So. You've decided that your wood shop needs a band saw. Its use in resawing, scroll work and joinery are arguably unparalleled, so congratulations on your decision! Your duty to yourself as a consumer is education. This guide seeks to give you all the important information you need so that you can make the band saw decision that's right for you.
1) The All Important Application Analysis
Saw Band
First of all you need to have a clear understanding for yourself of how you'll be using your band saw.
Will you be doing lots of resawing? You need higher horsepower and a wider blade width capacity among other things.
How about scroll work? Horsepower doesn't matter quite as much here (unless you're working with thick stock) as allowance for a narrower blade.
Will you be using your band saw five times a week or five times an hour? This will give you an idea of how much you need to spend on the motor and whether you need a bench top or floor model.
Once you've answered the application questions for yourself you can begin to dig a little deeper into other aspects of a band saw.
2) Bench Top vs. Floor Model
As a very general rule, bench top models belong in non-professional wood shops.
Power hobbyists - those woodworkers who spend every waking minute in the wood shop - will point to the floor model band saw in their shop and disagree heartily.
Your bench top band saws are made to literally sit on your bench top or to be bolted onto a stand. They are compact and portable and ideal for light scroll cutting.
Floor models are more stable and more powerful and ideal for heavy rip sawing and decorative work on thick stock wood. Their higher horsepower typically keeps the blade from getting stuck and burning the wood you're cutting.
3) Throat Capacity
Another reason it's important that you know your desired application is throat capacity - that's the distance between the blade and the frame and it determines the maximum width of the saw's ability to cut.
The greater the throat capacity the wider your cuts and larger pieces for scrolling.
4) Blade Width
It's typical that band saws accept the narrower 1/8" blades for creating scroll work. If resawing is important to you then you've got to make sure you're getting a saw that accepts wider blades, as they flex less and enable more accurate, faster cuts through thicker stock.
If you're buying your band saw to make scroll cuts only then the acceptance of a wider blade should not be a consideration... then again in a few months you might be looking for new ways to resaw your lumber. Again, that's why the initial Application Analysis is so important.
A note on blades: TPI stands for "teeth per inch." A higher teeth per inch ratio means that blades will cut more slowly, but more cleanly. That's right - making them ideal for scroll work. A lower TPI means that blades will cut more quickly but leave more of a mark, suiting them for ripping.
5) The Possibility for Expansion through Accessories
There are a number of potential accessories for every band saw. Some more than others though. When you know your applications you'll have a better idea of which accessories you're going to need and which you don't need to allow for in your model of choice.
That said, it's a good idea to err on the side of MORE possible accessories than fewer.
Some accessories include circle cutting attachments for cutting perfect circles, tilting tables for beveled cuts, miter gauges, rip fences and even height extenders for cutting thicker wood.
6) Band Saw vs. a Jig Saw
The main functional difference between the two types of saws are that the band saws have blades that cut in one continuous loop, while jig saws go up and down.
It's generally held that the band saw is the superior saw due to the vibration of the up and down motion of the jig saw. Since the band saw blade only pulls in one direction there's no chance of upward thrust on the piece that could throw the cut out of true.
That said, the ability to change blades and even the extreme narrowness of some jig saw blades makes this question moot for certain types of highly delicate work.
7) Wrapping it up...
As with any woodworking tool purchase you're more likely to make a sound decision if you know exactly how you'll be using it ahead of time. Having a good idea of how your projects for the next several months will help ensure that you're getting the right tool for the job.
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Rikon 10-325 14-Inch Deluxe Band Saw Feature
- Quick-release blade tension
- 2 speeds: 1445/2950 ft/min
- Hinged blade guard with sight window
- Large 16-by-21-1/2-inch work table
- 4-inch dust port
Rikon 10-325 14-Inch Deluxe Band Saw Overview
Rikon Model 10-325 features two speeds (1445 and 2950 ft/min), a 13-inch resaw capacity and a powerful 1-1/2 HP 110/220V motor. Blade tracking and tension windows add safety while aligning your blade. Changing the blades (accepts 1/8-inch to 3/4-inch widths) is easy with a hinged blade guard that provides 2 inches of access; there's no twisting to install or remove blades. Quick release blade tension is designed to operate horizontally adding to the ease of use of this band saw. The 16-inch x 20-1/2-inch cast iron table is supported by a one-piece trunnion system. Hinged steel doors make access to the cast iron wheels easy and the tool holder keeps your tools accessible. The enclosed cabinet is accessible for storage of extra blades and jigs. Includes: micro adjustable blade guide bearings, work light, heavy-duty fence with resaw bar, and 4-inch dust port. Shipping weight is 261 lbs.Rikon 10-325 14-Inch Deluxe Band Saw Specifications
Designed to give you options for cutting wood and non-ferrous materials, the award-winning RIKON 10-325 14-Inch Deluxe Bandsaw offers a large, cast iron work table, ball-bearing blade guides, and a powerful 1-1/2-horsepower motor with two speeds. With convenient features such as quick release blade tension, dust ports, and viewing windows to help with adjustments, this precision bandsaw also includes a heavy-duty rip fence with re-saw bar.
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 13-inch capacity allows for easy re-sawing of a variety of materials. View larger. |
 Large work table has tilt-and-lock capability and work light. View larger. |
 Balanced 14-inch bandsaw and sturdy rip fence for accurate cuts. View larger. |
The RIKON 14-Inch Deluxe Bandsaw is driven by a 1-1/2-horsepower, 110/220-volt motor that functions smoothly and powerfully. And with a 13-inch re-saw capacity, it can easily re-saw slicing veneers, book-matched projects, and lumber sizing. Precision-balanced, solid cast iron wheels give the blade uniform operation, and the edge-facing thrust bearings also help to extend blade and bearing life while improving the stability of the blade during cutting.
Two Speeds for Different Cutting Applications
With a 13-inch cutting capacity and two speed settings, the RIKON 14-Inch Deluxe Bandsaw can be used for a variety of applications. The 1,445-feet/minute setting is ideal for hardwoods, some plastics, and non-ferrous metals, while the 2,950-feet/minute setting can be used for other woodworking applications.
Convenient Features Increase Functionality
A large, 16-inch by 21-1/2-inch table provides plenty of additional work space during woodcutting operations. You can also easily tilt and lock the table into place with the solid cast table trunnion. A convenient tool storage cabinet at the bottom of the unit gives you a place to keep extra blades, jigs, or other tools.
Heavy Duty, Adjustable Rip Fence
An included rip fence can be mounted on either the right or left side of the blade, and a re-saw bar can be attached to help correct any blade wandering during re-sawing. You can easily correct the fence for blade drift by turning the adjustment collars and fence bolts.
Quick-Release Blades and Viewing Windows for Easy Adjustments
It's easy to assemble, operate, and adjust the RIKON 14-Inch Deluxe Bandsaw with the helpful manual, blade selection guide, and wheel adjustment tip sheet. Inset windows allow you to check the centering of the blade as well as the tension of the blade, so you can keep your operation running smoothly and accurately. You can also quickly release blade tension when changing blades or when the machine is off to help increase the life of the blade.
Dust Port Keeps Work Area Clean
The 4-inch dust port helps you keep dust out of the air when you attach your dust collection system to the port opening.
The RIKON 10-325 14-Inch Deluxe Bandsaw is backed by a manufacturer's two-year limited warranty.
What's in the Box
RIKON 10-325 14-Inch Deluxe Bandsaw, work table, base cabinet, rip fence, tool holder, work light, owner's manual, and parts for assembly.
 Make exacting cuts in hardwoods, plastics, non-ferrous metals, and more. |
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