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Purchasing a bandsaw becomes interesting if you have a few options. Our team is trying to provide details of the best Band saw under $500. We have finalized Gryphon as the best brand in the market. We have tested our products for almost 15 weeks, and we were amazed by the unique features of the products and how they are useful in cutting woods. Cutting hardwoods is very easy when we have a bandsaw.
Contents
Top Picks
Best Band Saw Under $500
1. Gryphon 37″ Band Saw Under $500
- Sold on Amazon
This C-40 CR band saw is a new edition of the Gryphon brand in the market. We have heard lots of good things about it, and then we decided to test it by ourselves to check its efficiency. Gryphon is a big name in the bandsaw industry and has invented whole concepts of cutting glass tools over 30 years ago.
The first thing we have tested of this bandsaw is its corrosion-resistant feature by cutting corral material with saltwater. We found it superb in this term. We agree that we cannot find lots of advanced features and techniques in the best bandsaw under $500. But its stainless steel parts and shielding reduce capability makes it worth purchasing if one has smaller cutting projects.
The best thing about the machine is its diamond coated blade, which is 37″ long and best for marine organisms. But one thing that we feel like a downside of the machine is its blade tracking adjustment. We faced many difficulties and adjusted the blade many times, but the blade used to travel out of the rim again and again.
After wasting huge amounts of time, we had a conversation with the supplier, and then they helped us with a video tutorial to troubleshoot the issue. There are few good things to say about this bandsaw under $500, but we appreciate its efficiency of cutting glasses feasibly and safely.
- Well built and powerful enough.
- Superb for fragging corals.
- Full one year warranty.
- The best affordable option of the bandsaw
- Complicate blade tracking adjustment.
Bottom lines
Gryphon is the most trusted brand for more than 50 years, and this C-40 model is the best addition and is considered the best bandsaw under $500.
2. Rikon 10-305 – Wood Band Saw Under $500
- Solid Steel Design- The 10-305 is a scaled down version of the popular 10-345 and 10-325. Frame is made of steel plate,...
- Cast Iron Table-Large 13-3/4-Inch by 12-1/2-Inch sturdy work surface, a feature not typically found on a bandsaw of this...
- Rip Fence- A quality rip fence is now included. Easily removed to do free hand work
The 10-345 and 10-325 are the most popular options of the Rikon Bandsaw brand. But they both are the expensive ones. The 10-305 Rikon wood Bandsaw under $500 is the most affordable option for the woodworkers with the trust of the Rikon brand.
We had run this bandsaw machine for more than 20 days and appreciated its versatility. Often it is good to cut the glasses, but we have used it to Band saw woods. We found that it is the most feasible and easy tool to run, which doesn’t need a professional engineer because of its belt and plate tracking adjustment features.
The best thing about this bandsaw is the addition of a fence that makes the sawing process more accessible than ever. We had cross-cut and re-saw the various hard and soft up to 3″ thicker woods and found it is a superb wood best bandsaw under $500. The one downside of this bandsaw is its blade.
While resawing the hardwoods, we realize the finishing is not as good as we desired. We have purchased a POWERTEC 13181X blade as a replacement and troubleshoot the issue. This one favour of buying a blade makes it the most affordable bandsaw ever. The one thing that is essential to mention is its workhorse potential. It means this affordable wood bandsaw is capable of working long periods without any break, and its motor will never heat.
- Easy to install and run.
- Flat and secure cast iron table.
- Value versus 10 inches band saw.
- No need to track blade adjustment.
- Blade quality needs improvement.
Bottom lines
The Rikon 10-305 is one of the best wood band saws under $500, and it is the single competitor of its expensive models because of its comfortable and feasible running techniques.
3. Makita XBP02Z Portable – Best Band Saw Under $500
- 4-3/4" Cutting capacity accepts a 44-7/8" Blade and is ideal for cutting multiple metal materials
- Makita-built motor delivers faster cutting with variable speed 275-530 ft./min.
- Protection circuit with built-in alert light provides over-torque motor protection warning for increased durability
Like all other Makita LXT tools, this XBP02Z portable bandsaw has also impressed us. One thing that is wonderful and appreciated about this bandsaw is its variable speed, and the most significant thing is that this bandsaw is cordless, which makes it easier to carry to the job site.
We used it to cut some industrial pallets, and because of its sharp razor blade, it took only 10 seconds to cut each pallet and doesn’t leave a single burr. One more thing that needs to be mentioned is that while cutting jobs, the cut-off wheel never sparks and doesn’t heat. With all the superb features, we have realized two downsides of this Band saw. First, it is very loud because of its fast speed.
The other thing that we understand is that if it comes with a brushless motor, it will be more appreciated. Hence these both downsides don’t disturb the cutting jobs, but still, it needs improvement. One thing that is essential for a portable best band saw under $500 is the lightweight of the machine. This Makita band saw suits this term. The safety switch is an add-on for the users, which allows them to use it as a vertical band saw.
- Immense speed and dial speed feature
- The Comfort level is more than others.
- No doubt it’s a durable product.
- LED light to increase visibility.
