Affordable band saw?

T

toobit

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Apr 13, 2020
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What do you all recommend from Lowes or Home Depot? Or Harbor frieght?

The last table saw I had was horrible and not strong enough for metal. I believe everyone uses band saws to cut metal here? If so any advice on a good one!
Thanks!
 
toobit said:
What do you all recommend from Lowes or Home Depot? Or Harbor frieght?

The last table saw I had was horrible and not strong enough for metal. I believe everyone uses band saws to cut metal here? If so any advice on a good one!
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Grizzly.com has some pretty reasonable tools.
 
I'm glad you made this thread. I was going to purchase a cheaper Grizzly band saw for occasionally cutting blocks into scales but I was just given a cheap Skil 9" band saw for free (I think it's the 3386) and I was curious if it would be sufficient for cutting scales every once in a while or if I should just spring for the Grizzly. Anyone have any feedback on the Skil (I completely understand it's more of a hobbyist band saw)? I only plan on cutting wood (and not too often), so as long as I can get fairly straight cuts I should be in clear... Maybe a wide blade? I guess if my skill improves, I may move into working on metal too, but I imagine that will be quite some time.
 
If it's something you won't be using very often, HF will work. I use a band saw, drill, sawzall, impact drill often. Over the years I've learned, you get what you pay for.
Go look on Amazon, there's some reasonably priced tools there.
 
Fixall said:
I'm glad you made this thread. I was going to purchase a cheaper Grizzly band saw for occasionally cutting blocks into scales but I was just given a cheap Skil 9" band saw for free (I think it's the 3386) and I was curious if it would be sufficient for cutting scales every once in a while or if I should just spring for the Grizzly. Anyone have any feedback on the Skil (I completely understand it's more of a hobbyist band saw)? I only plan on cutting wood (and not too often), so as long as I can get fairly straight cuts I should be in clear... Maybe a wide blade? I guess if my skill improves, I may move into working on metal too, but I imagine that will be quite some time.
Click to expand...

I don't have any experience with that saw, but if I was given one, I would certainly give it a try before I spent the money for a new one. For straight cuts a wider blade should help. A fence should help. A sharp blade in good condition, and having the blade guides and tension set properly, all will help.

O.B.
 
Never forget to keep your eyes on local ads. A decent size bandsaw is not something that gets moved easily, and there will be a number of old units that need to be moved out of garages and workshops.
 
If you are wanting to cut steels get a portaband with a SWAG table. Numerous threads about this in the knifemakers section. I use a Dewalt.
 
Fixall said:
but I was just given a cheap Skil 9" band saw for free (I think it's the 3386) and I was curious if it would be sufficient for cutting scales every once in a while or if I should just spring for the Grizzly.
Click to expand...

The Skil will probably work fine for cutting wood blanks. The adjustments, and so forth might be lower quality, and it might not have much power. And it doesn't have much throat for cutting larger things. I've read recommendations to buy a good blade to go on your low priced saw so if there is any question about your blade, then get a new one.

Regarding straight cuts- the key to this is aligning the fence with the direction the blade wants to go. Apparently the blade will have its own natural cutting direction that might not align with the fence. Experiment to find the direction that yours wants to cut then align the fence with that and you should have better results.
 
toobit said:
What do you all recommend from Lowes or Home Depot? Or Harbor frieght?

The last table saw I had was horrible and not strong enough for metal. I believe everyone uses band saws to cut metal here? If so any advice on a good one!
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Are you interested in a $200 saw or a $1000 saw? At the lower end I think a 10" Rikon might work for you but will be a little more than $200. The best budget saw might be a 10" Wen. I honestly don't know if these have enough power to do serious metal cutting.
 
I have a Skil and it's adequate for light wood. I carve and it's ok for some projects and would be ok for knife handles and such. Probably no good for metal of any kind.
 
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