Best bandsaw for budding woodworker like me?

[JustAnotherGuy]

What is the best machine that I can use (performance, budget wise) for a little woodworking. I am hoping I can get a machine that will get the ability to do a little contour and miter cuts. 

[Mark J]

It depends on a lot of personal factors and preferences. For example, what kind of space, budget, electric circuits are available.  What are your current and future woodworking goals.  

I suggest you look at 14" steel frame saws as a starting point.  I think that size and design of saw offers a lot capacity for now and later. 

Laguna makes two or three models that seem to be popular.  I am happy with my Jet 14SFX.  Bigger table, two miter slots  and easy to site 120v.  Jet is now in their 3rd iteration of that saw and I like the new lower guide bearings enough to think about switching.   No brake, but actually I don't miss it.

[wtnhighlander]

While I wouldn't go so far as to suggest that a Central Machinery bandsaw fro Harbor Freight is a good choice for a novice, an expensive machine isn't a requirement to get a lot of good work done. I second @Mark J's motion for a 14" saw. That size offers a good compromise between capacity and low cost. If your plan is to do a lot of curved cuts in thinner stock, there are some good 10" models from Rikon and Wen for even less money. But if you want to cut thick material, more power is your friend. A 14" saw cut depth is around 6", where a 10" saw is usually less than 4". I can rip a 6" thick maple plank on my 14" Porter Cable saw, so long as the blade is sharp. The frame stiffness needed to tension a wide blade is also important. Narrow "scrolling" blades can cut effectively under much less tension.

Don't take my comment on Central Machinery as a put-down of the saw design, it is really a comment on the variability of the quality control. You may get lucky, or you may get a lemon.

[gee-dub]

Another vote for a 14" machine.  The cast iron Delta and its many clones are the Ford F-150s of bandsaws.  Big enough for many things and small enough for the hobbyist.  Grizzly has a basic 14" machine on sale right now for under $1k delivered.  14" machines on the used market are probably the most common.  Like plentiful 6" jointers, people are often looking to upgrade but a 14" machine can do a lot of work.  Their upgrade path could be your entrance into the market.  Like a dummy I sold a smaller machine when I moved to a larger format.  I ended up having to replace it when I realized my mistake.  You just need to find a dummy like me

 

P.s. If you tell people where you are they can point you to possible resources in your area.

[Beechwood Chip]

On 8/30/2024 at 9:34 PM, gee-dub said:

I sold a smaller machine when I moved to a larger format.  I ended up having to replace it when I realized my mistake.

What was the mistake?  Now enough room in your shop for the larger machine?

[gee-dub]

On 8/30/2024 at 8:33 PM, Beechwood Chip said:

What was the mistake?  Now enough room in your shop for the larger machine?

I thought I would change blades for curves versus resaw on the 17" machine.  I had not realized how often I used the smaller bandsaw for quick cuts, joinery, and simple curves.  I lost the ""quick" part of this function so if you have room for two bandsaws I highly recommend it.  It is a luxury, no doubt about that.  Fortunately Rikon had come out with a new version of their little 10" machine and I got one of the previous models at a clearance price.  I preferred the 14" machine (more power and capacity) but the Rikon 10-305 has been up to nearly any task I put it to.  The fence was pretty worthless (the new model fixed this) but I rigged a better one.  Dad's 14" Delta became available after I had already purchased the Rikon.  By that time I had gotten used to the Rikon and its capacity so the Delta went to my brother.  I would look at a used cast iron 14" machine if the price were around $300. If the price got much higher I would look at a new machines.  Although they are all clones, many have some significant improvements over the originals.

[Botch]

@JustAnotherGuy, you didn't mention resawing in your OP.  My first bandsaw was a garage-sale $50 model (no brand on it at all, maybe a 4" throat?) and I used it for 5 years or so until the blade broke, it was a really weirdo size that I couldn't find, and a resharpening shop couldn't reweld it for me (they were really curious as to where I got it in the first place, blade was about the thickness of a beer can).  

23, 24 years ago I got a new Delta 14", thinking I could use it for resawing.  Since then, I haven't done that yet, not once; but I still use it for curves and joinery.  Your description sounds a lot like me, if I could go back I'da gone for a smaller saw.  And, if you have the room, getting a smaller saw for miters and curves, but then an 18" or so for resawing if you get into the hobby/vocation that far, would be a great pair.  Sorry this goes against most of the advice above, just think of it as an alternative point of view.  

[Tpt life]

Beer can walls are .004”. Are you just being sarcastic?

[Botch]

On 9/1/2024 at 11:10 AM, Tpt life said:

Beer can walls are .004”. Are you just being sarcastic?

Well, I didn't mic the blade thickness, but it was very thin, the resharpening shop wouldn't even attempt to weld it back together.