Band Saw Recommendations?

@VR3 Trey, I agree on the use-and-store, though for the stuff I'd like to do, not so sure on the rough work and just sufficing. I admit to being a perfectionist with certain things, and really, really enjoy using tools that make the job easier, or are a pleasure to use, or turn out a beautiful, accurate result.


@DaveHo Dave, I don't have many stationary tools right now. Main things is a combo sander and a big bench vise, lol. The rest are standard power tools.

Also considering a bench grinder for some parts/rust cleanup work on a project vehicle.

Main thing is, I like to have quality, practical, fun to use tools and have them available and easily accessible for tasks when I'm ready to task. I don't like the interruptions of having to dig stuff out and/or make-do. I'm finding now with this discussion that some of this is planning and thinking about ways to imorovey processes and working spaces.

The more I think about it, the more I like Trey's idea of use-and-store (which is kind of what I'm doing now), and not take up my entire work bench with tabletop tool storage. I do have a plan and space in place for that storage that would keep these tools out of the way as well as readily accessible to pull over to the work bench or take outside to a work area.

To clarify, I'm not looking to fill a workshop with tons of stationary or floor standing tools. This is just a garage.


@Gardenstater George, combination wood and metal. Mostly in support of other hobbies. None of this currently intended to be fine woodworking or metal fabrication, but I might take a welding class if I ever get better at soldering? Again, just for utility stuff, support of vehicle maintenance or resto, for example.

I do want to be able to cut and drill accurately, and control angles and the materials better, with a clean result.


One simple example of where I'd use a band saw would be a quick task to fix a minor issue in one of the vehicles I'm working on....

The battery bracket in my older Tacoma has a little bit of a gap above the battery. To hold the battery in place, I have to cinch down the j-hook side. I don't like this. It's metal on plastic.

My fix idea is to cut slices off of one of those little industrial vibe pads we use under gear sometimes.

Yes,i know there are other things I could do, but I want to use this. Obviously this single instance doesn't warrant a band saw, but you can't cut stuff like that with a jigsaw or utility knife, so it's this sort of handy, gee-wiz type stuff I'd be doing.

That's one of the silly little examples. I'd find more uses for these tools as I revisit my hobbies. I find it tedious to try to rig stuff up all the time to make other tools work. I can, and do, and sometimes it's what you do, but in general, from the old AF days - right tool for the job.

mhardy6647 wrote: »

I like @sucks2beme's post -- the old stuff tended to be much better built than the new stuff.
@msg I asked our son about bandsaws (since he's become quite the tool maven since taking up woodworking with a vengeance during the COVID Times). He said he doesn't know much about bandsaws per se, but Harvey seems to be favored by some, and he felt one wouldn't go wrong with even a modern Delta (and certainly not a vintage one).
https://www.harveywoodworking.com/collections/bandsaws

dayng! I suppose I should have taken a look at offerings in general before this post.
Harvey looks darn fine!

@sucks2beme - indeed, good recommendation! not sure I have the time for that estate sale shopping, though, nor the energy to fight with buzzards. but I will consider used. that's a great idea, and I'm not sure why that hadn't occurred to me yet. I was once gifted an old Shopsmith and a vintage drill press that had suffered a basement flood during a storm. The Shopsmith still worked, but not the drill press. I didn't have a bench yet at the time, and had nowhere to store the stuff, so I had to give it away. A friend fixed the old burly belt-driven drill press by replacing the power cable, ha. I think it was an early Craftsman. It had three different size pulleys, and you'd adjust the speed by moving the belt to the different pulleys.

Harvey. DAYNG!!! Really, Mark?!? lol

I might have to revisit Trey's Harbor Freight suggestion, or at least look into them again. Years ago, their stuff really sucked, but that was when everything was orange. If you needed a throw-away recip saw, it was worth the $24.95.

Also Northern Tools. Always found them to be a notch above, but never bought any power stuff from them.

@mhardy6647 - - well, I did say I enjoy nice tools while not setting any sort of budget

Thaaaat sounds eerily like the sort of thing we say to new members... As we spend their money!

Just a circular, jigsaw, and dual compound miter.

Again, I was thinking this would be more for small items, or custom cuts and more for utility type use. I'm not planning to get into any serious woodworking at this stage or any time in the near future.

Should probably start looking at some mid-level stuff. From what some of you have shared so far, it sounds like it wouldn't see a lot of use, so it probably makes sense to just get something decent, but not premium.

I'm curious as to whether any of you who have, had, or want one have any info to share on features to look for, etc.