Help please which saw

[Davew]

Hi
I have just purchased a lathe and now I need a power saw.
I cannot make my mind up which type of saw to buy. It will have to fit on a bench and be fairly compact.
I do not know if I would be better getting a bench saw, band saw or a mitre saw. I already have a scroll saw which does not measure up to what I need.
I will be using the saw for the pen blanks and parts on my farm carts. Maximum cut is approximately 100mm wide x 60mm thick.
Any advice would be very much appreciated
Thanks
Dave

 

[rayf6604]

I would say, most woodturners want a bandsaw for the versatility they give for irregular cuts, but if you’re only wanting to do straight cuts, whether angled mitre cuts or cutting down lengths, then for the size of cuts you list, a chop saw or compound mitre saw should suffice. I used to cut a lot of my pen blanks on hand mitre saw just because it was easier and less noisey than running a power saw. Both types have their uses and in an ideal world I’d have both, but each has its limitations.

 

[Penpal]

I am all for the most versatile saw IMHO the Band Saw.

Peter.

 

[Lons]

I'd say a bandsaw all day long for versatility, you never know what you might need in the future.

Apart from lathework I do a fair bit of general woodwork and DIY and am lucky enough to have a scrollsaw, a 12" blade chopsaw, a 10" cast iron table saw and a decent bandsaw and without question if I could keep only one machine it would be the bandsaw.

 

[loftyhermes]

Bandsaw definitely.

 

[Bucks]

If it has to be only one saw I would also say a bandsaw.

 

[bigbob]

Another vote for a bandsaw and as a added bonus it is the least dangerous of all saws mentioned. Do not be tempted to get a cheap one though stick to the good makes like Record Metabo and the more expensive Scheppach's in bandsaws you really get what you pay for.

 

[silver]

Hi
I have just purchased a lathe and now I need a power saw.

TBH you don't NEED a power saw for penturning, as Ray said you could use a simple hand miter saw for cutting the blanks.

However I sense a little more in you thread as you would probably be thinking of converting larger pieces to make in to sensible sized pen blanks. If that's is the case then a power saw would be the simplest for ripping wood down..

That said a decent bandsaw could equally do the same job.

For a woodturners I believe the bandsaw has the most versatility as IMHO you can pre round wood easier.

I gather you was using the scroll saw for making the parts of farm carts, the bandsaw could cover most of that work as well, apart from if you needed to cut the centre out of for the wheels. A scroll saw or fret saw would be the best option there.

But there are other ways of making wheels for carts.

So for me the Bandsaw would be the best option and have the most fersatility.

It will have to fit on a bench and be fairly compact.

There is JTF not far from you that has a really nice little compact bench top one for sale that looks good.

Worth a drive over.

If you wanted to "have a go" on a bandsaw PM me as I'm not that far away and you could at least see how they perform.

My view is if you are not sure then don't spend big on one until you know it's the right choice for you.

 

[porker356]

Another vote for the bandsaw. I ve had the small Scheppach for about 6 years now and have used it to cut all my pen blanks. Just buy decent bandsaw blades and not the cheapest you can find.

Kind regards

Ian

 

[Dalboy]

Being a model maker as well as a turner (this lot may disagree especially when we talk pens) I would go for a bandsaw I use mine for ripping down wood for the models and also use it for cutting blank rounds as well as a number of other jobs. I own a bench saw, bandsaw, mitre saw, and a scrollsaw and out of all of them the bandsaw is the go to saw for me.

 

[Unique]

Of the whole variety of saws which I have, the one which gets most use and most varied use is my bandsaw. It sees almost daily use - any of the others are only intermittently used.

Tony

 

[Lons]

Just to add to my earlier reply. apart from a scrollsaw which is safe and pretty specialised

* A chopsaw/mitre saw is great for crosscutting, trenching etc but not good and has limited capacity when cutting with the grain. Your fingers can get a bit close for my comfort if cutting pen blanks.

* Table saw is great for sheet materials and when you need accurate, straight cuts and can also do everything a chopsaw does and more, especially if you make a sled and a few jigs, it's also potentially dangerous.

* A bandsaw is relatively safe and if set up properly and with a good quality blade can be surprisingly accurate, even more so if you use different blades for straight cuts and sharp curves, has a smaller footprint, usually quieter than a decent sized tablesaw and often better capacity. Hopeless for sheet material unless smaller sizes and usually a slightly rougher finish but that can be remedied with a hand plane, no matter of course for pen blanks. The saw kerf is much less tan the others as well so less waste.

Do a bit of youtube searching and you'll get the picture.

 

[yorkshireman]

Bandsaw every time, much more versatile

 

[Penpal]

The initial post stated it would be bench mounted,the footprint needed for a band saw can be small,medium. Easily mounted on a bench.

Peter.

 

[wm460]

Bandsaw

 

[Paul hd]

Without a doubt a bandsaw.

I also love my Proxxon bench top table saw, as long as you do not need more than a 22mm depth cut.

 

[Phil Dart]

Just one saw? Bandsaw every time. Possibly a smoother cut with a table saw, but a band saw is a much more versatile machine if you only have room or budget for one type. And that's why God also invented smoothing planes :wink:

 

[21William]

I am all for the most versatile saw IMHO the Band Saw.

Peter.

Just so. The Bandsaw was often referred to as the “king of saws” in the US. What other saw can make straight and curved cuts?!

 

[Dalboy]

I know you stated a benchtop model saw and as you can see many have said the bandsaw is their preference. Remember that a bandsaw that sits on a bench can limit the depth of cut that it will be able to make where as a floorstanding type will enable deeper cuts and the posibility of re-sawing wider material so if a space can be found you could always put it on a wheel set to enable it to be moved while cutting long pieces.
Also remember what hieght you have between the top of the bench and the roof of the workshop when choosing a saw.