Choosing a Band Saw

This month's "how to buy" topic is band saws. Depending on what kind of woodworking you normally do, band saws can be essential to the shop or a perfect accessory to table saw.

There are two common styles of band saws, 3 wheel and the two wheel. After this it is mainly just size. Three wheel band saws give you a greater gullet depth than a two wheel having the same blade part but they have other problems, which take away from any specific cutting advantage. Two wheels are much easier to align thoroughly and keep aligned during use than three. The less substantial blades also will break much easier with three wheels a result of the extra stress created by smaller wheels. All in all, there are only a few three wheel band saws, which are worth the money and annoyance they create. There was a time when there were many on the market, require days they are rare except at garage sales. If you the extra throat depth then buy a larger two bring machine. Just as an example, years ago I was using a three take band saw and it took me almost half an hour to discover the blade to track properly only to find when I put it in load the tracking went off again. From here at I'm only going to talk about the two wheel band saws.

The frame construction is the first thing to look at. Smaller standard top band saws can be pressed metal, plastic resin, steel or cast iron. Larger band saws would be either cast iron or steel. The pressed blend and plastic resin are not as rigid as precious metal or cast and these saws are definitely meant for light accountability hobby and craft work. You are much better off so you can get one that has a steel or cast iron frame. These last longer, run smoother and the blades will track greater. Larger band saws all come with cast iron or simply steel frames so you do not have to worry about the rigidity. Every type of frame has its advantages and disadvantages. Steel frames include the most rigid and therefore more stable and smoother functioning, but they are also more expensive. Cast iron frames are more inexpensive and often allow you to increase the height capacity using a riser, still having cast parts they can crack and fracture with use. In most home shop applications this is not a large dilemma but it depends on the amount of use. Know more how to build a pallet deck

Motor size can range right from 1/6HP to 1/3HP for bench top and with 1/2HP upward to 3HP or larger on substantial industrial machines. The smaller the motor the harder it needs to work. If you mainly work on smaller crafts or magic size construction, the smaller bench tops are fine, but in the future try and go with one, which has 1/4HP or larger. For those who build furniture, cabinets or larger projects go with the floor model with at least a 3/4HP motor. The 1/2HP models just don't have enough power for heavier mowing. If you want to cut metal, then make sure the machine has not so quick speeds, down to less than 200 rpm instead of the approximate three thousand rpm for woodcutting.

Make sure the table tilt and even adjustment works smoothly and does not bind anywhere. Tilt it again to the full 45 degrees and look underneath to make sure nothing is changing the blade. If the saw does not come with a fence, find out if the table to drilled and or tapped for a kennel area rail. The quality of band saw fences is wide, and so do a good look at it. If you really like the saw but the containment system is garbage all is not lost. If nothing may be done with the existing one you can make your own which can be just as constant and accurate as anything available. The average table dimensions are about 143 x 143. Many woodworkers find this unique a little small so you can buy or build a larger additional table to give you a greater work surface.

There is not a great deal of significant difference between an open and closed stand. Open stands are equally as stable and in some cases more so, but they do allow your car to be out in the open where dust can get on to it. If you have an open stand make sure you blow the dust right out of the motor on a regular basis. Closed stands keep the motor cleaner, however is not totally dust free, plus they offer storage space for wrenches, hex keys, manual and accessories.

The blade for the band saw is held in place by either direct blocks or bearings. Bearings run cooler, smoother together with quieter than blocks. The majority of saws have guide barricades but there are conversion kits available or blocks produced resins, which run cooler and smoother than the aluminum factory ones supplied. If is worth using either preference since you blades will last longer and the noise level will basically be cut in half.

Most machines these days have allergens ports of some sort and they are important for the same reasons; cleaning solution air, safer shop environment, cleaner longer lasting machine.

If you're interested in doing a lot of resawing, look into an actual resaw string quartet saw. Most band saws will go up to ¾" and also 13 wide blades and although they can resaw the main odd piece, they are not designed for continuous long-term use of this nature. Resaw band saws have a much more powerful motor and implement blades about 33 wide, some are even carbide tipped. You need the wider blades to maintain a straight even chop throughout the entire depth of material. Try and determine how much resawing you will want to do. If a standard band saw will be good, just do not push it too hard when cutting components 33 and thicker and use as wide some blade as possible.

Make sure the blade tension; tracking, size and table adjustments are all convenient, easy to use and acquire. You do not want to be constantly adjusting and tuning the machine which means that make sure there are no obvious problems. Any sloppy links or adjustments could mean problems in tracking or possibly stability.