July 25, 2020

Best Bandsaw for Resawing: 5 Amazing Options [REVISITED]

Bandsaws are among the essential power tools found in the workshop. They are used in most woodworking projects and can be used to cut materials of all shapes and sizes. They can also be used to cut curves, but several kinds of saws can also be used for this purpose. The bandsaw is also known as a resawing machine, or a Byrd saw. So, you are looking for the best bandsaw for resawing? Are you wondering what you should be looking for? Let me help you know what makes up a great buy and which brands to look out for.

ImageName & Key FeaturesLink
JET JWBS-14DXPRO
JET JWBS-14DXPROCHECK CURRENT PRICE
Grizzly G0555LX Resawing Band-Saw
Grizzly G0555LX Resawing Band-SawCHECK CURRENT PRICE
WEN 3962 Two-Speed Band Saw
WEN 3962 Two-Speed Band SawCHECK CURRENT PRICE
Laguna Tools MBAND1412-175 14 x 12 Bandsaw
Laguna Tools MBAND1412-175 14 x 12 Bandsaw CHECK CURRENT PRICE
Rikon 10-305 Bandsaw With Fence, 10-Inch
Rikon 10-305 Bandsaw With Fence, 10-InchCHECK CURRENT PRICE

A band saw is a very common staple in a lot of workshops. It is usually the first big woodworking machine that you will buy. Whilst you can buy a bandsaw to cut a variety of materials, we are going to look at the best bandsaw for resawing. Bandsaws have become the preferred machine for resawing. They allow woodworkers to quickly cut long, straight, and smooth edges across a wide variety of workpiece materials. This is done by guiding a blade with a series of tensioned blade guides and a strong flexible band. This article discusses some of the best bandsaws for resawing.

When you resaw, you will be cutting the wood along its grain to get thinner slices. Think about making two slices out of one. The machine that you do this on needs to be accurate and stable, among other things. Band saws provide an excellent option for resawing. Let’s look at what you ought to look for and how it will add value to your work. 

In a Hurry?

Are you looking for a quick guide to buying the best bandsaw for resawing? There are a few features that you will need to consider. Capacity is one of the biggest. You must know how well it can cut through the wood. Also, check on the blades and ensure they are strong enough to handle the work at hand. Another capacity-related feature is the table size. This will determine the size of stock that you can push through. 

Also, think about the amount of power required to start up the saw and run it. Make sure that you can sustain it in your workshop. You will need also to make sure that the band saw is durable and that it can withstand the heavy-duty use that comes with resawing. Woodworking is a specialized art that requires the right tools, so make sure that your band saw is compatible with the work at hand.

Our Top Pick for  

Our Winner!

While there are many band saws that are marketed as being great at resawing, not all of them are our favorites. We find the JET JWBS-14DXPRO to be an extremely good buy. It has a sizable table for you to work on and it is also very precise and stable. These are some of the best features to look for in a band saw. The motor is powerful and will power up the saw enough to go through some of the toughest timber and slice through precisely. It also has great safety features. 

JET JWBS-14DXPRO

This is our top pick. The reasons for this are the numerous features that you get on it. It simply makes your life in the workshop much easier and also safer. This is a great quality band saw with a powerful and durable blade measuring 105 inches. This blade has a high cutting capacity as well as a built-in retractable guard. Let’s look at the other band saws that you could get. 

JET JWBS-14DXPRO

JET JWBS-14DXPRO

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A band saw needs to be able to cut through various materials for it to be a good investment. The JET JWBS-14DXPRO has an excellent cutting capacity, letting you cut through just about any wood, regardless of size. Its cutting capacity has a width of 13.5inches and a height of 12 inches.

The blade has a guard that retracts from 0 to 12 inches for your safety. This makes the blade even more versatile as you can work on both large and small stock pieces. The blade has a speed of 1500/3000 SFPM, which is impressive. It also has a sturdy frame and a sturdy table to support your workpieces. 

This is a flexible and versatile table. The wings on the table are 15 inches by 15inches, and it can also tilt 10 degrees left and 45 degrees right. The JET JWBS-14DXPRO has lower and upper ball bearing guides. These help to reduce the level of friction as you work and optimize how the band saw cuts. The guard is a safety measure of the utmost importance when dealing with blades.

Pros 

  • The JWBS-14DXPRO has a five-year warranty.
  • It has an enclosed stand, which makes for a clean look
  • The blade has a guard to keep you safe as you work and avoid unnecessary accidents.
  • It uses a poly-v belt system which makes for precise cuts and excellent performance.
  • Thanks to features like the blade guide post with rack and pinion adjustment, it is accurate. 
  • It has a powerful motor

Cons 

  • It is cumbersome, which makes it challenging to move around. It weighs about 280 pounds.
  • The manual is not very clear.

