Top Overall Pick
JET JWBS-14DXPRO
Premium Choice
Laguna MBAND1412-175
Best Value
WEN 3962
Most of us love our bandsaws. They are safer than table saws, simple to use, and super versatile. They are often considered the go-to saw for cuts around the shop. Purchasing the right bandsaw can transform your woodworking experience and results. The key to their success is versatility.
Want to cut a circle in a piece of ply? No problem, all you need is a small jig that takes minutes to make and BINGO! You have the perfect circle. Want to re-dimension some 2X4 to make face frames for some new cabinets? Again, between your jointer and bandsaw, it is only a matter of minutes. Now you are staring at some beautifully milled pieces that are ready to go.
Want to create some beautiful book-matched drawer fronts, then the bandsaw is your go-to tool. A few minutes to set up and cut, and you have drawer fronts with the grain flowing from piece to piece like water. So, which is the best band saw for resawing on the market today?
Contents
- Our Favorite Band Saws for Resawing on The Market Today
- 10 Best Band Saws for Resawing - Reviews
- 1. JET JWBS-14DXPRO Resawing BandSaw - Best Overall Pick
- 2. WEN 3962 Two-Speed Resawing Bandsaw - Best Budget Choice
- 3. Laguna Tools MBAND1412-175 Resawing Band Saw - Premium Choice
- 4. Powermatic PWBS-14CS Resawing Bandsaw
- 5. RIKON Power Tools 10-326 14″ Deluxe Resawing Band Saw
- 6. Powertec BS900 BandSaw for Resawing
- 7. Rikon 10-305 Resawing Bandsaw
- 8. SKIL 3386-01 2.5-Amp Resawing Band-Saw
- 9. Rockwell RK7453 Shop Resawing Band Saw
- 10. Grizzly G0555LX Deluxe Resawing Bandsaw
- Our Winner
- Tips for Resawing
- Buyers’ Guide: Choosing the Right Bandsaw for You
Our Favorite Band Saws for Resawing on The Market Today
10 Best Band Saws for Resawing - Reviews
1. JET JWBS-14DXPRO Resawing BandSaw - Best Overall Pick
This recently redesigned model has it all: fantastic performance from a machine that feels and looks incredibly well made. The new model has a redesigned frame that provides excellent support, which makes it the best bandsaw for resawing top overall choice.
The 1 ¼ motor coupled with a V- Belt Drive and a large 15X15 inch cast iron table means the saw can handle any cut you throw at it.
With two speeds it makes short work of most cuts, slower speeds glide through thicker pieces when resawing. The higher speed produces very clean accurate cuts when working with thinner stock.
This heavyweight comes in at close to 258 lbs and will set you back close to $1,300. For that, you get an excellent machine, that is well made and delivers on many fronts including a 12-inch resaw capacity.
With a modern design, this JET JWBS-14DXPRO can be a little complicated to use. Although in the long run, you would learn to master all its capabilities.
2. WEN 3962 Two-Speed Resawing Bandsaw - Best Budget Choice
For the best bandsaw for resawing budget option look no further than this little WEN!
With a host of options and under $300, it’s hard to beat in the value for money stakes. It’s available in 3 sizes: 9 inch, 10 inch, and 14 inches.
Overall this Wen 3962 is the perfect balance of quality vs. price. The table saw can tilt left to 45 degrees, and it can cut at two speeds– 1520 and 2620 feet per minute.
The 3.5-amp motor provides plenty of power for most cuts including some demanding ones, which is a surprise for a saw of this size and price. If you are looking for the perfect band saw for under $500, then you can’t go wrong with Wen 3962.
This is the best budget band saw on our list in a 10-inch model. As a result, at times it can feel underpowered. This saw might struggle due to the lack of power if you are after some very demanding cuts.
3. Laguna Tools MBAND1412-175 Resawing Band Saw - Premium Choice
Our premium choice for the best bandsaw for resawing is the Laguna Tools MBAND1412-175. This unit is another excellent model on the market today. The machine is powered by a monster 1 ¾ horsepower motor that is more than you will ever need. The power is teamed up with some great features, including 12-inch resaw capacity.
