What To Look For in a Band Saw
Band saws are versatile tools that come in various shapes and sizes. Their primary function is to make smooth, precise, yet sometimes complicated cuts in wood and metal. If workshop space and money is not an issue, look for a powerful floor-standing machine rated between 350 and 500 Watts that can cut up to 150 mm deep and over 250 mm wide. These band saws often have 2 cutting speeds.
Benchtop band saws tend to be the most popular band saws because they are more versatile and not as expensive. They weigh around 20 kgs (compared to a floor standing machine weight of 40kg). However, they are however less powerful than floor-standing band saws and have a typical throat (cutting width) of 200-230mm. If you are looking for an ultra-portable solution you could consider a cordless band saw powered by 18 Volt Lithium-Ion batteries.
Most band saws feature a cast iron tilting table around 300x300mm. An LED work light is also a very useful feature.