- It makes too much noise.
Bottom lines
If one has a requirement to cut a bunch of pallets or other industrial applications, then without any doubt, they can pick this best portable Band saw under $500, which offers far better comfort and safety than other brands.
4. DEWALT Portable and Horizontal Band Saw Under $500
- Industry best 10 amp motor of the metal band saw is designed with controlled power to withstand any jobsite application
- The portable band saw has industry best 5-inch deep cut capacity for round or rectangular stock
- Serviceable steel shroud and rubber bumpers of DEWALT band saw allow guards to withstand jobsite abuse without damage
The Makita portable band saw is superb at its place, but it isn’t capable of cutting hard metals, and only because of this, it can’t be considered as a horizontal band saw. Therefore we have listed this Dewalt DWM120K portable band saw which fits in terms of a horizontal band saw because of its powerful 10 AMP motor.
This much power is efficient in handling hard metal cutting jobs. While testing this horizontal Band saw we have got smooth and almost 5 inches deep cuts in mild steel, stainless steel, copper and bronze. Like Makita, the cut -off wheel never sparks while cutting these hardest metals. One thing that makes our work more accessible because of its LED lights. While using it as a vertical band saw the lights makes the application and job site more visible. For cutting hard metals, we need a heavy-duty and robust tool.
Only because of this requirement this Dewalt band saw is a bit heavier than other portable band saws. Although heavyweight is required, we still think manufacturers can work to decrease their weights a bit. That will make jobs much more manageable. One more thing that is similar to other powerful band saws is that it’s too a louder tool.
Moreover, these points are not to be noticed because our priority is a strong, durable and powerful tool as a horizontal band saw. And this Dewalt cutting machine is superb to be considered as a horizontal band saw.
- Speed adjustable feature.
- Brighter LED lights.
- Soft grip handles.
- Versatile Band saw
- It weighs a bit higher.
Bottom lines
If you are searching for a powerful and durable band, saw for cutting hard metals, then try this one of the best horizontal Band saw under $500.
5. WEN 3939T Hardwood Band Saw Under $500
- 2.8 amp motor rotates the blade up to 2460 feet per minute
- Create cuts up to 3-5/8 inches deep and 9 inches wide
- Uses 62-inch blades anywhere from 1/8 to 3/8 inches in size
This WEN band saw’s quality and precision are beyond our expectation. We can’t even imagine that a band saw under $500 can offer brilliant hardwood-cutting jobs. Even, we have used this bandsaw for hardwood and softwood resaw. We have resawn 7″ hardwood with the supplied blade and were surprised to see the results. The cuts were excellent, and it’s LED lights helped us to control the mess.
One more thing that amazed us is that it is so silent and allows us to have a clean and peaceful atmosphere. The 2.8 AMP powerful motor is such a workhorse because it offers non-stop power while preparing woods of all sizes and hardness. The main reason behind listing this band saw is its affordable price.
In our opinion, this much feature is tough to get at this much cheaper cost. We recommend using a stock blade instead of a thinner one. Hence the blade size depends on hardwood cutting jobs. But still, try to avoid thinner blades.
We had also tried to replace the stock blade with a thinner one, and we found the thinner blade adjustment task is challenging. It took a considerable time, but we couldn’t get it centred. This one may be counted as a downside of this band saw. But still, the supplied blade sharpness was enough to handle hardwood cutting jobs. Moreover, we can consider it the perfect, feasible and cleanest machine for hardwood and softwood cutting jobs.
- Affordable purchasing cost.
- Sufficient powerful motor.
- LED lights for more visibility.
- Comes 90% already assembled.
- Difficult to adjust or change blades.
Bottom lines
This WEN 3939T cutting tool is such a steal of money as its features and workhorse capability makes it one of the best hardwood band saw under $500.
6. WEN 3959 Wood Band Saw Under $500
- 2.5 amp motor rotates the blade up to 2500 feet per minute
- Create cuts up to 3-1/2 inches deep and 9 inches wide
- Uses 59-1/2 inch blades anywhere from 1/8 to 3/8 inches in size
One cheaper bandsaw under the Wen brand fits perfectly with the small wood cutting jobs. Hence it is the most affordable one, but frankly, it is not the right choice for hard metals resawing tasks. But on the other hand, if one has a requirement to cut only softwoods, avoid investing lots of money for an expensive bandsaw. We never list any product without testing them by ourselves.
Only because of its cheaper rate it doesn’t mean it’s a wrong choice. That’s the only reason we have decided to mention our reviews about it. The first thing that we liked the most is its easy installation feature. It took less than one hour to assemble it accurately. Hence, the 2.5 AMP motor is capable of handling hardwood-cutting jobs, but we have still tried the machine for cutting wood boards. We’re amazed that we took a bunch of 20 wood boards less than 20 minutes to complete the job.
We swear the cutting was pretty accurate and pleasant enough. One thing that needs to mention, it is not a workhorse. That’s the single downside of this band saw. It doesn’t mean it can’t handle high volume wood cutting jobs. But we recommended giving it a short break after using it for 5-6 hours.
