The Best Bandsaws
If you're looking to upgrade your workshop, a good bandsaw is one of the most essential pieces of equipment you can get your hands on. Bandsaws can make solid rips and crosscuts on a variety of materials, including wood and metal. The market is inundated with options, though, so choosing the right one for your needs can be hard. With that in mind, we rounded up a few of our favorites here to help simplify your search.
What to Look For
We wanted to find the best bandsaws on the market, so we used three questions to guide our search: Is it accurate and powerful for making fast, precise cuts? Is it handheld, mountable to a tabletop, or a free-standing behemoth? Is it constructed out of high-quality materials to endure years of woodworking? We found a handful that really cut the mustard. At the top of our list, we present DeWalt’s DCP580B brushless bandsaw, since this beauty sets the gold standard for performance and precision. But for those with a bigger budget, we recommend Rikon’s premium model, which delivers professional results and a high output rate. There’s a lot to consider, so read on.
DeWalt DCP580B Brushless Bandsaw
This bandsaw’s brushless motor provides high-quality performance, power, and a long runtime. With such a high-powered motor, this bandsaw can make cuts more quickly than many competing units can. What’s even better is that this bandsaw features front and back aluminum shoes, which ensure that the blade always produces a parallel cut.
Pros:
- We appreciate how comfortable the handle is. This helps reduce hand fatigue so that you can work for longer.
- This is a situation where the company name goes a long way. DeWalt is known for the high quality and excellent cost value of its tools, and this bandsaw is no exception.
Cons:
- It can be a bit difficult to align the blade with the holder.
Rikon Deluxe Bandsaw
The workhorse wonder
One of the most valuable qualities you can find in a bandsaw is versatility. A versatile bandsaw allows you to work with various types of materials, usually thanks to various speed settings or the ability to make different types of cuts. Luckily, that’s exactly the case with this bandsaw from Rikon. You can set its blades to two different speeds, and it’s also extremely easy to operate, which makes it perfect for producing smooth cuts in wood or metal. And let’s not forget that this bandsaw includes a safety paddle, which helps you or your kid stay safe while operating the machine.
Pros:
- Equipped with sharp blades and a muscular motor, this heavy-duty machine can handle projects both large and small. There’s no need to baby this thing.
- Unlike most bandsaws at this price point, this one comes with a small cast-iron work table.
Cons:
- It doesn’t come with a miter gauge, so you’ll have to supply your own.
Bosch Bare-Tool BSH180B Compact Bandsaw
Bring your tools with you
When you’re working on a new project, you’ll want to have a bandsaw that is simple to operate to make things easier for you. With this bandsaw from Bosch, you’ll be able to finish that project quicker than ever before. Compact and lightweight yet still capable of packing quite a punch, this bandsaw provides a degree of convenience that most others lack. It features a nifty LED work light that lights up the cut lines so that you can be certain you’re making the cut you want to make. We also appreciate how compact and portable this unit is. Thanks to its cordless design, you can transport it from your job site to your home workshop whenever you need to without much fuss.
Pros:
- The work light is a really useful addition for those who have poor vision or a workshop whose lighting is lacking.
- The bandsaw is designed with electronic cell protection, which prevents the battery from overloading or overheating.
Cons:
- Unfortunately, the battery and charger are sold separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make a cut with a bandsaw?
When you’re making initial adjustments to your bandsaw in preparation for a cut, there are a few things to keep in mind. You should always center the side bearings as close to the blade as possible without touching the surface of the blade. Once the blade is turning, you should make sure the side bearings don’t spin until you push the material through your bandsaw. We recommend always adjusting the upper bearings first; only once you’ve done that should you adjust the lower bearings.
How do I stop my bandsaw from wandering?
When you’re cutting with a bandsaw, we suggest that you go slow enough that the blade can clear away waste. Ripping or cutting too fast can cause the blade to wander. We also recommend that you check the way your blades are stored, as storing them badly can damage them, which can ultimately contribute to poor alignment and wandering.
Why Trust Us
With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.