Band Saws
Band saws  can be one of the most versatile and useful tools in the shop. They are capable of performing a whole range of cuts, such as ripping, cross cutting, beveled cuts and cutting curves. Band saws are also capable of re-cutting a thick board into several thinner boards. They're relatively safe compared to other saws, with much of the blade hidden by the housing and the blade also cuts on the downward stroke as opposed to an upward stroke.
The saw is named after the type of blade it uses -- a thin loop stretched between two or three wheels and pulled through a hole in the cutting table. Only a band saw can produce a truly finished piece of wood. As the thin steel blade zips along at upwards of 2,000 feet per minute, the wood emerges with a clean, polished edge.
There are a few negatives to band saws. They require more setup than any other tool in the shop; different operations require different blades; each time a blade is changed the saw has to be tuned to that particular blade.
Recommendations
The Taunton Tool Guide 2006 reviewed 18 inch band saws, larger machines that have their own cabinet and are suitable for heavy-duty work. They recommended four saws -- two tied for editors' choice, one best buy, and one readers' choice. Since very few other sources review band saws, the Taunton guide is the best source of specific buying suggestions. If you are looking for a smaller bandsaw, try scanning reviews on Amazon and Epinions for machines with a large number of good ratings.
Important Features- Throat Capacity -- The maximum board width the saw can handle.
- Measured by the distance between the blade and the throat -- the supporting post that connects the top and bottom wheels.
- Depth of Cut -- Determined by how far the upper blade guide can be maneuvered above the table.
- Benchtop models might cut just over 3 inches deep, stands might cut to 6 inches and giant floor models (which may weigh up to a ton) may be able to cut 12 inches or more.
- Horsepower -- To cut up to 3-inch deep hardwoods you need at least a 1/2hp motor. If you want to cut up to 6 inches deep you'll want at least a 3/4hp motor and beams require up to 3hp motors.
- Blades -- Usually uniform in thickness, but have a big range in width.
- 1/8-inch blades are narrow and good for cutting tight curves.
- 1/4-inch blades are versatile and can handle straight cuts and curves also.
- Blades up to 2 inches are used mostly for cutting straight lines.
- Tooth Count -- As a general rule, the fewer teeth a blade has per inch, the faster it will cut.
- Blades with high tooth count should be used for thin stock, while thicker boards should use a smaller tooth count.
- Popular blades usually have between 4 and 10 teeth per inch.
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