The band saw is an essential tool for most woodworkers. But when it’s time to narrow down the field of competing models, how do you know which one is best for your workshop? Let’s review two of the top band saws from WEN and Rikon to help you decide.
WEN 3962 Two-Speed Band Saw with Stand and Worklight, 10″
The WEN 3962 is a 10-inch band saw that comes with its own stand. And when you need every square inch of workbench you already have, the stand is a useful feature.
The 3962 gives you a bit of flexibility when it comes to blades. You can use 1/8 to ½-inch widths as long as they are 72 inches long. If you’re new to using a band saw, you might not realize that you’ll want thicker blades to cut wider circles. For example, a half-inch blade can handle a 2-1/2-inch circle.
Then, the capacity of the WEN 3962 is also very good. It manages cuts up to 6 inches in depth and up to 9.75-inches in width. That measurement of 9-3/4-inches is the throat size.
Since the worktable bevels up to 45 degrees to the right, you can cut at an angle, too. And the worktable measures 14 by 12.5-inches, plus it comes with a reversible fence. When you pair the fence with the onboard work light, the sliding miter gauge, and the onboard measuring guide, it’s not hard to make accurate cuts.
While you work, you can choose from either 1520 or 2620rpm, depending on the material you want to cut and how much control you need.
Finally, you can keep the workshop neat because the WEN 3962 comes with a dust port that fits a variety of hoses and systems, from 1-3/4, 2-3/4, and 4-inches.
More features of the WEN 3962 band saw:
- Dimensions of the stand are 13-3/4 long x 15 3/4 wide x 25-1/4-inches tall
- 3.5Amp motor
- Covered by a 2-year limited warranty
- Assembly required
Rikon 10-305 Bandsaw With Fence, 10-Inch
The first difference between the WEN 3962 and the Rikon 10-305 band saw is their basic structure. While the WEN saw comes with a stand that raises it to the height of a tabletop, the Rikon is about 33 inches tall and designed to bolt onto a bench. In fact, it’s a smaller version of Rikon’s 10-345 saw.
Next, its cast-iron table is a little bit smaller than the one on the WEN. It measures 12-1/2 by 13-3/4-inches. But it also has a 2-inch tall removable rip fence. If you take it off the table, you’ll have more room to do freehand work. And you can tilt the tabletop up to 45 degrees to the right, too.
Then, you’ll also discover that the maximum cutting depth is considerably less at only 4-5/8-inches instead of the 6 inches on the WEN 3962. But the width is similar at 9-5/8-inches. And the motor has 1/3HP, plenty for creating blanks for bowls.
On the downside, the Rikon’s motor only offers one speed: 2780rpm. But it has an easy-to-use knob that lets you quickly adjust blade tension for best results. And like many saws in its class, it has a safety paddle switch for quick shutdown.
Finally, the 2-1/2-inch dust port lets you connect a shop vacuum hose to keep dust and debris under control.
More features of the Rikon 10-inch 10-305 Band Saw:
- Comes with a blade, but does not have a miter gauge
- Has a 5-year limited warranty
Recommendation
The WEN 3962 is a smart addition to your woodworking tool collection, especially since it comes with its own stand. It has a greater capacity than the Rikon 10-305, and greater flexibility as well. That flexibility is visible in details like the two individual speed settings, the fact that it accepts different blade widths, and it’s compatible with more than one size of dust collection system. It also comes with a miter gauge.
Meanwhile, if you don’t need the greater cutting capacity, you might save by purchasing the Rikon 10-305. It’s a compact benchtop model with a removable fence for freehand cuts. It also offers some flexibility with regards to blade width.