Quality small bandsaw

[Gotcha640]

I've been avoiding buying a bandsaw for years, partly because I have it in my head that I need a 14+ inch 15 amp thing with cast iron and everything.

Primary use would be cutting curves in plywood and sheetmetal, cutting small rod/angle/bar a little less rough than a grinder, and cleaning up edges of split logs for joiner or tablesaw.

I understand the small $100-200 bench top things are generally plastic and garbage. Is there such a thing as a well built bench top in the under $400 range?

Would I be better served by a portaband and swag table? I'm pretty sure I would, but need you guys to spend my money.

 

[Ign]

Yeah I'd lean toward the SWAG setup myself

Next might be a HF 4x6....do the tweaks to get it cutting true....and if you need vertical improve the table and/or completely remove the bow and design your own table.

 

[astroracer]

A porta-band will do well for any metal cutting but it will be slow and the throat really isn't deep enough to be much use for cutting any major sizes of lumber. I have a 12" 3 wheel wood band saw I got off eBay for less then a 100 bucks and it works fine for any wood cutting i need to do. it will not cut metal so you need to think about getting a purpose designed saw for both materials.
Mark

 

[My Old Tools]

Delta 14" wood/metal bandsaw. They've been made for 80 years or so and there are plenty of used ones around.

For wood, an upright bandsaw, heavy, with a real table is what you need. For metal, a small drop type metal bandsaw works well. Or do what I did and buy an old power hacksaw (or two in my case).

 

[RTM]

The portaband won't do lumber of any appreciable size. My 14" Laguna does OK on ripping (resawing) lumber, but I won't use it for metal. Don't want to contaminate my wood with possible metal particles, as I live near the Pacific rust generator.

I would not trust a 3 wheel bandsaw to touch logs, touch up or not.

 

[theoldwizard1]

... (a porta band with) the SWAG setup ...

Good setup but limited depth.

Next might be a HF 4x6....do the tweaks to get it cutting true....and if you need vertical improve the table ...

After doing the tweaks and improving the table. it is actually pretty decent !

 

[theoldwizard1]

Delta 14" wood/metal bandsaw. They've been made for 80 years or so and there are plenty of used ones around.

For wood, an upright bandsaw, heavy, with a real table is what you need. For metal, a small drop type metal bandsaw works well. Or do what I did and buy an old power hacksaw (or two in my case).

Some of the really old Craftsman were made by Delta or Porter Cable and are decent, but you can not cut metal with them unless you find/make a speed reducer.

 

[BD1]

For wood cutting curves a dedicated wood bandsaw would be best. A handheld jigsaw maybe an option.
For metal, a Milwaukee portaband gets my vote. I bought this one cheap because of busted casting. I added a table matching screw holes for the guide. A wheel and upright base .
This is over 10 years old and is a permanent mount. Saw stays mounted for blade removal in front. This is used for my artwork and other metal. It's really handy for sure and inexpensive to make.

 

[karoc]

Well heck, I just sold an Delta/Rockwell 14" that made for cutting wood and metal. Metal was a slower rpm. If your not in hurry, watch CL and FB,I sold mine on CL

 

[Gotcha640]

Thanks for the replies. I always forget about jigsaws, they just weren't part of the tool box growing up.

I do see a lot of cheap portabands on CL, I guess it's time to jump on the next one that's going for pocket money. I guess I should read about common failure points, but assume they're so common there will be parts on ebay, at least brushes and bearings.

 

[carterbeauford]

https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-9-benchtop-bandsaw-with-laser-guide/g0803z

 

[matt_i]

Finest 14" saw imo is a vintage Powermatic 143. Wood and metal speeds with a quick change gearbox for low. Nice cast iron construction.

 

[tarbellb]

IMO the wood + metal 2 speed saws are unicorns. Rarely see them, and prices tend to reflect that.

If you find one, scoop it up, typically good construction and space saving.

Otherwise, do NOT buy a single speed wood bandsaw for metal, it will only eat blades.

 

[macgee]

I agree with others about trying to combine tasks of cutting wood & steel on one bandsaw. It's very frustrating and best to have two different bandsaws.

They do make dual purpose ones but they're very expensive. The portabands with the small table bases are awesome for metal cutting small items and sections but there also limited and don't think about being happy using them for wood and the setup is not cheap after you add up all the bits.

The speed difference is too big to use multi speed pulleys. You have to fabricate a jack shaft to reduce the speed down enough to 90% for cutting ferrous metal, like stainless and typical carbon steel.

Personally I would try to find a small bandsaw for cheap like a 10" delta 28-100 , put a 8"+ pulley on it and swap out the motor for a brushless DC servo motor thats used on sewing machines. You can slow the speed way down and still have good torque and speed it way up to cut soft thin wood,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HFTMR8Z/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_9?smid=A2RB21RUGRFV4T&psc=1

 

[Hack Fabrication]

As others have posted, you probably would be better served with two bandsaws. One for wood, one for metal.

I have the HF bandsaws: 14" for wood, and their 1hp 4x6 for metal. Both took a bit of 'tweaking' after purchase. But both have been a great addition to my shop. And at a price point I could justify.

The Delta dual purpose bandsaw would be great to have, but as posted, they seem to be difficult to find. And when you do, the seller wants a premium. You can easily buy both the HF units for that money. And do some upgrades. Plus you won't have to be concerned about swapping blades, or contamination, with two saws.

 

[txvwnut]

I bought a ten inch Wen bandsaw and so far don’t have any complaints. Has plenty of power and came with a stand or you could just use it on a bench. Well one complaint, it has an aluminum table but at the price point of the smaller saws most all of them will.