Which band saws are best. Choosing a band saw for wood. Blade types

Updated: 23.12.2018 14:32:31

Judge: Boris Mendel

Band saws are great productivity tools for joinery and carpentry shops. With their help, you can process significantly more materials than using a classic hacksaw or jigsaw. In addition, they make cuts more even, and are also suitable for figured sawing.

How to choose a band saw

When choosing a band saw, it is worth determining not only its purpose (for wood or metal), but also the class. There are three groups:

1. Household. These are relatively low-performance devices with a power of up to 500 watts. They are enough for a fairly leisurely processing various materials. The main advantage of household band saws is the price, they are much cheaper than professional devices, and they cope with most of the tasks associated with sawing materials during processes such as repairs;
2. semi-professional. Devices with power from 0.5 to 1.5 kW. The productivity of semi-professional band saws for wood, thanks to equipment with a width of up to 100 mm, is up to 10 cubic meters per shift. Suitable for small carpentry and joinery workshops;
3. Professional. High power, multifunctional solutions. Connect to three-phase network(380 V). Power - from 1.5 kW. Equipment - up to 300 mm, productivity - up to 15 cubic meters of wood, including frozen, per shift. These tools are recommended to be purchased for factories, since even in relatively large workshops their performance will be excessive.

The main parameters of band saws - both for wood and metal - are:

1. Depth. The distance from the tabletop to the border. Determines how thick the block can be sawn. The most important parameter in combination with power, it is worth paying attention to it in the first place. For example, household band saws with a depth of up to 60 mm are only suitable for processing boards and sheets (plywood, laminate, similar materials), and professional ones with a depth of up to 500 mm will cope even with thick logs;
2. Cutting width. Determines the maximum allowable width of the processed board;
3. Canvas material. The best decision- carbon steel blade, and for saws both for wood and metal. It is reliable, durable and stable;
4. Number of blade teeth. The best way- 180 or 210 teeth. Such blades provide a smooth, uniform cut;
5. Stops, swivel and tilt table, backlight working area. These additional functions make the use of a band saw more convenient, especially if required curly cutting;
6. Support for multiple speed modes. Useful feature for saws for both wood and metal. Simplifies the processing of materials with varying degrees stiffness.
7. But the main parameter for a band saw is, of course, power class.

Rating of the best band saws

The best compact (cordless) band saws

Why it: An all-purpose hand band saw.

The manufacturer itself positions this saw as a device for metal processing. And this is not surprising. The Milwaukee HD18 BS-402C, despite being a battery-powered handheld bandsaw, is more powerful and easily handles most fast-cutting tasks in all materials - pipes, rods, not too thick trunks and other workpieces.

The cutting width of the device is 85 millimeters, the cutting depth is also 85 millimeters. The belt rotation speed without load is 146 rpm, one mode. The saw is powered by a 4 Ah battery. There is a work area light.

The saw differs in a rich complete set. It comes with two batteries, Charger for them, a saw blade and a transport case.

Advantages

• Rich equipment;
• high power;
• Convenient design.

disadvantages

• Relatively small depth and width of cut;
• Slow battery charging.

Why it: High depth and width of cut.

Cordless hand-held band saw with one of the highest kerf depth and width in the ranking - they are 120x120 millimeters. This allows you to use this tool for processing relatively large-sized workpieces. The special design of the saw makes it easy to use and reduces the strain on the hands during prolonged use.

The saw also has excellent power parameters. According to official information, its power is 710 W, which classifies the device as semi-professional. Smooth adjustment of the belt rotation speed is supported, there are two speed modes, the maximum is 80 meters per minute.

The tool works from a household network. The delivery set, in addition to the device itself, includes a saw blade, a hex key for removing protective cover and installation of a cloth, and also a transport case.

Advantages

• High power;
• Excellent combination of price and features;
• High width and depth of cut.

disadvantages

• There is no bed in the kit, but it is needed, since the device is really powerful;
• Unsuccessful placement of speed control;

Why it is: Extremely light, yet powerful enough for cutting wood and similar materials.

The main advantage of this hand saw is its small mass. In fact, this tool is the lightest in the ranking, it weighs only 3.8 kg with the battery connected and the tape installed. The manufacturer also calls it the most compact - the dimensions of the device are 34 × 16 centimeters. Because of this, the width and depth of the cut are 6.3 × 6.3 cm.

