Benchtop band saws come in a variety of shapes and sizes – there are portable bandsaw that you can use to handle smaller, more mobile projects, but there are also heavy-duty ones that are generally used at boatyards and construction sites. If you’re looking for a Best benchtop band saw, you have certainly come to a right place.
Today we’re going to talk about some of the best benchtop bandsaw models, as well as talk about when you should use one and how to pick the best model for your money. So, without any further ado, let’s dive into the reviews:
| Item | Brand | Dimension | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Laguna | 18 x 25 x 70.2 inches | 4.1 | Check Price |
 | Grizzly | 45 x 21.5 x 18 inches | 4.3 | Check Price |
 | Skil | 31.1 x 16.2 x 12.8 inches | 4.1 | Check Price |
 | WEN | 20 x 25 x 58 inches | 4.2 | Check Price |
 | Jet | 29 x 28 x 77 inches | 4.6 | Check Price |
 | Powertec | 31.5 x 17.7 x 11.4 inches | 3.7 | Check Price |
 | Rikon | 35.5 x 18 x 13 inches | 4.2 | Check Price |
Table of Contents
Best Benchtop Band Saw Reviews
The first benchtop band saw on our list is Laguna Tools’ MBAND 14 x 12 bandsaw. It rocks a very powerful 1.75 Hp motor operating at 60 hertz, and rocks 115 volts of pure power. It packs a 6 foot cord with the Nema 5 15 P plug, which is sufficiently long to reach anywhere inside a room.
It should be noted, though, that this particular band saw is quite huge, which means that it’s meant for workshops or garages. Its actual dimensions measure 18 inches by 25 inches by 70.25 inches and it weighs over 250 pounds. Nevertheless, setting it up is all too easy.
Key Features:
- Laguna 10 Point Ceramic Blade Guides
- Solid Cast Wheels are designed & balanced to run cooler & last longer.
- Table tilt 45 Degree on Right & 7 Degree on Left
- Blade Speed Optimized for Wood Cutting
- Magnetic Blade Guard
- Steel frame, cast iron wheels and Trunion
- lluminated on/off direct start switch with safety key
The first notable feature of the Laguna Tools MBAND 1412 175 band saw is the illuminated brightly lit direct-start switch which comes supplied with a safety key.
This Vertical band saw rocks a sturdy steel frame, a set of cast-iron wheels, and cast iron table surface. Additionally, it sports a heavy-duty iron Trunion with dimensions of 8 inches by 13 inches, and the table can tilt up to 45 degrees right and up to 7 degrees left.
The blade length of Laguna Tools MBAND’s benchtop band saw is 115 inches, and it sports a aluminium rip-fence with dimensions of 18 inches by 5.5 inches by 0.5 inches.
In essence, Grizzly is your go-to brand if you are looking for quality tools. Their catalogue boasts a huge variety of bandsaws, table saws, jointers, planners, drill presses, shapers, and sanders, and today we’re looking at one of their finest models called the G0555LX Deluxe Bandsaw.
First of all, the Grizzly G0555LX Deluxe Bandsaw features a highly durable cast-iron frame and precision ground cast-iron table. Additionally, this band saw sports computer-balanced cast-iron wheels supplied with anti-slip rubber tires
Key Features:
- Dimensions measure 45 inches by 21.5 inches by 18 inches
- Weighs 247 pounds
- 14 inch long band saw blade
- Ball-bearing guiding mechanism
- Equipped with anti-slip caster wheels
- Made from high quality iron
In contrast to our previous pick, the Grizzly G0555LX Deluxe Bandsaw is pretty portable. Its dimensions measure 45 inches by 21.5 inches by 18 inches, so it’s a bit more suited for more mobile projects. It is, however, almost just as heavy as Laguna Tools’ MBAND, weighing 247 pounds in total.
This band saw features a 14-inch long blade guided upper, lower, and thrust ball-bearing mechanism.
If you are on a tight budget and are looking to score some high-quality power tools, you might want to check out Skils’ assortment of goods. They offer a broad selection of entry level saws, bench grinders, contractor blades, sidewinders, and benchtop band saws, as well as a variety of basic tools if you need to stock up on your gear.
For our review we’ve picked out the Skil 3386 01 9-inch band saw. It’s one of the Amazon’s choices in the band saw department mainly due to its incredible efficiency and affordability.
