Bandsaw as the Main Shop Tool

[jaegerhund]

I just read an article in Fine Woodworking where the author supports the idea of the bandsaw being the first major buy and the center/main tool of a shop.  His buying order was: Bandsaw -> Jointer -> router -> CMS -> Drillpress , with the table saw not making the first 5 buys.  I know the "need for a table saw" has been discussed often here, most often as a companion for or in comparison to the Festool Saw/MFT  system, but what do you think about  this author's point of view---- and though I have little experience with all of this, it seems that a bandsaw would compliment the Festool Saw/MFT system well -- what do you think?

Justin

 

[Eli]

Not that I have one, but if I was going to buy any stationary tools at all, the bandsaw would be the first.

 

[Loren Hedahl]

A band saw was my first stationary power tool, 30 years before the article in FWW came out.

I think if my stationary tools had hour-meters installed, that band saw would rack up the most time, even though I also have a larger band saw.

 

[fidelfs]

I read somewhere that is the standard for european workshops ( I can be wrong ), they use the bandsaw for ripping and everything else.

In USA the table saw is more common used.

 

[ROb McGilp]

I use my 17z" band saw and TS75. Haven't used a table saw for nearly 2 years.

 

[nickao]

If I could only have one tool it would be a larger band saw.

Nick

 

[mwhafner]

I think that a well tuned bandsaw, with a fence system,  fills the most commonly mentioned "hole" in the Festool system, ripping thin strips.  I do find that I step to the tablesaw much less than I used to.  If I can do the job faster, I use the tablesaw, but this is becoming rare.

I use the Kreg fence on my Jet bandsaw.  It is great for most operations, but I think that Laguna has the right idea.  Their drift adjustment appears to be be head-and-shoulders above the rest.

I also find a jointer, planer, and drum sander to be invaluable machines.  I have the HL850 with the bench unit, and it works great for site work, but is not a substitute for a long-bed jointer.  I have done away with my 15" planer, but still use my benchtop Dewalt on every project.  I could probably do without the drum sanders, but wouldn't want to. 

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

I think it also depends on what you expect to make in your shop.  If you are going to work with a lot of sheet goods then the table saw will be much easier.
If you need to resaw stock, cut a lot of curved components or rip really thick wood then you might be better off with the bandsaw. 
Part of the issue of first tools also has to do with whether you will be working with rough saw boards or purchasing your wood surfaced and straight edged.
Personally, I feel it is important to cover a number of key functions to be able to make some items and then upgrade as you can afford to do it and to meet your needs as you become more experienced.  When I started out back in the mid 80s I started with a decent Sears table saw.  I added a good router and built a router table, then a drill press and soon a jointer and planer for working from rough sawn stock. I found that I could save a lot on lumber and use that to upgrade the tools.  To me having the functions covered was key to being able to build projects and one of my first was a nice workbench of hard maple.

In 3 years I was able to sell off the sears saw for 75% of what I paid for it and upgraded to a new unisaw.  I upgraded the sears $300 jointer to a Delta DJ20 a few months later...and have kept upgrading and refining as needs and interests and money allowed.  Of course the neat thing about woodworking is that there are a number of ways to accomplish the same thing even using only hand tools as some woodworkers choose. 

Another thing is to just be willing to try and learn and try again....

Best,
Todd

 

[johnsonri]

I have a shop full of Festool stuff. But the bandsaw was one of the early settlers in my shop. I started out with a router, then compund miter saw, then bandsaw.

If I wanted versatility and was given a choice of one tool, it would be the bandsaw. It can be made to do so much!!

Regards
Rey

 

[r cash]

Hi All
When I first set up shop it was 900 sqft my first was 18" bandsaw Oliver, 10" powermatic tablesaw 8"jointer, 5 hp shaper with powerfeed
20" planer, 12"raidialarm. that was way before festool showed up and the Fun.... .. . . began .
Ciao for now.
RC

 

[Tinker]

My first stationary tool was a DeWalt RAS.  I had no room for any other power tool other than armstrong powered tools.

Contrary to what many others have said about the RAS taking up too much room, i found it to be far less space consuming than the next tool i bought when i finally had space to work.  that was a Sears table saw along with a Hitachi 8-1/2" SCMS.  later, i added a DW planer and a Reliant (company gone the way of dinasaurs) 16" BS.  I have, since been loading up with Festools, retired the tablesaw and find myself more and more using the BS. Aside from my TS55/MFT setup, I find the BS most used in the shop.  Even more-so than my routers.

I think if I were to start over, I would go for the TS55/MFT at the very beginning.  From there, I would be looking at a good BS and thickness planer.  I drill press would be next.  From there, I would do as needed >>>or the perceived need : 

Right now, I am thinking like upgrading my Rat to a Router Boss.  Cutting down on bench space by getting a Super Jaw.  I then can get rid of a router table and set up a router table top to be clamped into the Super Jaw.  a whole lot of other possibilities should become available with the clamping ability of the SJ combined with the various roller stands and two Work Mates (one is ancient with replacement slightly larger work surfaces)
Tinker

 

[Jesse Cloud]

If you are cutting curves or resawing for veneer or laminations, a band saw is a must.  As for ripping, if the cut is for something important, I always finish it on the jointer (rip 1/32 proud and make one pass on the jointer), so the band saw works just as well as a tablesaw.  Its also way safer than a tablesaw.

I have most of what Festool makes.  I have a Unisaw tablesaw.  I still use my bandsaw more than anything else.

So, unless you are working mainly with square cuts on sheet goods, I agree that the bandsaw is a good early purchase.

Another argument for a bandsaw is that it does a lot of things, but its footprint is relatively small.