One more thing that we didn’t like is that it is a louder tool because of its compact size and lightweight. We can also take it as an advantage because a lightweight and thin size allow us to easily carry it from one place to another.
- First of all, its price tag
- Easy to set up.
- Makes woodcutting jobs feasible.
- Easy to move. .
- Motor heats after continuous use.
Bottom lines
For the woodworkers, this Wen bandsaw is the most affordable option as well as its features and potential ensures it as the best wood band saw under $500.
Buying Guide – Best Band Saw Under $500
It is essential to know the crucial features of a product. Here we are mentioning critical things that one has to look for before purchasing the same.
1. Guide Wheel:
Guide wheels are the best part of any bandsaw. It helps the blade to move and cut the woods efficiently. The quality of your wheel matters a lot. We need to check the speed and quality of the guide wheel before purchasing the one. We found that Gryphon 37 has fast and durable wheels in our testing. Also, it is essential to go through the size of the guide wheel and blade before buying a bandsaw.
2. Blade Quality:
It depends on the type of wood you want to cut through the machine. Many types of softwood, ply, and hardwood is there that one can cut. Every industry uses different blades to cut a specific type of wood. Hence, check the sharpness and size of the blade. Also, the material manufacturer has used it to make it, and the safe fitting in the machine is a priority for the safety of workers.
3. Size of Machine:
Many types of brands and sizes available in the market, so it’s upon you how much space you have or what kind of work you want to do. It is essential to see the size of wood ply you want to cut through a bandsaw machine.
4. Motor:
The motor’s power and potential are one of the major parts to paying attention to while purchasing a band saw. We didn’t mean that a band saw which has the highest powerful motor is the best one. The reason behind mentioning this point is that we want to suggest that we always go with your requirements. The high powered motor will demand more dollars to be purchased like Makita XBP02Z. On the other hand, electricity consumption will also be higher. Therefore first decide your needs and then pick the best one. As an example, if you have a requirement of cutting wood, then a 2.5 AMP motor is sufficient. The hard metals demand a horizontal band saw which has a minimum 7 AMP motor.
5. Affordable:
Last but not least, an affordable machine is better than investing more than your pocket’s limit. We didn’t mean to compromise with your needs. You can choose WEN 3939T if you want an affordable yet effective band saw. We said that if a band saw costs under $500 and capable of fulfilling your needs, go with it without any doubt. Price tags didn’t justify the quality of the product. So never go with an expensive one if the cheapest one can offer to fulfil your needs. On the other hand, if a bandsaw is incapable of fulfilling your needs and you don’t have the budget to afford the advanced model. Then we suggest you wait until your budget allows instead of investing money in a wrong bandsaw. It will be a total waste of money.
FAQ
Can I get a variety of bandsaw blades in the market?
Yes, it is possible to get a variety of blades for your machine. We consider the Gryphon 37″ diamond band saw as the best machine where you can change or sharp the blades as you want. There is no need to work with inefficient blades. Also, the finishing that you can get from sharp blades is better. There is no need to sharpen the blades frequently.
What is the advantage of using bandsaw?
There are lots of advantages to using a bandsaw. Some of the majors are if you have requirements of giving a unique shape to the wood board, then it allows you to do the same. If you are using traditional methods for cutting different applications, it would demand more energy and time than a band saw. Apart from this, one can reduce wastages while doing cutting jobs with a band saw. The most important one is that if you have purchased Makita XBP02Z, you don’t have any restrictions for a specific material. As it is a versatile band saw and capable of handling horizontal and woods cutting jobs.
What size of the blade is perfect for me to cut hardwood?
Well, this depends on your requirements. If you have a requirement of re-sawing or cutting thicker wood, then you can use 2 or 3 TPI blades. The 4 TPI blades allow for cutting general sized materials such as ¾” hardwoods faster. 6 to 8 TPI blades are also good to handle general sized hardwood cutting jobs. Apart from this, if you have to give a unique and smooth shape to hardwoods, we recommend using 14 TPI blades.
Which product is the most affordable?
Affordable doesn’t mean the cheapest one. It is not right to consider a bandsaw as the most affordable, which costs less than $150 if it is not capable of fulfilling your cutting desires. A machine that fits your needs perfectly and doesn’t cost more than its features and technique can be considered the most affordable product. As an example, the Rikon 10-305 is one of the versatile band saws in the market. It is capable of handling multiple applications cutting jobs, and it demands according to its quality and features to purchase.
Final Talk
Hence, we can say there are a variety of band saws available for our users. We have tested and rated all the products after the research of weeks. We, as a team, want our users to get the best Band saw under $500 from the marketing. You can consider Gryphon 37 diamond bandsaw as the best product that one can purchase and use for the long term although it is upon your budget and the requirement that what kind of bandsaw you want to buy. Also see the list of band saws under $500.
Rikon 10-305 - Editor's Choice
Summary
The 10-345 and 10-325 are the most popular options of the Rikon Bandsaw brand. But they both are the expensive ones. The 10-305 Rikon wood Bandsaw under $500 is the most affordable option for the woodworkers with the trust of the Rikon brand.
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