Grizzly G0555LX Resawing Band-Saw

Grizzly G0555LX Resawing Band-Saw

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Grizzly makes great woodworking machines and tools. The Grizzly G0555LX Resawing Band-Saw is a good-looking machine with a great paint job and is made of cast iron, meaning that it is very durable and sturdy.  But it is more than looks with this unit. The performance is outstanding too. It has ball-bearing construction throughout the machine, which allows for smooth operation. 

The band saw can cut through it precisely. While it only has a resaw capacity of 6 inches, you can extend it to 12 inches by using a riser kit. The downside with this kit is that it is difficult to install. This is also a great saw because it is versatile, and you can cut different types of wood with it, whether it is soft or hard. 

Another thing that you will love about this saw is that it has a sturdy fence, and also it is easy to change the blades easily. This helps you maintain a sharp and high-performing blade on the saw. It also has balanced computer wheels and rubber tires. If you are buying it online, it will probably be shipped to you in pieces, meaning that you will need to know how to assemble it.

Pros

  • It has a sturdy frame and construction
  • It is an influential band saw
  • Smooth operation 
  • It has a good riser kit
  • It is precise and accurate in its cuts
  • It is versatile

Cons 

  • The riser kit is hard to install
  • It has a small resaw capacity

WEN 3962 Two-Speed Band Saw

WEN 3962 Two-Speed Band Saw

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If you are looking for the best bandsaw for money, you will love the WEN 3962. It is one of the most affordable on the market today and will deliver excellent quality too. It retails for around within a fairly affordable range. It comes with an optional stand and a work light. This increases your safety options because you will be able to see what you are doing even better. I’m sure you will find it agreeable.

It has a 14-1/8inch by 12-1/2 inch work table and bevels up to 45 degrees. It also has a 2-in-1 dust port to collect all the dust as you work. The blades to use on this machine should be 72 inches. It comes with a 3/8inch blade. It has two speeds of either 2620FPM or 1520 FPM when it comes to operation. This will give you a good range. 

The WEN 3962 has great power, especially for a small saw. It has a 3.5amp motor, which is good enough for most cuts you may want to do on a saw this size. This saw comes in 3 different sizes, the 9, 10, and 14-inch models. 

Pros

  • It has a work light
  • It comes with a stand
  • It has a powerful motor
  • It is affordable
  • It is versatile in terms of the wood that it can cut.

Cons 

  • It is small and will not be suitable for heavy-duty work
  • It has quite a lot of excess vibration.

Laguna Tools MBAND1412-175 14 x 12 Bandsaw 

Laguna Tools MBAND1412-175 14 x 12 Bandsaw

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This bandsaw is convenient and powerful, packed with features that will help you work much easier in the workshop. It has a pyramid-shaped spine and a 1 3/4HP TEFC motor packing 110 volts. It has a 115-volt outlet to help you make the cuts you need. The table is 21 by 16inches, and it is highly polished.

 It sits on a large trunnion, which helps keep it sturdy and in place as you work. It works hand in hand with an aluminum hi/low fence. When you extend the tables, you will not need to worry about how well they hold up the workpiece.

While they have a bit of flex on them, they are solid and will stay in place. Its heavy cast iron frame also means that you can easily support the wood you are working on. 

This machine also has double windows, allowing you to check on the progress while working. This bandsaw has a 12 resaw capacity, and it can cut through even the toughest wood. The work table will also tilt when you need it to. Seven degrees to the left and 45 degrees to the right. This adds to the versatility of the machine.

Pros 

  • It is durable
  • It is efficient
  • It has a powerful motor that will let you saw through a variety of wood
  • It is versatile

Cons 

  • The blade sizes are rather narrow. It can take blades between 1/8 to ¾ of an inch.

Rikon 10-305 Bandsaw With Fence, 10-Inch

Rikon 10-305 Bandsaw With Fence, 10-Inch

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You will enjoy resawing with this saw. It has a robust 1 3/4 motor and balanced cast iron wheels for increased stability. Making a variety of cuts will be super easy with this beast. It comes with a fence, which helps guide the stock as you work. This saw has the features that you would usually find in a larger band saw but is still portable enough to fit in a small space.

It is the perfect saw for someone who does light resawing. If you are looking for a more heavy-duty saw, this one may disappoint you a little. It is made of strong steel, which makes this a durable machine and will be able to withstand the pressure that comes with sawing. It can resaw most wood. This is thanks to its 4-5/8 resaw capacity.

While the table is lightweight, it is still large, efficient, and sturdy. This bandsaw comes with a removable fence which means that you can easily remove it when you need to and freestyle. It also has a micro-adjustable blade that helps you adjust the machine. This may not be ideal for beginners, but as you gain more experience, you may prefer to have the freedom to maneuver the wood as you work.

