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Brian, Woodworker
2,153 happy customers
17 years as a licensed contractor
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2,153 happy customers
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You’ll find the band saw and table saw in almost all amateur shops and garages around the world.
What is the difference? What can one do that the other cannot? Are you going to need one or both? Which is more costly?
These are just a few of the questions we will be answering in our comprehensive, all-inclusive comparison guide between band and table saws. We will also be looking at some of our top brands and models for each saw towards the end.
Are you thinking of purchasing one? You can click here to view our buying guide for band saws and here to see our buying guide for table saws.
Top-Reviewed Table Saws & Band Saws
General Overview: Band Saw Vs. Table Saw
The table saw is generally the more popular, versatile, and more useful of the two. The table saw, along with the circular saw, is the most common and widely used woodworking tool. If you’re just beginning to set up a shop or garage, it should be your first purchase.
The band saw has its own functions and uses and deserves to be in every woodworking workshop.
Table Saw
A baseball glove is essential for anyone who wants to get into baseball. A fishing rod is necessary if you are interested in fishing. A table saw is necessary if you are interested in woodworking.
It is, as we have said, the most powerful tool for woodworking.
Although circular saws, miter and routers can accomplish the same tasks as table saws, none can match the ease, precision and efficiency of the table saw.
A quality table saw and some time spent reading the manual are all that is required to start woodworking.
Table saws can produce precision squares and bevels thanks to their adjustable blade depths, various blade types, fool-proof fence system, and fool-proof fence. You will encounter anything and everything in your rudimentary carpentry journey.
Band Saw
We said that although we wouldn’t recommend buying a bandsaw before, or instead of a tablesaw, they can accomplish certain tasks that are virtually impossible on a tablesaw.
A band saw is capable of doing two things that a tablesaw cannot: it can cut curves ( Scrolls) and can cut very thick material (3 or more).
You can use a band saw to make straight, long cuts (rips and squares), etc. You can use a band saw to cut standard material such as 210 cms. However, due to their narrow blades, a tablesaw is generally a more practical and effective choice for these types of cuts.
Scenarios: When Do Each Saw Work The Best?
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Squares and rips: The table saw is the best choice if you are ripping lumber to length and require straight, long cuts (rips) or cross-cutting and need squares.
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Grooves and Dados: If you have to cut only a portion of your material, the tablesaw is the only choice. (Between the table saw and the band saw, at most).
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Miters and bevels . These types of angled cuts are possible with either a band saw or a table saw. However, it’s much simpler to use a tablesaw, as you can adjust the blade instead of having to adjust angle of the material.
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Scroll saws, curves and other irregular shapes are all possible with the band saw.
There Are Other General Points To Be Aware Of
Before we conclude the table saw vs band saw comparison, here are some other important points to remember before you decide which one you want.
Kerf:kerf refers to the amount of material that is actually removed from the saw blade. Band saws have narrower blades that table saws and so remove more material. This is why huge band saws are used in timber mills to remove full tree trunks.
You can buy different blades for your table saw that will allow you to cut metal or cement board. However, band saws are often used to cut metals and other materials more frequently, as the teeth of the blades are finer and closer together.
Thickness: As we have already said, band saws are a better choice for cutting through thick material. The maximum blade height for standard table saws is usually 3 inches. Anything thicker than that, you will need a bandsaw.
Safety – First, no saw should ever be considered to be dangerous. These razor-sharp blades spin at extremely high speeds and there is nothing that can be considered safe. Table saws are generally considered to be one of the most dangerous types of saws. This is because you can’t use a push tool, as you should. Your fingers and hands are very close to the blade of a table saw. Table saws are more likely to send material flying at dangerously high speeds across your garage.
Bottom Line
If you’re setting up a woodworking shop, and are trying to decide whether a tablesaw or a band saw is best, then the table saw should be your first choice.
While this is not to say that band saws can’t be used or are less useful than table saws, they are more of a specialty saw and will be needed in a lot less situations than a table saw.