The design of it had resawing in mind. The fence has two settings Low and High, so you can support those bigger boards when resawing.
The heaviest of lumber is supported by a solid cast iron table and a steel frame with a pyramid spine for extra strength.
For other types of cuts it’s versatile, with a table that tilts 7 degrees to the left, and 45 degrees to the right.
Laguna Tools MBAND1412-175 comes with a tracking window, a safety key, a two-year warranty and will set you back just shy of $1,200.
You can use blades that range from 1/8 to ¾ of an inch which is a little disappointing. If it could take a slightly wider blade, it would have been a serious contender for our top pick.
4. Powermatic PWBS-14CS Resawing Bandsaw
Another close contender for our top pick for best bandsaw for resawing.
The 1 ½ horse power motor, coupled with a poly V drive belt system, and a sturdy cast iron table create an AWESOME cutting machine.
Powermatic PWBS-14CS heavy-duty saw will set you back around $1,300 and delivers a tremendous amount of saw for the price. Both the 15X15 inch saw table and the wheels are made from cast-iron. You don’t need any converters in your shop; the saw can be plugged into 110 v Ac directly.
Dust extraction is well taken care of. The lower part of the saw has a 4-inch port, which does an excellent job at eliminating dust. Above the table, a chip blower and pressurized nozzle mean you can keep the work area clean and clear of debris.
The induction motor means that it is one of the quieter machines in our selection. The motor is backed up by a welded steel frame that reduces vibration significantly.
The machine is a relative lightweight compared to other units in our selection at only 208lbs. While it’s sturdy, the lack of weight can be a little uncomfortable when dealing with larger longer stock.
5. RIKON Power Tools 10-326 14″ Deluxe Resawing Band Saw
RIKON Power tools are known for their quality tool products and this one delivers on many fronts. Equipped with a 1 3/4 motor and balanced cast iron wheels it provides plenty of power for most cuts.
This 14-inch bandsaw machine is dual voltage so is happy enough in a shop with 230v or 115v. Priced under $1500 it has plenty of advanced features. You can adjust the depth of your cut simply with a rack and pinion system that we see in a bandsaw for the first time.
When it comes to resawing the rip fence comes into its own. The 6-inch high fence can support the most substantial pieces with no issues. The tall fence has slots milled in it so that you can fix an auxiliary fence with ease. You can resaw almost anything with the 13-inch resaw capacity.
Another innovative feature of the saw is the ball bearings at the top and bottom of the saw. These allow the blade to travel with a lot less friction. The reduction means your blades will last longer due to the reduced heat load on them.
The saw is lighter than some of the other models we looked at, weighing in at 285 lbs. Despite this, the steel frame construction and cast iron saw table make it a sturdy, rugged machine.
With unique innovations, it can be a little challenging to set up. Unfortunately, it’s only available in metric. So, you will have to use aftermarket materials to alter it.
6. Powertec BS900 BandSaw for Resawing
A patented blade guard adjustment feature, makes for a quick release, and for the fastest blade change. This Powertec model not only allows you to easily remove and put on a new blade, but if you are in a time crunch, it also allows you to get through any project without having to stop for several minutes at a time. A rack and pinion adjustment system, and angles from zero up to 45 degrees, allows you to get to the exact angle, and really work at perfecting angles when making a cut.
A blade tracking window is also built in, so you can easily see where you are about to saw through, and easily make adjustments, if you are not going in a straight line, or if you are not making the cuts at the points in which they should be made at. It also has a 2” dust port that will help your work area clean and free from uncluttered sawdust.
A blade range of 1/8 up to 3/8”, makes for optimal versatility, and the best cutting angles possible, when working on a project.