At the same time, the device has a fairly high performance - the maximum speed of the web is 163 meters per minute. Two speed modes are supported with smooth switching between them. The device is equipped LED backlight working area, anti-vibration pads and system protective shutdown when overheated.

The device is powered by 18-volt batteries with a capacity of 2.6 Ah, equipped with LED indicator charge level. Not included in the scope of delivery, unlike two saw blades.

Advantages

• Very light;
• Powerful;
• Anti-vibration pads reduce hand fatigue.

disadvantages

• Batteries are not included;
• Small depth and width of cut;
• No coolant supply.

The best band saws for wood

Why it is: Excellent combination of price and features.

This band saw is designed for use in small and medium-sized carpentry workshops. The power of 800 watts is enough for the device to process up to 7-10 cubic meters of wood per shift, and thanks to two speeds, you can adjust it to the materials used - so that sawing is as comfortable as possible. The saw is powered by a household 220-volt network.

The device is equipped with an angle stop with a transport scale, thanks to which it can cut at an angle - up to 45 degrees. The work table is made of cast iron. The machine supports fast belt tension. In this case, the maximum cutting depth is 18 centimeters, and the width is 30 centimeters.

An important advantage of the device is the presence of a separate dust extraction pipe. This not only helps to improve the ventilation of the workplace, but also to extend the operating period of the machine.

Advantages

• Strong, reliable, durable design;
• Rich equipment;
• Quiet work.

disadvantages

• Complex self assembly, including due to unsuccessful instructions;
• The saw blade is made by stamping, you need to remove the burrs;
• There is no belt tension indicator.

Why she: Increased power, two speed modes, convenient desktop.

This band saw is equipped with an asynchronous motor, which guarantees constant performance and reliability. The power of the device is 1000 W - the highest in its rating segment. Thanks to the efficient motor, the speed of the saw blade is 7.3 or 15 meters per second - this allows you to process workpieces not only from wood or plastic, but also from aluminum alloy.

The machine is equipped with a magnetic starter, which eliminates spontaneous start; adjustable stabilizer based on rolling bearings; molded desktop with support for tilt up to 45 degrees; connection for connecting a vacuum cleaner or ventilation system; and a limit switch that makes tool maintenance safer.

Also, the machine boasts a rich delivery set. Sawing depth - up to 20 cm, width - up to 30 cm.

Advantages

• Quiet operation;
• Multiple security systems;
• High, stable power.

disadvantages

• Inconvenient tension knot;
• Poor quality of the stock saw blade, it is recommended to replace it immediately;
• Pulleys are quickly clogged with sawdust, it is recommended to immediately connect a vacuum cleaner.

The best band saws for metal

Why it is: High power, support for arbitrary sawing angles, cutting depth up to 125 mm.

The main advantage of this band saw is the support for sawing at an arbitrary angle up to 60 degrees. This tilts the drive, not the table, which makes it possible to process long workpieces without the need for additional fixation. The maximum depth and width of cut is 125 millimeters, but only for material placed at an angle of 90 degrees.

The device is equipped with a 1000-watt motor with two speed modes, and the adjustment between them is carried out smoothly. The maximum speed is 80 meters per minute. Therefore, this band saw is suitable for processing even some steel parts.

Why she: Low price.

Despite the fact that the previous band saw in the ranking is twice as powerful as this machine (and the Corvette-422 is equipped with a 550-watt drive), it is also suitable for processing some metal blanks. For example, on the basis of aluminum. The drive supports three speeds of operation with step switching, thanks to which operating parameters can be quickly changed depending on the nature of the work. The maximum idle speed of the saw blade is 50 meters per minute.

The width and depth of cut of the workpiece, placed at an angle of 90 degrees to the movable blade, is 115 millimeters. But the machine supports processing at 45 degrees - in this case maximum diameter material is 70 degrees.

Band-saw equipped with an asynchronous motor, which is reliable and durable. The collapsible design allows you to transport the machine to the place of work.

Advantages

• Low price;
• Suitable for the most different materials;
• Rich equipment.

disadvantages

• Poor quality stock canvas;
• Weak starter;
• Complicated assembly, incomprehensible instructions.

Choosing a band saw from the variety of saw blade sizes offered on our market is not an easy task. Consider the main factors to consider when choosing a band saw:

1. Saw thickness:

The thickness of the saw is determined by the diameter of the pulleys.

