Band saws are useful and versatile pieces of equipment in the workshop that are great for making complicated cuts. They can cut deep sections, curved and straight lines, and even circles. They can also make precise rip cuts, cross cuts and angled cuts with ease. Efficient dust extraction from above the blade and below the table is brought to a single 100mm dust port for connection to an extractor. The tilt and height adjustment mechanism is mounted on trunnions, bolted to the chassis as opposed to the underside of the table. The result is exceptionally smooth operation and without any weight hanging beneath, zero stress to the table. German tool manufacturer Scheppach have close to a century of experience making excellent kit for professionals as well as DIYers. Their HBS20 benchtop 8 inch band saw is a basic and lightweight piece of woodworking machinery that’s suited to a workshop where space is at a premium. Coming from the same Devon-based wood wizards as the big AC1950B, this is Axminster’s best benchtop band saw. The Axminster Craft AC1400B is a capable but compact band saw that can cut odd shapes of timber in ways that other saws just can’t.

Sporting a comfortable rear handle and large front auxiliary handle, this is comfortable to use, and slightly lighter than the Makita at just 3.9 kg without the battery. One of the main benefits of a tool like this is that it creates a lot less sparks than an angle grinder. The table saw features removable side panels for easy cleaning and maintenance. Super smooth tilt and height adjustment Credit subject to status and affordability. Terms and conditions apply. Axminster Tool Centre Ltd trading as Axminster Tools is a credit broker and is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Credit is provided by Novuna Personal Finance, a trading style of Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register no. 704348.

Easy maintenance

There’s a 300 Watt motor under the hood that powers the 1575 mm long saw blade round at 635 m/min. The maximum cutting capacity for height is 90 mm and has a throat that’s just under 230 mm in width. That’s an impressive capacity for what is a small, benchtop saw.

Another feature which is similar to the larger bandsaws in the Craft range is the wide, curved steel chassis. This design gives you excellent tension on the blade to increase the cutting accuracy! The size of the motor will affect the band saw’s performance and its ability to handle heavier applications. The best band saws for woodworking and hobby usage will be rated around 250 – 375 Watts. Professional band saws will feature motors rated over 500 Watts. Frame More famous for their clever cordless power tools and brilliant ONE+ battery system, Japanese pro’s Ryobi also dip their toes into woodworking tools as well. The Ryobi RBS904 benchtop 9 inch band saw is powerful, easy to set up, and features a decent work light. The table saw allows you to achieve a range of different cuts. These include all manner of straight cuts, mitred cuts and bevel cuts. Ideal for a range of materialsThe throat is the distance from the band saw blade to the vertical frame section of the saw. This distance determines the width of the cut that can be made. Most band saws have a throat capacity from 8″ to 12″ and sometimes higher. Some bandsaw brands use the term “cutting width” instead of “throat capacity”. Blades

One of the first things you’ll notice about this band saw is the big motor. Compared with the Axminster Craft AC1400B, it’s got more power to play with. You get 350 Watts of cutting power from the belt-driven brushed motor stowed down below. This powers the 1572 mm long blade round at a fixed speed of 660 m/min. The saw features a quiet 1,500W induction motor, an important consideration in a residential neighbourhood. The generous ground cast iron table comes with the benefit 19mm mitre fence T-slots on the right and the left of the blade. A 254mm Axcaliber 50 tooth blade, offers a maximum 80mm depth of cut. The full length rip fence includes a sliding sub fence with high/low functions. Designed to help you achieve your woodworking ambitions, the powerful AC254TS Craft Saw Bench from Axminster Tools brings the cutting capacity of a trade workshop into the home workshop.The saw features a quiet 1,500W induction motor, which can be an important consideration in a residential neighbourhood. The generous ground cast-iron table comes with the benefit of standard size 19mm mitre fence T-slots on the right and the left of the blade. A 254mm Axcaliber 50 tooth blade, supplied as standard, offers a maximum 80mm depth of cut at 90°. The full length rip fence moves smoothly on the alloy front rail and includes a sliding sub fence with high/low functions. Even though it’s a small 8 inch band saw, it still takes a 1,400 mm long blade. Powered by a 250 Watt direct drive motor, it’s fixed at a cutting speed of 800 m/min. It’s got a decent maximum cutting capacity of 800 mm in height, but the 200 mm wide throat is the joint smallest on my list. It’s not bad for light benchtop bandsaws like this machine though. When choosing a new bandsaw a lot will depend on what you want to use it for, how much space you have, and of course your budget. The AW254TS Workshop saw bench brings the cutting capacity of the trade workshop into the home workshop.

There are however a few other things to consider when looking for the best bandsaw for your needs. Power The tilt and height adjustment mechanism is bolted to the chassis as opposed to the underside of the table. The result is exceptionally smooth operation and without any weight hanging beneath the table causing stress. The quality of the frame will determine the stability and durability of the band saw machine. If possible choose a heavy-duty machine with a welded steel or cast iron frame. Speed The higher the speed the faster the cut. However, when cutting hard materials you will want to cut more slowly for accurate cuts. The best band saws will feature a variable speed function or more than one cutting speed to achieve this level of control. Cut Depth Setup is relatively easy, although you might need to tinker with the blade guides before it will cut straight and true. Supplied with a steel stand, everything is solidly welded together and should be incredibly rigid and reliable.Watch Tim to find out more about this quality, compact bandsaw in our Axminster Craft range. He tells us more about the bandsaw's intricate features which set it apart from any other like it. The engineers at German brand Einhell have been busy making innovative tools since 1964. They’ve branched out into 18V equipment recently but are better known for their benchtop gear. The TC-SB 200/1 band sawis the brand’s benchtop saw that’s ideal if you don’t have the space for a free-standing one. It’s an easy-to-use, quiet, and incredibly versatile woodworking tool. The saw is just as smooth slicing through softwood with its standard blade as it is cutting carbon fibre, phenolic laminates and even sheet aluminium with a fine-tooth blade. Dust collection via the 40 mm outlet is so-so, though that is the same for any bandsaw that doesn’t also capture dust from the guard. There is a blade brush in the bottom compartment which helps to keep dust at bay and brush resin from the surface of the blade it increase its life. A single dust outlet port provides efficient dust removal when connected to a suitable vacuum extractor, which must be recommended for increased cutting performance. Enjoy large, accurate and fast cutting 80mm capacity with this table saw; a real workhorse of any home workshop. Stable and robust