What size band saw do I need?

For most woodworking, a 14-inch band saw is the standard recommendation. The 14-inch size offers approximately 13.5 inches of throat depth (enough for most boards) and 6 inches of resaw capacity (expandable to 12 inches with a riser block). A 14-inch saw with a 1 HP or 1.5 HP motor handles general ripping, crosscutting, curve cutting, and resawing. If you primarily resaw thick hardwoods or work with wide panels, consider a 17-inch or 18-inch saw with greater throat depth and more powerful motor. For light hobby work and small projects, a 10-inch benchtop band saw is adequate but limited in capacity. What blade should I use for resawing?

What blade should I use for resawing?

Use the widest blade your band saw accepts (typically 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch for 14-inch saws) with 2-3 TPI (teeth per inch). A hook-tooth or skip-tooth pattern clears sawdust efficiently during deep cuts. A 1/2-inch 3 TPI hook-tooth blade is the standard resaw blade for 14-inch saws. For the smoothest resaw cuts, some woodworkers use specialty resaw blades with variable TPI patterns. Feed the workpiece slowly and steadily. Use a single-point fence rather than a flat fence so you can adjust the feed angle to compensate for blade drift. Is a band saw safer than a table saw?

Is a band saw safer than a table saw?

Yes. The band saw is significantly safer than a table saw. The blade pushes the workpiece down against the table (not back toward you), so there is virtually no kickback risk. Kickback is the most dangerous table saw hazard and causes thousands of injuries annually. The band saw blade is also much narrower and creates less force. You can cut irregularly shaped pieces, rounds, and rough lumber on a band saw that would be dangerous on a table saw. The main band saw safety concern is keeping fingers away from the blade and setting the blade guide close to the workpiece.

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Tools & Equipment

Band Saw Buying Guide: Throat Depth, Blade Selection & Best Uses

Lumberama Editorial Team, Woodworking Tool & Band Saw Specialists Mar 8, 2025 11 min read

Why a Band Saw

A band saw uses a continuous loop blade running over two (or three) wheels to cut wood, metal, or plastic. The thin blade removes minimal material (narrow kerf), wastes less wood than a table saw, and can cut curves, straight lines, and thick stock with equal ease. Many experienced woodworkers consider the band saw the single most important tool in the shop — more versatile than a table saw and significantly safer.

The band saw excels at tasks no other tool handles well: resawing thick lumber into thinner boards (turning a 4-inch-thick plank into multiple 1/4-inch boards), cutting curves and irregular shapes, cutting tenons and joinery, ripping rough lumber that would be dangerous on a table saw, and cutting logs or slabs for woodturning blanks.

Key Specifications

Throat depth: The distance from the blade to the vertical frame (the "throat"). This determines the maximum width of material you can cut. A 14-inch band saw has approximately 13.5 inches of throat depth. The 14-inch band saw is the standard for serious hobbyists and small professional shops — it handles most woodworking tasks. Larger 17-inch and 18-inch saws offer more capacity for wider stock.

Resaw capacity: The maximum height of material that can pass under the blade guides. This determines how thick a piece of wood you can slice. A standard 14-inch band saw resaws 6 inches. Adding a riser block (an accessory that raises the upper wheel) increases resaw capacity to 12 inches — enough to resaw most hardwood lumber. Resaw capacity is the spec that separates a basic band saw from a serious resawing machine.

Motor: Hobby saws use 3/4 to 1 HP motors. Serious woodworking saws use 1 to 1.5 HP. Heavy resawing in thick hardwoods benefits from 1.5 to 2 HP. A 1 HP motor handles most general woodworking; upgrade to 1.5 HP if you plan to resaw hardwoods frequently.

Frame: Cast iron frames are rigid and dampen vibration. Steel-welded frames are lighter and cheaper but may vibrate more. Cast iron is preferred for precision work and resawing where blade deflection must be minimized.

Blade Selection

Width: Narrow blades (1/8" to 1/4") cut tight curves. Medium blades (3/8" to 1/2") handle general-purpose cutting: moderate curves, straight ripping, and crosscutting. Wide blades (3/4" to 1") are for resawing and straight-line ripping — the wider the blade, the straighter it tracks.

TPI (teeth per inch): Low TPI (2-3) for thick, aggressive cuts in green wood and resawing. Medium TPI (4-6) for general-purpose woodworking. High TPI (10-14) for thin stock, plywood, and smooth finish cuts. The rule of thumb: at least 3 teeth should be in the material at all times. For 3/4-inch stock, a 4 TPI blade keeps 3 teeth engaged.

Tooth pattern: Regular (evenly spaced, same set) for general cuts. Skip tooth (every other tooth removed) for softer woods and aggressive cuts — the wider gullets clear sawdust efficiently. Hook tooth (similar to skip but with a positive rake angle) for fast cutting in thick stock and resawing.

Best Uses

Resawing: The band saw's signature move. Slice thick planks into thinner boards for bookmatched panels, veneers, and thin stock. A 1/2" or 3/4" blade with 2-3 TPI produces the best resaw results. Use a single-point fence (a tall, straight block of wood clamped to the table) and feed slowly.

Curve cutting: The band saw cuts curves more accurately and safely than a jigsaw. Use a 1/4" or 3/8" blade for curves. The narrower the blade, the tighter the radius it can cut (a 1/4" blade cuts approximately a 5/8" radius).

Ripping rough lumber: Rough-sawn lumber with irregular edges and hidden defects is dangerous on a table saw (the board can bind and kick back). The band saw's downward cutting action presses the workpiece against the table — there's no kickback risk.

Joinery: Cutting tenons, bridle joints, half-laps, and other joinery. The band saw's precision and thin kerf make it ideal for cutting to a line.