The Powertec model features the patented technology; this is ideal for those who are on a job site, and must work at the fastest pace possible. You can quickly and easily adjust the blade, and change the blade for the project that you are working on. It also has the guide window, so you can see what you are doing, see where you are sawing, and see exactly what you are cutting through, when working on a specific project.
7. Rikon 10-305 Resawing Bandsaw
This band saw features a durable and rugged, solid steel design. It has a steel plate frame, which is stronger than plastic, so you do not have to worry about damage, no matter what materials you are working on with this saw.
A large, cast iron table, is 13 3/4 in by 12.5 in, which is going to allow you to have more room to work with, to adjust, and more room to easily turn the wood or metal materials you are working on, when you are trying to cut different pieces on the band saw. A 1/3 horsepower motor also provides more than sufficient power, to cut through nearly any material you place on the band saw.
A micro adjustable guide light, easy adjustment handle knob, and simple design, also makes using this device simple, regardless of what type of projects you are working on with it. It is also a scaled down version of the larger Rikon model, meaning it is lighter in weight, and smaller, so you can easily transport it, if you are doing work at home, as well as on various job sites, when you need an additional power tool to complete any job that you are working on.
8. SKIL 3386-01 2.5-Amp Resawing Band-Saw
When reading band saw reviews, you will find this is a well rated tool model. It guarantees straight and accurate cuts, and with the LED indicator light, you can see exactly what you are cutting through, and what angles you are going to cut, before you commit to it.
A 1.5” dust port also allows you to work at a fast pace, and not have to stop as often, to empty out the dust from the band saw. The rack and pinion table adjustment is simple to work with,and allows for simple adjustment, when you need to increase or decrease the height of this tool, to cut through any material you are working with.
There is a one speed motor, both for wood and for metal materials that you are working with. And, the band saw is extremely light in weight, and has an adjustment grip, so you can easily carry it and transport it to different job sites. With simple to use features, the easy adjustment features, and a light in weight design, you are going to love this band saw both for use around the home, as well as for use on any job site that you are going to take it to.
9. Rockwell RK7453 Shop Resawing Band Saw
This band saw is extremely light in weight, and easy to transport, if you are constantly working on different projects, in different locations, and need additional tools for the job. The table bevels from zero up to 45 degrees, which makes cutting and adjustment very easy to do, when you are working with fine angles, and need the most precision possible from your power tools.
A reinforced, cast aluminum table top is also rugged and sturdy, so you do not have to worry about materials moving on their own, when you need precision with every cut of the top rated band saw.
The blade quick tension adjustment makes changing angles, and power settings a breeze, and giving you complete control of any project you are working on, when you need to make an adjustment.
A flex adjust work light is also in place, and is the guarantee that you need, if you are worried about going off track, or do not want to mess up when you are cutting a wood or metal piece, and need the cut to be as close to perfect as possible; the guide light gives you that ability when you are working on a project.
10. Grizzly G0555LX Deluxe Resawing Bandsaw
Grizzly G0555LX is a great saw that was a very close contender for the best bandsaws for resawing of 2020. It’s a little lighter in weight at 247 lbs, and a lot lighter in price at under $700. Despite the low cost, this is still a quality machine that delivers.
The Grizzly G0555LX features a rugged cast iron frame, which provides enough support to make exact cuts. Powered by a 1 hp motor and 2-speed options 1800 or 3100 fpm, it breezes through most cuts.
One of the unique features of the saw is its computer balanced wheels. The new wheels are coated in rubber and balanced via computer. The new wheels make for an incredibly quiet machine, which delivers super accurate cuts compared to other saws.
While overall this Grizzly G0555LX is an excellent machine, the same cannot be said for its instruction manual, which is complicated and hard to get to grips with. While a solid sturdy saw is always welcome, the Grizzly feels a little heavy to move around.
Our Winner
JET JWBS 14DXPRO Resawing Bandsaw
After checking all the best bandsaw for resawing reviews you really can’t go wrong with the JET JWBS 14DXPRO 14-Inch Band saw. It’s one heck of a saw!