Key Features:
- Actual dimensions measure 31.1 inches by 16.2 inches by 12.8 inches
- Weighs 16.51 pounds
- Throat capacity measures 9 inches
- Rack & pinion table adjustments
- Articulating LED lit work light
The first notable feature of this Skil benchtop bandsaw is -You can cut through and re-saw variety of wood materials with 6 TPI blade. Most importantly the table can be lifted and angled to meet your cutting needs.
And the rip fence allows to straight cut & miter gauge allows to corss cuts.
Furthermore, its articulating LED work light which provides superior visibility in poorly lit conditions.
Its actual dimensions measure 23.15 inches by 16.25 inches by 12.75 inches and it weighs only 16.5 pounds. The Skil’s 3386 01 2.5 Amp band saw is easily one of the most portable and most reliable models you can get in this price point category.
Next up is Wen’s 3962 two-speed band saw bundle. Just like Skil, Wen is one of those brands which you should consider checking out if you are looking for affordable power tools.
The Wen 3962 band saw features a strong 3.5 amp motor which can cut up to 6” deep and 9.75” wide while utilizing any 0.125 inch to 0.5 inch sized blades. It has a decently big work table made from cast aluminium which can bevel as much as 45 degrees.
Key Features:
- Actual dimensions measure 20 inches by 25 inches by 58 inches
- Weighs 73 pounds
- Outfitted with a 3.5 amp motor
- Suitable for 0.125 inch to 0.5 inch sized blades
- Two operational speeds – 1520 FPM and 2620 FPM
- Supplementary work light, miter gauge, a fence, and a 3 in 1 dust port
The dimensions of Wen’s 3962 benchtop band saw measure 20 inches by 25 inches by 58 inches and it weighs 73 pounds, which means that it’s decently portable. However, it doesn’t come equipped with roller wheels, so you’ll have to do the heavy lifting the old fashioned way.
One of the best things about this benchtop band saw is that you get to choose between two operational speeds. You can switch between 1520 FPM ( Feet Per Minute ) and 2620 FPM.
If you’ve managed to save up some cash, we suggest that you check out Jet’s assortment of power tools. They offer premium quality drill presses, sanders, grinders, lathes, dust collectors, and, of course, Tabletop bandsaw. We have picked out their JWBS 14 DXPRO bandsaw kit for today’s review.
This particular model sports a built-in 12-inch re-saw cap, allowing you to cut up bigger chunks of wood with great ease. Furthermore, it rocks two speed belt-driven system, affording it with extra versatility.
Key Features:
- Dimensions measure 29 inches by 28 inches by 77 inches
- Quick release blade tension
- Weighs 256 pounds
- Cutting capacity – width 13.5 inches, height 12 inches
- Built-in 12 inch resaw capacity
- Two selectable speeds powered by a belt-driven system
- Easy-view blade-tracking window
This benchtop band saw features a blade-tracking window which allows you to observe the cutting process a bit more easily. Furthermore, it sports a blade-guide post packed with a rack & pinion adjustments.
In terms of size, the JET’s JWBS 14 DXPRO is a moderately big bench top band saw. Its actual dimensions measure 29 inches by 28 inches by 77 inches. It is also quite heavy as it weighs 256 pounds.
The Jet’s JWBS 14 DXPRO is pretty versatile in terms of cutting capacity. It can cut up to 13.5 inches in width or 12 inches of height. Overall, it offers a well balanced performance and holds a huge value for the money.
We’re following up with Powertec’s BS900, a 9 inch benchtop bandsaw. This is basically a bundle comprised of a 9-inch band saw, a miter guage, as well as a 0.25 inch by 62 inch saw blade.
There are several ‘special features’ onboard, including the Powertec’s patented blade-guard adjustment which allows you to replace the blades easily and quite quickly. Additionally, there are the blade-tracking windows and a 2-inch dust port which helps you keep your working area clean from dust as you operate the machine.
Key Features:
- Dimensions measure 31.5 inches by 17.7 inches by 11.4 inches
- Weighs 44.1 pounds
- Supplied with a 0.5 horsepower motor with 2.5 amps of power
- Patented blade-guard adjustment
This band saw model comes supplied with a 0.5 horsepower motor with 2.5 amps, which is more than enough for most wood-based projects. Best of all, this is a relatively small and quite portable bench top band saw. Its dimensions measure 31.5 inches by 17.7 inches by 11.4 inches. It weighs only 44.1 pounds, so it’s pretty safe to say that you will be able to move it from place to place quite easily.
