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.
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 will make many cuts with precision and speed-when equipped with the right blade for the application. Bandsaw blades differ in thickness, width, length, and tooth configuration. Every time you change from one bandsaw blade width to another, you have to reset the saw’s tracking, tension, and blade guides.
One size band saw that’s more prevalent is 14″ but for log resawing you may want one in the 17″ range but that will bump your budget,but if log sawing is something you’re going to do all the time you will need a good band saw. Even if you add a riser, the 14″ saws may only handle about a 5/8″ wide blade well while a 17″ or 18″ will handle 3/4″ easily which I think is better for sawing logs. Even with the band saw I just knock the corners off with the chain saw and go to the lathe.
what size bandsaw for woodworking Related Question:
What size band saw do I need for woodworking?
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.
What size of bandsaw do you need?
For a hobbyist, a 12″-14″ bandsaw is the ideal size. This size saw will provide plenty of power and a good deal of resawing capability. A professional will be better served with an 18″ bandsaw for a larger resawing capability. Choosing a 14″ band saw would provide plenty of power in a smaller footprint.
How do I choose a bandsaw for woodworking?
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.
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.
What is a band saw used for in woodworking?
A bandsaw (also written band saw) 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. They are used principally in woodworking, metalworking, and lumbering, but may cut a variety of materials.
What does a 14-inch bandsaw mean?
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.
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 thick of wood 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.
How much HP does a bandsaw need?
A 3/4 or 1 HP bandsaw is pefectly adequate for re-sawing stock at home….
What is the difference between a band saw and a table saw?
Instead of the solid, circular plate of steel with carbide teeth on a table saw, the blade of the band saw is exactly that—a narrow, flexible band of steel with teeth formed along one edge. The band saw blade is stretched and driven between two or three wheels.
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 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.
What is the smallest band saw?
The Proxxon Micro Saw is by far the smallest, lightest, most easily portable and stowable saw in this bunch. It has only 5-7⁄8″ of throat depth and about 3-3⁄8″ of cutting depth.
How thick can a 12 band saw cut?
A twelve-inch band saw is adequate for most home workshop jobs, typically cutting up to a six-inch capacity. (Cabinetmakers would do well to opt for a larger one, perhaps one with a sixteen- or twenty-inch throat.)