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Bandsaw Buyer’s Guide - Why Buy a Bandsaw?

Bandsaw Buyer’s Guide - Why Buy a Bandsaw?

2 years ago

A good quality bandsaw is often the most useful and most frequently used machine in any workshop, with a wide range of key benefits.

Versatility

The Fence Can be Used for Accurate, Straight Cuts  

  • Resaw large timbers down to manageable planks.
  • Cut veneers for fine cabinet work.
  • Cut tenons for strong furniture joints.
  • Easily and accurately resize timber for use on a lathe or in other projects.

Create a Wide Variety of Curved Work

  • Cut circles and bowl blanks.
  • Cut shapes and radiused work with ease.
  • Cut shaped legs, chair backs other furniture components.
  • Entire boxes can be created with just a bandsaw.

Tilting the Table Gives Even More Options

  • Accurate bevel cuts.
  • Compound mitre cuts.

Jigs and wider applications

  • The mitre slots and generous solid tables provide endless opportunities for jigs and sleds to accommodate all kinds of repetitive tasks or jobs that require ultimate accuracy.

.

Capacity

The capacity to footprint ratio is exceptional for most bandsaws:

Ease of Use

Bandsaws are generally one of the most enjoyable machines to work with because:

  • The work is being pushed down onto the table by the blade, so will not be kicked back at you, as with some other machines. •
  • It is one of the quietest machines in the workshop.
  • Virtually all elements of the bandsaw can be adjusted – so if there is ever a problem with an application or cut there is usually a simple and logical adjustment that can be made to correct it.

Value

A good bandsaw is tremendous value for money, not only because of their versatility but if you compare the price of a bandsaw to a similar level of quality, features and performance found in, for example, a table saw, you will quickly see they are a fraction of the price of comparable levels of other machines.

Key Aspects of Bandsaw Construction

The bandsaw’s construction has a major bearing on its longevity, accuracy and reliability. Shown here are the key aspects to consider when purchasing any bandsaw and how Record Power compares with the competition at similar price points.

Machine Frames

The frame must be capable of withstanding the stresses created by the blade tensioning system. A weak frame can distort and cause the band wheel boxes to pull together, ruining the machine.

Record Power Bandsaws

On our larger machines, the frames are folded and welded from thick sheet steel and designed with a wide ridged spine for extra rigidity. This is critical on the more heavy-duty machines. The band wheel boxes are fabricated with additional webbing to increase rigidity and strength.

Other Bandsaws

Even on large capacity machines, many of our competitors weld band wheel boxes to a piece of standard rolled hollow box section for the spine. This option is suitable only for small benchtop machines and simply does not have the adequate strength and rigidity for use on larger machines.


Band Wheels

Band wheels are the drive mechanism for the blade. For a quiet and smooth cutting performance it is important that wheels are well balanced. For accurate blade tracking good quality tyres must also be fitted.

Record Power Bandsaws

All our larger bandsaws (BS300E upwards) have strong, heavy cast iron band wheels to increase the flywheel effect. They are dynamically balanced and have thick rubber tyres for easy tracking and longevity. This is essential on larger machines to ensure they can withstand the tensioning forces of larger blades and the rigours of heavier use.

Other Bandsaws

Many of our competitors use lightweight alloy wheels. This is suitable for small bandsaws but does not give enough strength to larger machines, therefore compromising their performance.

Blade Guides

The purpose of the blade guides is to prevent the blade from twisting whilst cutting. Guides will need re-adjusting whenever different blade widths are fitted and often require tweaking even when the same width blade is used, so ease of adjustment, good access and clear views are beneficial. Good support over a wide surface area will provide the most accurate results.

Record Power Bandsaws

All Record Power bandsaws feature easy to adjust guide systems which give more than enough support relative to the size of machine. The SABRE-250, SABRE-350 and SABRE-450 in particular offer a quick and simple solution for easy tool-free adjustment.

Other Bandsaws

Many of our competitors use lighter duty springs and top slides that simply will not provide adequate tension on their larger bandsaws, particularly on wider blades. Their wheels may be able to take wide blades but without enough tension they will not be able to cut accurately.

Blade Tensioning

A critical factor for accurate straight cutting. Even a good quality blade will perform poorly under inadequate tension. The springs and slide mechanisms in the top band wheel box need to be strong enough to apply pressures up to 20,000 psi and the frame of the machine needs to be strong and rigid enough to not distort under those pressures.

Record Power Bandsaws

Our tensioning systems vary throughout the range, each designed carefully and specifically to provide ample tensioning ability for the machine. The SABRE-350 and SABRE-450 in particular, feature strong sprung systems with top slides and cam-action tension release.


Other Bandsaws

Many of our competitors use lighter duty springs and top slides that simply will not provide adequate tension on their larger bandsaws, particularly on wider blades. Their wheels may be able to take wide blades but without enough tension they will not be able to cut accurately.

Fence

A rigid fence is essential for accurate straight cuts. It is also important that the fence or fence mount can be adjusted to ensure squareness to the table and blade.

Record Power Bandsaws

The fences on our larger bandsaws (BS300E and upwards) feature deep extrusions mounted securely to the tables on solid steel bars with steel and cast fence clamps. The aluminium extrusions found on the smaller BS250 and SABRE-250 machines are an excellent solution for machines of their capacities, providing plenty of support.

Other Bandsaws

Most of our competitors use aluminium extrusions for the fences and rail mounts, even on very large capacity bandsaws. Whilst this does keep costs down a little, it compromises performance of the machines and is inadequate for their capacity.

Motors

A good quality motor with plenty of power is essential. The more deep cutting you intend to do, the more power you will require.

Record Power Bandsaws

Record Power motors are designed to provide ample power for the capacities of the machines and are the fan-ventilated, quiet induction type. We always state the input and output ratings clearly, yet most of our competitors only quote the input rating as the motor power.

Other Bandsaws

Many of our competitors use under-powered motors for their bandsaws, giving poor performance and reducing motor life. Motor input powers only are usually stated, so to get an accurate comparison between brands, be sure to know the output rating too, which shows the true power of the machine.

Tables

The table is the support and working area of the bandsaw. Along with the rip fence it is also the datum from which many cuts will be taken so a level and strong surface is clearly a great advantage. It is also important that the table can be set accurately at 90º to the blade so a solid table mount with good adjustment is a great benefit.

Record Power Bandsaws

Large and heavy for maximum support, our high-quality cast grey iron tables are finely ground to a polished finish to minimise friction, and the premium range have mitre slots on either side of the blade to enable a wide variety of angles to be cut with ease. The premium range trunnions are a one-piece, double-sided casting for rigidity and feature a rack and pinion table tilt to make accurate angles easy to achieve - even one-handed. The trunnion sits on a plate on the top of the bottom band wheel box and features jacking screws to make accurate levelling an easy task.

Other Bandsaws

Many of our competitors use smaller tables with roughly machined surfaces that can impede the progress of the workpiece. Most have only one mitre slot to the right of the blade, making mitres on wide work-pieces impossible to achieve and most do not have rack and pinion tilt mechanisms, so must be tilted by hand. This can be difficult to do accurately on larger machines with heavier tables and you often get movement just as you try to nip it in position whilst only supporting it by hand.




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