standard band saw sizes is 1/8″. These very fine blades allow cutting tight curves and have a narrow kerf. The maximum blade width varies with saw size. Most 9-inch band saws take blades up to 1/4″ or 3/8″ wide, 10-inch saws up to ½” wide, 14-inch up to 3/4″ wide, and 18/19-inch saws up to an inch or a bit more. Band saw blade thickness is also connected to saw size: bigger saws are able to take thicker blades than small ones.
The size of the bandsaw wheel has nothing to do with the resaw capability. All of the 14″ & 15″ bandsaws have the same rounded look. There are very few bandsaw specific parts on “the import” compared to other saws.
When trying to figure out how to determine bandsaw blade size, it is important to know the job that will be performed using that particular saw blade. If there is no blade to measure, or there is need of a new blade that may or may not properly fit the bandsaw machine, then it becomes necessary to determine the range of lengths the machine can be expected to mount. These procedures are the best way to determine the right size bandsaw blade for a particular bandsaw machine.
To determine the size of a band saw, measure the distance from the blade to the throat. The band saw’s large circular blade is placed around the tool’s top and bottom wheels. The throat on a free-standing cabinet band saw typically exceeds the 12 to 14-inch throat of smaller, bench-top models.
Many 14″ saws with a 6″ riser will cut about 12″ but obviously the rest of the saw would have to be up to it. A saw with fabulous cut quality that struggles through 1″ material is of no more use to me than a saw with a substantial cutting height and plenty of power that wanders unpredictably through the cut. ” So a 14″ band saw will give you a 14″ cut between the blade and the backbone of the saw.