We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Band Saw?

By Sheri Cyprus
Updated: Jan 29, 2024
Views: 14,120
Share

A band saw is a power saw that features a toothed metal strip that moves in a continuous loop around two or three wheels. These saws are often used in home workshops to make straight or curved cuts in woodworking projects. In general, wide blades are used for straight cuts and narrow blades are used for curved cuts. These saws are often considered more versatile than table saws in home workshops and they can make decorative curved details such as trim on bookcases.

One of the few things a band saw is not good for is cutting dados. A router can be added to the home workshop for this purpose though. In woodworking, dados are grooves cut into boards so that other pieces can fit in the groove. A band saw is usually considered ideal for cutting tenons. A tenon is an area on a piece of wood that is created to fit into a mortise, or hole, that holds the tenon. Together, the tenon and mortise form a basic joint used for many wooden items such as furniture, boats and fences.

The two most common types of band saws are the floor-standing and the mounting varieties. The mounting kind may sit on a bench or a stand. These types are often a lot smaller than the floor-standing saws and are usually suitable for most home woodworking areas. Floor-mounted band saws are also known as cabinet band saws and have bigger motors and more deluxe features than bench-mounted saws.

When choosing the right band saw for your needs, look at the depth of the cut the saw offers because that indicates the thickness of the wood the saw can cut. Some have a riser extension piece that increases the depth potential. Another feature that is important to check out when shopping for a band saw is the throat of the blade. The throat is the space between the blade and the main body of the saw. The throat determines the width of wooden pieces that can be cut with the saw.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wise-geek.com/what-is-a-band-saw.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.