Opinion -- Bandsaw or Jigsaw

They both have their good points, and I have and use both.

But for LIGHT hobby use, if I could only have one, I'd choose a good jigsaw. It can make more intricate cuts, and it's possible to make inside cuts, such as on formers, that the bandsaw cannot do.

Bill

Ed I use my bandsaw more than my jigsaw, however - since the jigsaw can do things you can not do with a bandsaw I would go with the jigsaw if I could only have one.

ED

Ed wrote:

I have both and I get MUCH more use out of the bandsaw. In fact since I bought it, I rarely use the jig saw. For all I use it I could get by quite nicely with a coping saw. For one thing it is very difficult to cut a straight line. I do a fair amount of wood work as well and it is great for most of that. OTOH, consider what else you would use it for. If you have little kids, a scroll saw is pretty safe and is great for craft stuff. Do a google search on this group for this subject and you will see that there have been lots of opinions expressed. Gord Schindler MAAC6694

I vote bandsaw. I have a Ryobi that is great and costs less than $100.

On 2/1/2005 3:59 PM Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not so great) words of knowledge:

I have to agree with Bill - if you can only get one, get the jig saw. The band saw will be faster, however, being able to do the inside of a former is what makes it.

Yeah, I know you can cut out the inside with a #11 blade. Have you ever tried/done that on 1/4" ply ? A coping saw ? Not really. The convenience factor of the jig saw more than outweighs the speed.

If you are going to be using it for hobby use primarily, take a look at Ryobi. Their jig saw is $99 and the last I looked they had a 9" band saw for the same price at Home Depot. For a little more than the price of a brand name jig saw you could get both. I have been using a Ryobi jig saw for almost 3 years now and except for replacing blades I haven't had one bit of trouble with it.

Good quality band saw is hard to beat.

Ed, I'm an old fart, and I've been building for a LONG time. :) I'd definitely go with a band saw.

Pros: You can make straighter cuts with it. You can cut heavier stock with it. With the right blades, you can cut metals and plastics. It's usually easier to control. IMO, it's easier for a beginner to learn to use.

Cons: You can't cut as small of a radius with it. You can't cut an inside line. In the first case, you can make "kerf" cuts to allow the blade to turn the radius. In the second case, you can sometimes make an "access" cut to the inside that can be glued together later. Or, you can use your Dremel-type tool to make the inside cut.

Don't forget you can put the jigsaw upside down in a vice and put both hands on your work. As long as the material isn't more than a couple inches thick, the upsidedown jigsaw handles like a bandsaw and fits in the cabinet, and costs $15 from wal-mart. You need dedicated real estate for a band-saw.

Bandsaw... the bigger the better

-- Philip Rawson

I'm not picking nits here, Steve, but what you're referring to as a "jigsaw" is a "sabre saw" in my woodcutting circles...

By the same token, what we're all, myself included, calling a "jigsaw" is in reality a "scroll saw".

Damn, I guess there's no such thing as a "jigsaw" anymore........

(If there's no such thing as a "jigsaw", whatinell made all dem puzzles, hah??)

You are picking nits with the wrong person then. The dictionary coincides with some of your statements, sort of, but it hasn't caught up with the current usage for the term jigsaw. go to any hardware (homedepot/sears) site and type in jigsaw an see how EVERYONE uses the term jigsaw these days. e.g. :

Nevertheless my point was that you can do an awful lot with an upside down $15 jig saw and a vice big enough to hold it. It's got that little platform you can rest the work on, etc. It costs so little and can be used for so much.

P.S. Dictionary has scroll saw as a hand operated saw. Jig saw is a machine saw with a vertical blade, and it isn't clear if a sabre saw is a jig saw or a sawzall. Your circle should probably be notified ;)

If your going to be using it for building models I'd go with a jig saw. You can cut the inside of formers and ribs by just drilling a hole and slipping the blade through. Jig saw is a little less dangerous if you slip, I've had both for many years and my old Dremel was fine for any plans I made a kit for.

Scroll saw

Mike

Agreed... Confusing, ain't it??

BTW, If you look around a bit you can find a table much like a router table in which you can mount your sabre.... er, jigsaw. Not expensive and a lot easier on the saw, vise, and the wrists that get close to the blade....

Laser. Cuts vinyl graphics, too.

Gee, I've heard that..... Bet it's waay better'n that #11 X-acto I have to use...

Bill

I've got both types and I agree a band saw is great. However, for hobby use, being able to cut inside things gives the jig saw a slight advantage.

How about split the difference, get a Scroll Saw.

Just an idea...

-- Rewire