Seeking an Opinion - Table Saw vs. Bandsaw

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dankc908

dankc908

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I am expanding my hobby into turning, not only pens, but, also, bottle stoppers, razor handles, letter openers, etc. I would, also, like to turn larger items (one of my two lathes has a 14" swing) like vases and bowls eventually. I currently own a very nice and little used table saw ($500.00 new 2 years ago).

My question is - will if find a bandsaw more useful than the table saw? I do NO furniture or big items. I primarily scroll and turn. I do not have room for both saws and I could, easily, get enough money from selling the table saw to almost pay for a decent 14" bandsaw.

I would really appreciate some opinions on this issue before I go off with a "half-baked" idea.

Many Thanks,
Dan
 
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I have both a tablesaw and a 14" bandsaw. I find that the bandsaw is my go-to machine for most cuts. If I made a cross-cut sled for my bandsaw, I'm sure I could use it for 90+% of everything I do on the tablesaw. Where the bandsaw really shines is in cutting up logs and large pieces of wood. Perfect for a woodturner. The bandsaw is also great for resawing. The tablesaw is better for the long straight cuts that you need for furniture and cabinets.
 
I've got both and wouldn't part with either one, but then I do a lot of flat work as well. If It came down to only 1 my vote would be for the band saw. For your planned use get the band saw. You can't cut a circle with a table saw. Well actually you can but the wood has to be relatively thin and me I got to much respect for what the TS can do to me to try it. Get the band saw.
 
Dan -- I find that the bandsaw is the turners best buddy. Close second is a chain saw.

I suggest you get one as large as you have room with as much vertical (resaw) clearance and horsepower as you can afford. As soon as you get to bowls, vases, etc you will be looking for 12 inch or more resaw capacity.

I have a 14 inch with the extender block that is over a decade old. Works well, but not as well as the newer welded steel units or those such as the Jet "super 14" that come out of the shipping material with a 12 inch or larger capacity vertically. I personally liked the Rikon I was able to use in a training session (not well enough to change, but very nice).

Get some hands on with several before you buy if you can.
 
Dan,
I have both and I have been working on segmenting jigs for both. The table saw blade, while I find makes a nicer, cleaner cut, takes a lot of blank for the width of the saw blade. I find that after I cut a lengthwise segment with a GOOD 80 tooth blade it requires little if any sanding though. I have experimented with segmenting on the bandsaw and the cut just don't seem as smooth, now, maybe I am using the wrong blade. I have a saw stop so I do not cut any metal segmented blanks on it, I know I can turn off the sensor, but it is a PITA.

As for just plain old cutting, I find the "pattern match" is better on PR when cut on the bandsaw without the extra loss of material. I may change my mid next week, but today I am using both and pretty happy.

Also, isn't it against the rules to sell any tools, unless it is an upgrade?
 
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I have to ask what kind of segmenting you think you might want to try. I do all my segmenting cuts on the table saw, and nearly all my rough cuts on the band saw. You can probably do some basic segmenting with the band saw and a disk sander, but the TS will do it better, easier, and do different things. For example, HB 360, brickyard, celtic knot, you may find a way to do with a band saw, but I think your joints would be poor. Personally, I would not even think about one of those patterns with a band saw. Also in segmenting, you have certain patterns that need to be drilled precisely down the center. I find this easier of my blank is perfectly square to begin with, and sicne I dont have a planer, I can get them straight and square on the TS.

All that said, what you need to do these TS operations is a well tuned TS. For the size work we do for pens such, it doesnt really need to be full size. Only problem is that the bench top units are often not very good, but a good bench top TS might solve your space issues - then you can have both and increase your options.
 
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I would be hard pressed to get rid of either. My BS has the Woodslicer blade from Highland and the cut is nearly glue ready from that blade. My TS gets a workout from making quick cuts less than 3" thick. Then there is my collection of chain saws, electric and Fuel. Sounds like my last job was in the Sahara Forrest doesn't it?
Charles
 
That's really a hard choice to make. I probably use my band saw 2 to 1 over my table saw. However. The times I need to rip a board or a piece of plywood, the table saw sure makes it easy. I know I could rip a board on the band saw, but it would really be a hassle. I've cut up burls (parts of burls anyway) on my table saw, and even cut some smaller pieces the size of pen blanks.

But if I could only have 1, it would be the band saw. I can always cut up plywood with a circular saw & a straight edge.
 
Bandsaw, many you can get an extension that will give Large throat clearance and you can do resaw work on some larger pieces, Also your less likely to loose fingers in a Bandsaw.
 
I guess I'm the oddball here. I use my table saw 3 to 1 over my bandsaw. I do all my ripping on the TS (ripping stock into blank sizes, etc.), I size my blanks on the TS, I segment on the TS, I cut my blanks to length on the TS, cut blocks for shaving brushes, tops, etc. on the table saw.

My band saw is for circles. BS for getting the bowl blanks ready. BS for re-sawing.
 
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A table saw with a thin kerf blade is best and the table saw is much more versital for other woodworking projects down the road.
 
Gosh, that is as difficult to answer as "which of your hands would you rather have cut off?". OK, very poor analogy, but I use both table saw and bandsaw so much, I'd have a hard time choosing. I would say I tend to use the bandsaw more for lathe projects, but I do all sorts of woodworking, and also have a radial arm saw, jointer, planar, drill press, router table and numerous routers, compound miter saw, etc.

The one power tool I could live without is my scroll saw. Hardly ever use it, but maybe one of these days if I decide to make a bunch of Christmas ornaments -- like cutout Santas, reindeer, snowflakes ...
 
I'd keep the table saw and just get a small bandsaw. I have a cheap 9 inch Ryobi band saw that I use for cutting pen blanks, maybe bottle stopper blanks, small segmented pieces, etc. When it's not in use, it's on the shop floor next to my table saw. When I need it, I either leave it on the floor and use it or I set it on top of the tablesaw. Being a smaller saw, it's not that great for larger items, such as peppermill blanks, so for those larger items, I use my table saw. But I use both saws often, so it would be hard to choose between the two. Now, if I had a larger bandsaw, maybe I could see getting rid of the table saw, but if I were you, I'd try to keep the table saw around and just get a small bandsaw that doesn't take up much space... every now and then, you may need to cut board for a project and a table saw sure beats using a handsaw!
 
I find the Bandsaw to be indispensable . Properly tuned with a high quality blade it will produce cuts as good as a tablesaw and do it just as fast . The biggest problem with the bandsaw is that most people don't take the time to tune them properly and/or use low quality blades . I have a HF 14" bandsaw which I have upgraded and tuned and will put it up against a saw that costs 4 times as much for accuracy and cut quality . Whatever bandsaw you get (if you get one) I would advise that you buy "The Bandsaw Handbook" by Mark Duginsky and follow his instructions to tune up the saw , replace the OEM guide blocks with a good set of Carter or Carter style guides and most importantly a good high quality (not necessarily expensive) blade , I like the Highland "Wood slicer" blades , they cost about $35 last time I checked , they are sharp as hell and last what seems like forever .
 
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