If you’re in the market for the absolute top option on the market, this should be your top pick for the best bandsaw for resawing.
Remarkable cutting capability and capacity, married to great accessories, all in a sturdy solid machine that makes it the ultimate model for 2020.
Tips for Resawing
Having the best band saw you can get an excellent place to start resawing. However, there are some factors you need to take into account to make perfect cuts.
Choose The Right Blade
Forget the stock blade that came with your saw. To achieve great resaw cuts you need to use a specially designed blade.
Try and find a blade with 3 or 4 teeth per inch (TPI). Also, the teeth should have a 5 or 10 degrees positive hook configuration. This type of saw blade has large gullets between the teeth to clear the waste efficiently. The hooked teeth make an aggressive cut to get through the material quicker.
Blade width is also crucial to resawing. Sure, you can resaw with a ¼ blade, but it will produce lackluster results and will drift significantly. The wider the blade, the better it is for resawing. On a 14-inch band saw look for the widest blade that will fit your machine, typically a ¾ inch or 1 inch on some models.
Finally, treat your resaw blade well. Don’t leave it on the saw and use it for everyday cuts. Keep it for those special cuts, be sure it is clean and rust free. It pays to keep it sharp and in excellent condition.
Tension
The right tension on your blade will make your resaw cuts go much smoother and quicker.
The perfect blade tension for a resaw cut is just a little more than is needed to eliminate blade wobble. Release the tension on your blade until it starts to wobble or flutter from side to side when you run the machine. Increase the tension in small increments and keep running the bandsaw until the wobble disappears.
Once you have found the sweet spot where the blade doesn’t wobble, increase the tension by a ¼ turn, and you are ready to go.
Adjust Your Fence
You will have to deal with some blade drift when resawing. Adjust you fence angle slightly to take it into account. If there is not enough play in the fence to adequately compensate for the blade drift, you will have to install a shop made fence. You can use paper shims between the fences at the front and back to dial in the perfect angle.
Finally, before cutting make sure you plane the side of the timber that will go against the fence and plane the side that goes against the table square to it.
Buyers’ Guide: Choosing the Right Bandsaw for You
You want to find the best band saw with a strong exterior casing, that will not ruin or cause damage to the material surfaces you are working around. It is also important to look for band saws that has easy to use features, allows for ease of transport, and gives you different settings, so you can do a variety of tasks or projects when working on a particular job.
The top rated band saws will also guarantee accurate cuts, regardless of what you are working on, or what type of materials you are trying to cut through with it. It is also a good idea to look for something that has a guide light, or other indicator, so you can see what you are cutting or sawing through, especially when you are working at a faster pace with the device.
Of course a strong exterior body is essential, and you should look for the saw that offers simple settings, and device knobs, so you can easily adjust the speed and power settings, when you are working on a specific project at home, or if you need something that is a little more high powered, when you are doing work on a specific job site.
1. Power
Along with the blade, the power of your bandsaw’s motor is the key to how effective it is.
There is plenty of bandsaw models on the market with motors in the one horsepower range or less. While this is sufficient for most cuts, it is found short when it comes to resawing.
When resawing you tend to be ripping a board across its widest point. That needs more power than your typical bandsaw will provide.
When it comes to bandsaw motors more is better. Look for a saw with a minimum of a 1 horsepower. There are plenty of band saws on the market that feature a 1 ¼, 1 ½, or even two-horsepower motors.
Sufficient power is vital for 14-inch bandsaws. Anything less than one horsepower and the saw will struggle to drive the blade through a thick board.
2. Throat Capacity
A bandsaw’s throat capacity is the size distance between the top blade guides and the table saw. Several smaller band saws have a limited throat capacity of 4 to 5 inches. Such a small throat is insufficient for resawing purposes. To create beautiful bookmatched cuts, you need a minimum capacity of 8 inches or more.
Just like horsepower the more, the merrier when it comes to throat capacity. Most of the band saws featured in our review can cut a 10-inch board with ease.
