Wood cutting-Band or Table Saw?

P

PaMtnBkr

Joined
Dec 31, 2009
Messages
393
If you could only get one, a table saw or a band saw (for wood, not metal) which would you get and why? Seems a table saw would be better for cutting blanks flat but a band saw would be better for cutting profiles? Just not sure which I would want more and which would be more useful for not only handles but also for everyday tasks? Thanks, DonO
 
PaMtnBkr,
I have both, but for making knives I only use the band saw. A band saw removes far less waste because the kerf is so much smaller. It also cuts curves and profiles. Just don't try to cut any synthetic handle material with wood blades. A well tuned band saw with a sharp (3tpi and widest blade your saw will handle) blade can rip something as short as blanks just as square as a table saw, especially since you will still want to flatten it regardless of which machine you use. Jeff
 
If you're building furniture size pieces or regularly rip boards down then I'd rather have a table saw. If it's primarily for knife building then definitely bandsaw. Unless you're cutting large blanks for handles I wouldn't be using a tables any way. Small blocks of wood on a tables are pretty dangerous.
 
Bandsaw for sure. Safer to use on small stuff, and much more versatile. Pretty much just a plus one for everything mentioned above.
 
Thanks guys. Pretty much my thoughts as well. good tip on the wide blade. We have a band saw here at work with a narrow blade and it wanders all over the place. I know what my next tool purchase will be! Thanks again!
 
a good band saw with a good fence set up should be able to deliver some pretty straight cuts.
 
If the bandsaw blade (no matter how narrow it is) is "wandering" in the cut, there's a problem with the blade or the saw. A bad weld on the blade is a frequent culprit, for the saw it could be tires, bearings, improper tensioning, poor wheel alignment, or guides. There are a lot of books and videos out there about tuning the bandsaw, I like Mark Duginske's book FWIW. It's worth the time to properly tune up a bandsaw and it can make a real difference in performance. While a wide blade is a bit better for resawing thick lumber, you should be able to follow a line with a blade of any width on a properly functioning bandsaw.
 
Mahoney said:
If the bandsaw blade (no matter how narrow it is) is "wandering" in the cut, there's a problem with the blade or the saw. A bad weld on the blade is a frequent culprit, for the saw it could be tires, bearings, improper tensioning, poor wheel alignment, or guides. There are a lot of books and videos out there about tuning the bandsaw, I like Mark Duginske's book FWIW. It's worth the time to properly tune up a bandsaw and it can make a real difference in performance. While a wide blade is a bit better for resawing thick lumber, you should be able to follow a line with a blade of any width on a properly functioning bandsaw.
Click to expand...

or it could be a dull blade or chipped tooth
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top