A few key points to remember while you are searching for a bandsaw:
 

▪ Wheel size – as this will determine the width of the cut available
▪ Blade replacement – how often will you have to change the blade, and how easy is it to do for each saw?
▪ Guide system – can affect the accuracy of the cut, how much support does it provide?
▪ Motor size – how powerful a saw you require may depend on what you will be cutting
▪ Band width – determines the radius of the curve that can be cut
▪ Value for money – are you using your bandsaw for a hobby or business, i.e. do you want the best possible quality machine, or save as much money as possible?

Bandsaws can be used to cut a variety of materials, but Metalworking and Woodworking Bandsaws are the most common.

Woodworking bandsaws are ideal for cutting both curved and straight cuts into small and large pieces of timber. They can also be used to slice very thick planks of timber into thinner, shorter planks, and therefore are commonplace in building yards or workshops that deal especially in joinery.

Metalworking bandsaws naturally have to cut much stronger materials and therefore need to be much more robust than woodworking bandsaws. They also generate a lot more heat, and therefore a coolant liquid is always advised to avoid the blade or cutting material being damaged by the excess heat. Metal cutting bandsaw technology has improved vast amounts over just the past few years. The development of new tooth pitches and geometries, as well as M51 steel (tool steel) and the cryogenic treatment of modern blades mean that results unthought-of just a few years ago are now a reality.