Table Saw Vs Band Saw: Choosing The Best Tool For Woodwork

If you’re reading this, you’re probably a woodworker who can’t decide between a table saw vs band saw. You’re not alone, though. Some woodworkers believe that every shop needs a table saw, while others believe that a bandsaw is preferable.

The main difference between a table saw and a band saw is their cutting mechanism. A table saw uses a rapidly rotating circular blade for straight cuts and precision, while a band saw employs a continuous loop of toothed metal for versatile curved and intricate cuts.

Band saws and table saws are both types of power saws that can cut wood in different ways. In more than one way, though, they are one-of-a-kind tools. Let us review each tool and talk about what makes it good.

Table Saw:

One of the most common tools in a woodworking shop is a table saw. Some people call them bench saws. An electric motor spins a circle saw blade that is attached to the saw and can cut through wood. Because they have holes for miter gauges, they can make accurate cross-cuts and rip-cuts.

Round and miter saws can be switched out for table saws. You don’t need a different tool to make bevel cuts with a modern table saw. But they’re also a bit restricted because their main purpose is to cut lumber.

You can cross-cut, rip, and make dadoes, cases, grooves, and tongues with a table saw.

Pros:

They are very good at making crosscuts and rip cuts.
It’s pretty easy to make quick and clean cuts with a table saw.
They’re called “versatile” hand saws because they can be used for a range of tasks.
You can make bevel cuts with modern table saws that have wheels that can turn.

Cons:

Basically, they’re made to cut lumber.
Compared to band saws, they are bigger and make harder cuts.
They are very loud.
Most crashes with power saws happen with table saws.

Band Saw:

If you walk into the shop of a professional or hobby woodworker, you’ll probably be able to find a bandsaw somewhere. It’s popular to have this hand saw because it can cut through many things, like thin metal and plastic.

The bandsaw has a long, thin blade that goes between two wheels inside the machine. These movements let band saws cut through many types of material. As well, it lets it cut like a jigsaw. It’s now easy to cut things in a bent shape with a bandsaw.

Bandsaws aren’t as loud as other types of saws. They don’t take up much room on the floor either, which is great if you work in a small workshop. They work best for resawing, cutting curves, and making cuts that aren’t straight.

Pros:

You can cut through thin metal, wood, plastic, MDF, and board with them.
Bandsaws spread the cutting force evenly across the teeth of the blade, which lets you make straight cuts.
Bandsaws make it easier to make cuts that aren’t straight.
Compared to other saws, they are pretty quiet.

Cons:

When cutting things that need smooth edges, they might leave rough edges.
When cutting straight lines, they take longer than table saws.
They’re not as strong as table saws.
Since band saws don’t let you change the blade height, they can’t make long lines.

7 Differences between: Band Saw vs Table Saw:

Table Saw vs Band Saw 7 Main Difference — **Table Saw vs Band Saw: 7 Main Difference**

Here’s how they are different now that we know what they can do:

Size:

Each saw is a different size. There is a lot of space around a table saw. A tabletop model will take up some of your desk, while a full-size unit can take up a whole room on the floor.

However, bandsaws take up less room. They are larger and narrower than table saws. So, they make good use of the room on the sides of your shop while saving space on the floor. Bandsaws are great for shops with limited floor room because of this.

Uses:

When you need straight, long cuts, the table saw lets you make rips. When you need squares, it lets you make crosscuts. Table saws can also be used to make cuts at an angle, such as miters and bevels, as well as slots, insects, and dados.

Bandsaws can also tear and cut. In this case, though, the table saw’s thin, weak blade makes it a better choice. You can cut curves, straight lines, and other odd forms with a bandsaw.

Versatility:

If you want to change the blades, both saws have their good points. This is pretty much what a bandsaw is: a custom saw. Likely, you won’t need them as often as you’ll need a table saw. It’s more useful to have a table saw because it can make more cuts.

But bandsaws can cut through things that are heavier. They are great for cutting plastic, thin metal, and other things because of this. They’re mostly made to cut wood, but you can change table saws to cut metal and other materials.

Band Saw vs Table Saw Safety:

If you are going to use a power saw, you should always follow the safety rules and wear the right PPE. Still, band saw blades aren’t as thick as table saw blades. This means they are easy to move around to cut yourself without hurting yourself.

But table saws aren’t quite as safe. When they’re moving, their wide blades pose a big threat. Luckily, some types have a system that can tell when human flesh is present and stop the blade. They are still safer than table saws, though.

Simple Cuts:

With a table saw, you only need to make one pass to get a very clean cut. If the saw has been changed to make angle cuts, the cut is even smoother. It’s not as clean when you use a bandsaw, though. So, if you want a bent bandsaw cut to look good, you’ll need to sand it more.

Precision:

It’s not the same as how precisely band saws and table saws cut through wood. You don’t need any other tools to make scroll and curved cuts with a band saw. While table saws are good for straight cuts, they’re not as good for curved cuts. But they cut rips and crosscuts very precisely.

Noise:

In terms of noise, band saws are much quieter than table saws when they are in use. For this reason, you can use a bandsaw in your home without bothering other people.

But it’s not a good idea to use a table saw in a house where other people live. It makes so much noise that you should wear earplugs to keep your ears safe.

Should you Use a Bandsaw or a Tablesaw?

With each saw, there are certain jobs that it works best for. So, what you choose will depend on the jobs you’re working on. You should buy a table saw if you need to make accurate rips and crosscuts. You should buy a bandsaw, though, if you want to make correct curved cuts.

When picking between the two saws, you might also want to think about other things. If you have trouble with noise inside, having a table saw would be a problem.

You can also cut through more things with a bandsaw. A bandsaw is better if you work with different kinds of things, like metal and plastic. Most of the time, a carpenter would use a table saw instead of a bandsaw.

Bottom Line: Band Saw vs Table Saw

The choice between a table saw and a bandsaw is not one that you are required to make, of course. Both saws can be found in the shops of a good number of skilled woodworkers.

However, if you are just getting started and have a limited budget, it makes the most sense to invest in the saw that has the most functions. In this particular scenario, the versatility offered by a table saw in terms of the kind of cuts it can do tips the scales in its favor.

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