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A band saw is perhaps one of the smoothest tools that a woodworker can own. They come in different sizes, makes, and models. Now, you might have noticed that any discussion of band saw may end up having Jet and Grizzly band saws mentioned somewhere. In this article, we will not only be discussing products from two of the most popular band saw brands, but we will also discuss the things you should consider while buying a band saw.
How to choose the right band saw?
There are a couple of features that you can keep in mind while you are considering different band saws for clean and efficient woodwork.
Power and RPM:
You of course want to have a look at the power of the equipment you are buying. In fact, the capacity of the motor that it packs is one of the first and most important things you should check about a band saw you are considering to purchase. 2 HP 14” band saws can be easily found around.
Good quality Blade and blade guides:
No matter how powerful the motor of the band saw is, if the blade quality is not up to the mark, it wouldn’t matter. Equally important are those blade guides placed above and below the table. Its role is to prevent the blade from twisting or moving while you are cutting.
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Table height:
While this won’t be the primary feature you consider, it is important. Keep in mind that many of the modern-day band saws come with an adjustable table height for user convenience and adaptability.
Make and material of the frame/ body:
Not just the make and material of the blade, but that of the body of the saw matters as well. The better the quality metal and material used in the body’s design, the sturdier it would be and longer it will last.
Other user-friendly features:
Best band saws in the market would have additional features that add to convenience for the user. An effective dust collection mechanism is one such thing. Dust build-up is pretty easy with woodwork and it can actually cause performance issues in the saw. A proper dust collection mechanism in a band saw can considerably reduce the job for the user and can keep the saw efficiently functioning for a longer period of time.
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Jet vs Grizzly Band saws Comparison in 2022
Top Grizzly Band saws
Listed below are two of our favorite band saws from Grizzly.
Grizzly Industrial G0561-7″ x 12″ 1 HP Metal-Cutting Band saw
This is one of the most popular and customer-loved products from Grizzly. The icon on the product clearly conveys the performance it is capable of- chop up any kind of wood without a sweat.
The fact that it packs a number of convenience and advanced features like Hydraulic down feed and adjustable blade guide in addition to great power and impressive speed is attractive enough itself. Grizzly takes it a notch further with the automatic shut-off function, coolant, and quick setting vise. Furthermore, it features cast iron wheels that have heavy-duty bearings and also the ability to support vertical cutting operations. Overall, it is very versatile and highly useful.
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Grizzly G0513ANV 2 HP Band saw Anniversary Edition, 17-Inch
This is yet another of the top band saws from the Grizzly that can actually deal with bigger chunks. The thing is powerful with the 2-horsepower motor with a 1725 rpm speed that the thing packs, backed by an understandable 12-foot cutting capacity. With this thing, you can slice through the wood effortlessly. In addition to power and performance, there are few other features of the product which help it stand out in the market as well.
One of our favorite and most practical features of the band saw includes the two 4-foot dust ports. Further, the table is designed to be adjusted according to your convenience and work comfort. Just about every feature of this model makes it something that a pro-level woodworker would not just feel comfortable using, but also enjoy.
Top Jet band saws
Jet has been around for well over half a decade and is loved for bringing out jaw-dropping quality products in an affordable price range. Here are two of our favorite band saws from Jet.
JET JWBS-14SFX 14″ Steel-Frame Band saw (714400K)
Users largely loved this band saw. The thing packs a 1.75 horsepower motor and thereby delivers robust performance. The workpiece support is huge in this model with a huge 360 sq inch cast-iron surface- the bulkiness absolutely pays off. Further, there are easily visible measurements for user aid. Dust collection is efficient with the two 4 inch dust ports you can find on the frame- as you can understand, this makes quite a difference. Thoughtfully put together the cast iron frame and balanced wheels offer perfect and vibration-free woodwork!
JET JWBS-14CS 14″ 1-HP Closed Stand Band saw (708115K)
Now this one comes under the proper professional band saw category. Like the previous Jet band saw we listed here, this too comes with a large tilting table, backed by a great resaw capacity- 6-inch depth. You can smoothly and effortlessly deal with big pieces of wood. It offers you great work versatility and flexibility along with a safe and user-friendly design. Talking about the speed this can go as far as 3000 rpm, which would be one of the best you can find for band saws available in the market. Yet another thing we like about the JET JWBS 14 CS is its durability that the product owes to the heavy gauge metal housing.
Concluding
There are all sorts and a variety of band saws available in the market. Four of the best band saws were discussed in this article. You can further confirm the point of view from other professional reviews as well as the reviews given by the existing client base at large. Which band saw is your favorite one? Let us know in the comments section.