• 0.9 mm– thickness ideal for band saws, the saw works well on any pulleys. Has a 20-25% increased resource compared to saws greater thickness. But there is a limitation when sawing sawlogs: the work must be done at low feeds in summer time and on pulley diameters less than 40 cm.
• 1.0-1.07mm– optimal width for work all year round. The work is carried out at medium feeds, but quickly breaks on pulleys with a diameter of less than 47 cm.
• 1.1 mm or more– well cuts workpieces of large diameters. Work is carried out at high and medium feeds, but quickly breaks on pulleys less than 55 cm and when not quality training saws.

2. Saw width:

• 27 mm- the narrowest saw, economical choice. With quality preparation shows good results.
• 32-35mm- optimal in terms of "price-quality" ratio, works well at medium feeds all year round. But with a sawlog diameter of more than 60 cm, you have to reduce the feed.
• 38-41 mm- a saw with a slight increase in rigidity, sometimes helps when sawing workpieces over 60 cm.
• 50-54 mm– works great when sawing sawlogs on high speeds with a diameter of more than 60 cm. It quickly breaks on pulleys with a diameter of less than 55 cm with poor-quality saw preparation.

At correct operation the saw can serve until, as a result of resharpening, its width is reduced to 60% of the original.

3. Saw tooth pitch:

Tooth pitch is the distance between high points neighboring saw teeth.

• 19 mm- requires more engine power, at least 11 kW, and a decrease in feed; a saw with this pitch is stable when working with hardwoods and a sawlog diameter of more than 60 cm.
• 22 mm- universal step, the saw is designed to work all year round.
• 25.4mm- used on saws with a width of 50-54 mm when working at high speeds. The large sinus can bear large quantity sawdust per unit of time.

The pitch of the teeth is a constant value. When regrinding the saw, you must strive to keep the pitch unchanged! An error of even 0.1 mm is completely unacceptable. For example, on a saw with a length of 4020 mm with a pitch of 22 mm, 183 teeth - an error of 0.1 mm will give a size error of 18 mm. With each subsequent regrinding, the error will accumulate.

Simonds® (USA) produces saws of the following sizes:

• 0.9 x 27 x 19
• 0.9 x 32 x 19
• 1.1 x 32 x 22
• 1.1 x 38 x 22
• 1.1 x 51 x 22
• 1.1 x 54 x 25.4

4. Tooth shape:

A number of tests were carried out to find out optimal values shape, angle and height of the teeth. The test results form the basis for the production of all band saws.

Tooth height- the distance between the teeth, which makes sawdust, so the depth of the sinus should be sufficient. To increase the service life of the saw, the surface of the sinus after sharpening should be smooth and even, should not contain scratches, burrs and microscopic cracks.

Tooth profile formed by two corners - anterior and posterior. It is considered optimal rake angle- 10. With this angle, the saw cuts wood of any density and moisture well. Changing the clearance angle has little effect on the sawing process. The choice of a saw of one profile or another is determined by the hardness of the wood.

Simonds® (USA) produces saws of the following profile:

• 9/29 - recommended for hard and frozen wood
• 10/30 - universal profile used for soft and hard wood

5. Divorce:

Divorce - the distance by which the tooth is bent in relation to the plane of the saw blade. Divorce can be considered ideal when a mixture of 70% sawdust and 30% air remains between the saw blade and the wood. The larger the divorce, the wider the cut will be, and accordingly, more engine power is required. The purpose of setting the teeth is to create clearance for the saw in the kerf, as it is necessary to reduce friction between the saw and the wood and to prevent overheating.

Choosing a saw for specific tasks sawing, the following factors must be taken into account:

1. Design features of the sawing machine: main drive motor power, pulley diameter and saw guide system.
2. Hardness of sawn wood:

Proper and balanced choice of band saw is one of the the most important criteria high-quality woodworking and production of competitive products, as well as long-term operation of equipment.

RUB 8,366

Band saw Zubr ZPL-350-190

Maximum rotation speed, rpm - 882. base plate- steel. Cutting depth 80 mm. With the ability to connect a vacuum cleaner. Number of speeds - 1. Saw type - band saw. The design of the saw is tabletop. Power 350 W. The length of the network cable is 2.5 m. The engine is electric. Weight: 17.0 kg.