Band saw

PabloPicasso

PabloPicasso

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Am I in the right ball park in thinking a bandsaw is the next power tool to get that'll be most useful for woodworking?

And Can anyone recommend a good budget bandsaw. I see cheap aldi/lidl and online types but I ha e no idea if they're any good.
 
I have just bought one of these machinemart.co.uk/p/einhell-tc-sb-200-180w-bandsaw/ which I judged the best value of the budget models. I bought it because my table saw blew up when I dragged it out after several years of non use. Most of my requirement is ripping down larger boards (but not too large) into smaller sections. The table saw was really too fierce for fine work and I don't have a planer thicknesser so needed a lot of planing to get a good surface finish. The bandsaw is much finer and the cut edges just need a quick flash of the power plane and a sand to be good enough for varnishing.

I have found it easy to use and very accurate compared with the table saw for my kind of light work.
 
It all depends on what you intend using it for. This is a good summary of what to look for in a band saw, made by Axminster so focussed on their own range, but the principles apply to any brand.
 
I have an Axminster single speed 340 watt one, bought in 2004. Rated 'hobby' but it has been very usefull. At the same time I bought a planer thicknesser off them. Again, not commercial quality, but done a heap of work. Curiously, the motor quit recently and I am swopping it right now. 2.2 kw.
The fence on my bandsaw is not great, looks better in those ones. But I just clamp a bit of wood or angle across the table and that does as well.
 
Whilst a band saw can be very useful you really have to know what work you are going to do with it. I have one of these
Axminster Trade AT1854BV Bandsaw
It is perhaps the least used piece of kit that I have but when I have used it nothing else ( not quite hand tools could be used) would do the job. the last thing I used it for was cutting some thin veneer panels and strips.
Also they take up room so mine is mounted on a base and castors,; it's heavy so whilst it says "bench top" if I had put it on the bench it would be in the same place now.
 
Fr J Hackett said:
Also they take up room so mine is mounted on a base and castors,; it's heavy so whilst it says "bench top" if I had put it on the bench it would be in the same place now.
Click to expand...

I was tempted by the "better" saws such as the one you have, but decided against for the reasons you state - heavy and takes up space when I only plan to use it for specific jobs. The one I bought does not have a base, but does have extendable support feet running forward. I clamp it to the top of an old style heavy workmate when I need it. So far has done everything I expected of it.
 
Mine is an earlier equivalent of this, from the old 'White' range. Lot cheaper back then...
Bandsaws - Saws - Machinery | Axminster Tools Europe.
Like the OP, I wasn't sure quite what what use, but since we had just bought a renovation project and there was a boat to build, I figured it would come in useful. Happily cuts oak and iroko. Only hiccup in 17yrs is the rubber tyres on the drive wheels perished. But they had spares.

Edit: Apparently I linked the whole page. The saw is the AC1950B. think the number is the blade length.
 
The settee back and its framework finally removed to expose the hull planking ribs and frames for inspection




The shelf above the settee back as also been removed as this was in a bad condition as well especially at the aft end where it was very rotten





The trucking in this photo is for the air take for the engine bay which for some reason unknown to me is blanked off at the top and the bottom end of it is missing the fan motor to pull air into the engine bay to keep the temperature down in the engine bay while the engines are running





One more broken rib and the last one in this area is still intact, however the top of the frame behind it is rotten at the top and will need replacing in the near future





The air intake trucking now removed and thew aft end of the settee bunk front just about to be removed to clear the area up for further inspection





The underside of the athwartship settee bunk front showing the fan housing for the engine intake fan.


 
My advice, particularly if you buy a budget band saw, is to can the budget blade supplied with it. Get a set of decent blades from Ian at Tuffsaws. Tuff Saws. . If you don't know what you want chat with him and he will advise. A lot of the pro woodworkers and more serious DIYers buy their blades from him.

I've been a customer of Tuffsaws for some 15 years. You will not be disappointed.
 
Another vote for the Record 250 bought with its wheeled stand so I can keep it in the corner and move it out to where I need it , you need quite a bit of room round the saw because there is no doubt you will try and use its maximum capacity and more besides.
 
Cuan said:
It all depends on what you intend using it for. This is a good summary of what to look for in a band saw, made by Axminster so focussed on their own range, but the principles apply to any brand.
Click to expand...

I have the "budget Axminster hobby saw. It's very good BUT you have to keep on top go the dust build-up. I have an extraction system to a 1.3KW wet & Dry Shop Vac and it's OK. Watch out for sawdust getting trapped in the guides, especially the upper guide as it's a B@$£@&d to remove and clear.
 
BTW I had a Machine Mart 180mm saw and grew out of it very quickly. I discounted replacing it with another bench jigsaw as a result of this experience.
 
I cannot comment upon make coz i cant remember them (except a large axminster), but very useful tools to have. I have a small one too but cant remember its make. Dust extraction is important so a good hoover too.
 
My neighbour has just bought a Screwfix Titan table top bandsaw and got me to assemble it - instructions not fantastic but managed it. But even after lots of adjustments it still does not cut straight. I think it's the blade - he's going to take it to a friend who has much more experience with these small saws(my experience was with LARGE bandsaws! ) I'll tell him about Tuffsaws as mentioned earlier.
 
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