Pros 

  • It has a removable fence
  • It has a powerful motor
  • It is versatile
  • It is durable
  • It is lightweight 
  • It has a large table

Cons 

  • It is not fit for heavy-duty work
  • The blade guide needs adjustments more often, which can be a nuisance.

Buyer’s Guide

What is resawing?

Resawing is the action of slicing a piece of wood right down its thickness to end up with two slices. Meanwhile, rip cutting is when you cut across the width of the wood. Ripping is about reducing the with, but the thickness and length do not change. In contrast, resawing reduces the thickness while the length and width remain the same. 

Woodworkers will resaw wood when they need a thinner version of the wood that they are working on. It is beneficial when you are working on expensive wood thicker than you need and you do not want to waste a bit of it.

Resawing will reveal exciting grain patterns on the side of the wood that you have cut. It also helps you get two identical pieces of wood, meaning that you can match them better and more efficiently. 

Why should I use a bandsaw for resawing? 

If you want to do some resawing work, you need to make sure that you get a machine that will be stable, accurate, durable, and precise. While some can use hacksaws, which are operated manually, the operation will not be as smooth as using an automated machine such as a bandsaw. Your hand will never be able to compete with the precision and stability of using a bandsaw.

You can use a hack saw for resawing, but you can also use a table saw, or a band saw. While a  hack saw is manual, a table saw is automated, just like a bandsaw. But the two are still different, and a bandsaw still has one up on all three. One of the other advantages of using a bandsaw to resaw is adjusting the blade guide to accommodate a wider lumbar.

The continuous blade on a bandsaw is what contributes to having smooth cuts. It is more stable and uniform. You can get the cut you need using a single pass, giving you straighter edges. You will not find this on the manual saws or table saws. 

What should I look for in a good bandsaw?

One of the first things to consider is what you intend to use the bandsaw for. You will need to look out for a couple of features to get an excellent bandsaw for your money. Some are better suited for heavy-duty use, while others are better suited for light to medium use, such as home workshops. 

Knowing the work you expect will help you determine the power you need the saw to have and the precision required. Some band saws cut corners in the name of portability and then end up losing some fundamentals such as making clean, smooth cuts. 

It is essential to check on methods of dust collection. When you cut wood, dust is an inevitable part of the equation. It would be best if you had some way of getting it out of the way. The best band saws should have dust ports to collect the dust as you work.

Additional features such as a work light help illuminate the space you are working on. This is also a safety feature. You also want to make sure that the saw has a powerful motor to keep it going. You want to make sure that it is strong enough to handle the different types of wood you may want to cut with it. 

Accuracy and precision are influenced by features such as the blade speed and the type of blade used. Make sure to ask about these when you buy the saw of your choice. The presence of a fence also helps to guide the wood as you push it through. So you want to make sure that you have a sturdy fence. A miter gauge is also a great way to get accurate angles. 

What safety precautions should I take when using a bandsaw?

Safety has to be your top priority when dealing with any machine with a blade, such as a bandsaw. Fatal accidents and injuries do not have to happen in a workshop. However, they happen, and it is sad when you know you can avoid it and don’t. 

One of the first and most obvious things to do is make sure that your hands steer clear of the blade and any moving parts. When you need to make any adjustments to the machine, make sure that it is disconnected from the power source and that there is no risk of it turning on unexpectedly.

Make sure to follow the instructions in the manual that comes with the bandsaw that you want to buy. Each manufacturer has a different set, which helps you get optimum performance from the machine. 

Aso makes use of personal protective gear such as goggles and gloves. Earplugs will also come in handy to protect your ears from the saw’s noise. Also, make it a habit to use a dust mask. This will help to keep out the dust particles as you saw. Remember that this does not negate the need for an effective dust collector. 

A blunt bandsaw blade is a safety hazard. It can be hazardous. It also helps to ensure that the blade remains sharp. Also, make sure that the machine is not operated by someone who is not trained. This may not seem like a safety feature, but it is.

Also, make sure that the bade and the guides are always in good condition. When you want to stop cutting, make sure that you hold the material you are cutting firmly, then shut it down. 

While cleanliness may not seem like that much of a safety tip, keeping the workspace clean and clear of dust and debris helps you see the moving parts easier and avoid having your hands in the line of cut.

Final Thoughts

Buying a band saw does not need to be a tedious process. This is an important decision for your workshop, and it is one of the first machines you would get for a small workshop. Resawing requires using a sharp bandsaw and being up to the task. When you know what you are looking for and the result you need, you will find it much easier to zero in on the mode that will work for you. 

There are several good bandsaws. Your favorite will depend on what you are looking for, ranging from portability to price to size and everything. One thing that everyone can agree on is that you need one that performs the given task flawlessly. Our overall favorite is JET JWBS-14DXPRO. We recommend that you go through the viable options and choose what best suits your needs and is safe to use. Happy shopping!

David D. Hughes

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