Band Saws for Woodworking
Band saws are important tools for the woodworking shop. Woodworkers can perform a variety of tasks with band saws from ripping veneer to cutting graceful curves for wood projects. A band saw gets its name from its blade which forms a large loop between a top and bottom wheel and is then pulled through a small hole in a cutting table.
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Top Selling Band Saws at Amazon.com
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The band saws blade is much thinner than that of a table saw blade. The band saws’ versatility makes it a favorite among everyone from cabinet makers to furniture makers. With the right blades these versatile saws can also perform cuts on plastic and metal as well as wood.
JET JWBS-18QT-3 18-Inch 3-Horsepower 1PH Band Saw with Quick Tensioning lever
Designed to meet the demands of serious woodworkers!
Special Features:
- Triangular design frame provides superior column rigidity
- 12-1/4-Inch Resaw capacity for cutting large pieces of wood, slicing veneers and cutting book matched panels
- 19-Inch by 19-Inch precision ground cast iron table for added stability and work support
- 4-Inch dust port allows for direct connection of dust collection system
- Precision computer balanced wheels eliminate vibration for accurate blade tracking
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Grizzly G0457 14″ 2 HP Deluxe Bandsaw
Technical Details
- * Blade size: 106in long * Blade width: 1/8in – 3/4in * Blade speed: 3,000 FPM
- Approximate shipping weight: 214 lbs. carton #1, Carton #2: 70 lbs.
- Includes blade * Table tilt: 8deg. L, 45deg * Cutting capacity/throat: 13 1/2in
- Motor: 2 HP, 110V/220V, single-phase, TEFC capacitor start induction, pre-wired 220V. Amps: 20/10 RPM: 1725
- Table size: 19 3/4″ x 14 3/16″ x 1 1/2″ thick * Overall size: 73in x 29 3/4in x 29 1/2in * Floor to table height: 42 1/4in
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Band Saw Basics
Mass
You can’t just toss band saws into your toolbox the way you can a circular saw. The biggest floor models, which can cut massive beams lengthwise, weigh nearly a ton. There are more modest versions that sit on special stands, but even smaller bench-top versions, which might be considered portable, would be hefty to tote.
Size
Regardless of their overall dimensions, band saws are classified by the diameter of the wheels that hold their blade in place. That dimension is slightly greater than the one that really counts: throat capacity. Measured by the distance between the blade and the throat–the supporting post that connects the top and bottom wheels–throat capacity determines the maximum width of board the saw can handle.
The depth of the cut that can be made is determined by another measurement altogether–namely, how far the upper blade guide can be maneuvered above the table. Bench-top models might eke out a cut just over 3 inches deep, those on stands might go to 6 inches, and giant floor models may be able to cut 12 inches or more.
Horsepower
An underpowered tool will labor under the effort of the work and cut slowly, resulting in burns in the wood from the accumulating friction. To avoid this, you need a saw that has the appropriate horsepower for the job. For instance, if you’re cutting through 3 or more inches of hardwood, you’ll need a saw with at least a 1/2 horsepower motor. To make cuts of up to 6 inches deep, go with a 3/4 horsepower motor. To saw beams, you’ll need a giant machine with about 3 horsepower.
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Timber Wolf 137″ Bandsaw Blades:1/4″ x 137″, 6 TPI | 1/2″ x 137″, 4 TPI | 3/4″ x 137″, 3 TPI Timber Wolf makes the worlds only thin-kerf, low tension, silicon steel bandsaw blades that will outlast your old carbon steel blades by a mile! Your bandsaw will cut better and faster, with less wear on bearings, shafts and tires. Tooth angles and gullet symmetries, combined with a unique set pattern, create a blade that is everything a wood-cutting blade was meant to be. Blade has over 60 of the speed capabilities of a hook blade while giving you the great finish of a skip. The round design of the gullet eliminates any work hardening zones. Couple that with the special 6.5 degrees rake, 5-tooth set pattern, and .025″ thick thin-kerf blade and you have an awesome bandsaw blade! |
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Olson™ All-Pro 137″ Bandsaw Blades: |
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Olson 93-1/2″” Bandsaw Blades:1/4″ x 6 Regular TPI | 1/2″ x 6 Skip TPI | 3/8″ x 4 Hook TPI | 3/4″ x 4 Hook TPI |
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All About Blades
Size
Blades come in a nearly uniform thickness, but they vary greatly in width.
- Narrow 1/8″ blades can cut tight curves without twisting and breaking.
- Blades of 1/4″ are the most versatile; they’re narrow enough to cut curves and wide enough to handle straight cuts quickly.
- A 3/4″ blade can still cut curves with a decent 5″ radius.
- Larger blades of up to 2″ or more are strictly for straight lines. These cut fast and straight, and won’t twist.
Tooth count
The fewer teeth a blade has per inch, the faster it will cut. For this reason, many-toothed blades should be used for thin stock; blades with fewer teeth work better on thick boards. Blades for sawing beams, for instance, might have only two or three teeth per inch, while a blade for thin scrollwork can have 20. The most popular blades among woodworkers have between 4 and 10 teeth per inch.
Material matters
Blades come in a variety of materials:
- Steel Blades: The least expensive. Although they work well with ordinary wood, they become dull when used on glued woods or plastic, and they won’t cut steel.
- Bimetal Blades: Designed to handle the strain of cutting metal; their teeth are made of high-speed durable steel.
- Carbide Blades: Pricey, but they stay sharperlonger than ordinary steel blades. They should be used only on wood, not metal.