Last on our list of the best bechtop band saw models is Rikon’s 10 305 Band saw. Essentially, it’s incredibly sturdy as it has solid-steel design, a cast-iron table with a huge working surface, and a quality rip-fence.
The dimensions of this magnificent bench top band saw measure 35.5 inches by 18 inches by 13 inches and it weighs only 76 pounds.
Key Features:
- Dimensions measure 35.5 inches by 18 inches by 13 inches
- Weighs 76 pounds
- Solid steel construction
- Cast-iron working surface
- 1/3 horsepower motor
- Micro-adjustable guide post
Its resaw capacity is 4-5/8 inches, it comes supplied with edge-facing thrust bearings, a 2-inch fence, and a 2.5 inch dust port. Furthermore, the table can tilt up to 45 degrees, and the tension knob is oversized, allowing you to use it a bit more easily.
You can check: WEN 3962 VS RIKON 10-305
When to use Benchtop Band saw?
In essence, a benchtop band saw is meant for all kinds of woodwork operations- curved cuts , Straight Cuts , Re-sawing, Making irregular shapes and precise cuts.
if one’s purpose is to make curves or to make desired shapes on jobsite in such a jigsaw will be ideal. As jigsaw is portable & lightweight. But remember, Jigsaw isn’t substitute of bandsaw.
Actually it’s up to you in which scenario you’ll opt for a Vertical bandsaw and when you’ll use more ‘traditional’ tools. Let’s briefly have a rundown of scenarios in which bandsaw can be used.
Cutting thinner wood pieces and shaping them can be done with plain non-electric tools, but if you want to speed up the process with cutting speed and precision, you can use a small-motor bandsaw.
Cutting larger pieces of wood and non-ferrous metals demands a bandsaw with almost any type of blade.
Lastly, cutting ferrous metals and the thickest of wood pieces require you to use specialised blades commonly referred to as Raker-teeth blades.
How to choose best benchtop Band saw?
Type Of Project
The first thing you’ll need to ask yourself before you venture on to buy a band saw is ‘what kind of project will I be working on?’
For example, if you intend to simply tinker around with wood pieces every now and then, you don’t need a professional boutique level benchtop bandsaw – you can get a budget one with the least amount of horsepower and the simplest of blades.
If you are a beginner, hobbyist or an enthusiast who frequently works around with thin metals and wood, you might need a better quality band saw.
Last, but not least, if you’re a professional who makes a living out of tinkering around with wood pieces and both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, you’ll need a top-tier band saw with a motor supplied with at least 2 HP.
Benchtop Saw Power
Benchtop band saws are powered by electricity – more specifically speaking, by motor power. The motor power of an electric band saw is measured by horsepower and volts.
The amount of ‘power’ you’ll need largely depends on which types of projects you want to dabble in. Cutting and shaping thinner wood pieces can be done with a 1/3 HP while cutting metal demands at least 2-3 horsepower motor.
Table size
There are several reasons why Spacious table design and table size holds such a big importance in regards to a table top band saw’s Efficient cut.
First and foremost, the bigger your table is, the easier you will be able to guide the stock through your saw. Furthermore, bigger tables leave you with more space to work with.
Generally speaking, the table size of a band saw is proportionate to the rest of the construction usually, which means that if you’re looking for a big working surface, you should probably avoid compact models.
Blade
One of the best things about most Vertical band saw models is that you can customize the blades. This means that you are free to replace the blades with longer or shorter ones, use blades with different tooth-patterns, all to optimize your band saw for the particular project you are working on.
Some of the most commonly used blade types are hook-tooth blades, skip-tooth blades, and raker-set blades.
The hook-tooth blades are supplied with ultra-wide teeth which are lined up quite close next to each other. Ideally, the hook-tooth blades should be used for robust hard woods, plastics, or sturdy non-ferrous types of metal.
Skip-tooth blades are supplied with teeth which have plenty of space between each other and are commonly used for softer types of metal, such would be aluminium for example.
The Raker-set tooth-blades excel where the other two types of blades fail – cutting and shaping ferrous metals.
FAQ on Best Benchtop Band saw
A. Who makes the best benchtop bandsaw?
Ans: Well, this is a bit tough question as varieties of things are related to choose the best bandsaw brand. But we can say among all Grizzly , Jet , WEN, RIKON,LAGUNA etc.
B.What size bandsaw should I buy?
Ans: It’s actually depends on your work & project criteria. If you are enthusiast and home user in such case 9″ to 14″ will be ideal.