3. Guide Wheels -Aluminum vs. Steel
Another factor that can affect a saw’s performance is the material of the bandsaw’s wheels that drive the blade.
The heavier the wheel driving the blade, the more inertia and momentum is behind the blade, and the easier it cuts.
Think of it like catching a tennis ball or a baseball thrown at the same speed with your bare hands. Even though both balls are traveling at the same speed, the increased weight and heft of the baseball will cause it to have a more significant impact.
Bandsaw wheels can be either aluminum or cast-iron. Aluminum is much lighter, and you can find them in cheaper saws. Cast iron wheels are heavier and can be found in higher quality machines. Cast iron wheels are always the best option to go for when choosing any bandsaw.
4. Variable Speed
The ability to vary the cutting speed of your bandsaw is a great asset when resawing. Slower cutting speeds are always preferred when resawing. The reduced speed will produce a slow, steady cut.
This method of cutting prevents the saw from binding, while it is removing a lot of material with each pass. For other more intricates cuts you can then switch back to a higher speed to produce cleaner, faster and more accurate cuts.
5. Blade Guides
Blade guides are there to ensure that your blade stays true, square to the table, and prevents it from turning. The guides are rollers that sit on either side of the blade to keep its movement straight and true. There is also the thrust support which presses against the back of the bandsaw blade. The thrust support prevents the blade from moving backwards during a cut.
High-quality machines will have two sets of blade guide, one above the saw table at the bottom of the blade guide enclosure, and one underneath the table. Low-end machines are often lacking the bottom blade guide set.
There are two bandsaw types of guides available on the market. You can have blade guides made from either sealed bearings, or from ceramics.
Bearing guides are an older invention while ceramics is a more modern take. One thing to note is that both do a great job, but ceramic blade guides are less durable and often harder to replace. Traditional sealed bearing guides are more durable, easily replaceable and overall are a much better proposition.
6. Bandsaw Fence System
You can make a lot of bandsaw cuts freehand, but to resaw a fence is a must. Without, a decent fence resawing will be an unsatisfying chore that yields poor results. You will end up making an auxiliary one to achieve the results you want. The ideal bandsaw fence it strong, stable, and sits square to the blade. The height of the fence is also vitally important; you want to be able to support as much of the piece as you can. Ideally, the fence should be as high as the piece of timber you are trying to resaw.
Getting a 10 or 12-inch high fence may be difficult, but there are plenty of bandsaws with 4 to 6-inch models. Make sure to find a design that has the option of attaching some t-tracks. That way you can fix a piece of ¾ inch plywood to better support the timber you are cutting.
The ability to lock down the fence securely to the table is also important. Make sure the fence cinches down well and does not move especially at the back. Some great fences have a micro adjust featurethat lets you dial in those perfect cuts.
7. Precision
Precision and accuracy are the difference between a bandsaw that is joyous to use, and one that is nothing but frustration. One of the most common problems you will have to deal with is blade drift. Often the blade starts to cut slightly out of square and stays that way. You then have to make minor adjustments to the feed angle to correct the drift.
Cheaper models can suffer from significant blade drift making them difficult for freehand cuts, and almost impossible to use for resaw cuts. High-quality bandsaws will drift a lot less and make life easier all around.
8. Dust Extraction
Dust extraction can be an issue with most bandsaws, even the most expensive ones.
Under the table dust extraction is improved with a large dust port. Saws equipped with a 4-inch dust ports below the table are much more efficient than those supplied with a 2 ½ dust port.
Above the table, extraction is more complicated. Invariably the best option is an aftermarket posable arm that you can position just above the cut. Placing the suction directly above each cut lets you eliminate as much dust as possible.
9. Bevel Capacity
If you plan on doing more complex cuts like dovetails on your bandsaw bevel capacity is crucial. Being able to accurately and securely set the saw table to the blade adds a ton of versatility to your machine. Look for a bandsaw that can tilt at least 45 degrees for miter cuts; great bandsaws will even go a couple of degrees higher than that.
