Bandsaws are critical components to have in a woodworking shop. They are the tool necessary for cutting complex curved shapes in your projects made of wood or metal. Two excellent bandsaw options are the JET JWBS-12SFX and the RIKON 10-326.
Both offer amazing features that we are going to compare based on ease of use, fence system, and blade speed. We will base our recommendation on user skills as well as project needs.
JET JWBS-14SFX
As a bandsaw, the JET JWBS-14SFX is a large piece of equipment and it arrives on a small pallet. You will require assistance during the unboxing. However, you’ll be ready to cut in under 5 minutes once you get your new bandsaw in its permanent location.
You’ll be pleased to find that the tensioning and tracking of the blade, as well as the setting up of the guide bearings, is all toolless. Additionally, all of the adjustment knobs are made so that they are easy to grip.
The ½” stock blade will surprise you with its cutting ability. There is no blade drift at all and its cuts are very smooth whether you are cutting hardwood or softwood.
The frame is extremely sturdy, and the saw features a dependable four-sided blade guard.
Its motor is 1 ¾ HP, but that doesn’t stop it from delivering massive power.
The JWBS-14SFX features a dual-position fence system. When your project requires ripping, you can turn the fence sideways for easy access to your material. When it’s vertical, it provides a solid 6” face to brace your project on when you are resawing.
There is a micro-adjust feature that allows for precise dialing in, and it is beneficial for cutting veneers. The fencescale is also laser-etched, which means that it will not rub clean, leaving the indicators in place.
The location of the dual-dust collection ports is excellent because it keeps the 4” hoses out of the work area.
The saw features a cutting width and height of 13 ½ inches. This bandsaw’s blade speed is 3000 SFPM. It can operate with a blade width between 1/8 and ¾ inches. The JWBS-14SFX offers more than 13 inches of resaw capabilities. The table is 21 ½ x 16 inches.
RIKON 10-326
The 10-326 is a deluxe bandsaw that will provide you with a cutting capacity that is 13 5/8 inches wide and 13 inches high. It features a table that is 22 x 16 inches.
Like the JWBS-14SFX, the 10-326 offers a 4” dust port and a 1 ¾ HP motor. However, the JWBS-14SFX does have a slightly higher blade speed than the 10-326.
The 10-326 has a trunnion that is of the rack and pinion type and can be adjusted easily with one hand. Additionally, the locking lever can be manipulated with just one hand.
The blade has two speed options, 2950 ft/min and 1445 ft/min. These speeds provide significant power that is enough to handle tasks like cutting lumber or resawing. This saw is also capable of cutting some non-wood materials, including non-ferrous type metals, composites, plastics, and foams.
This saw’s blade guide is spring-loaded, meaning you will not need a tool to set it. The springs will push it from the blade if you do not lock it into place.
Additionally, the fence adjustments are toolless. The fence adjustments can be changing the orientation from half an inch to six inches or adjusting for drift.
As the bandsaw weighs a whopping 285 pounds, you will need assistance with the unboxing and placing of the tool into its permanent home. It comes with tools for assembly, which are located near the base and a little difficult to find.
The instruction manual provides very clear details on how to assemble the unit but does not offer pictures, which would make assembly a lot easier.
Our Recommendation
Clearly, both bandsaws offer excellent features, but we must break down the differences before you make your final purchase decision. The JWBS-14SFX offers extreme ease of use from minimal assembly to toolless features, a very flexible and adjustable fence system, and a fast blade speed. We recommend this bandsaw for industry professionals.
On the other hand, the 10-326 requires more assembly and a slightly slower speed but it does feature an adjustable fence system. We recommend this for industry professionals who have more experience with assembling power tools and do not require the higher speed of the JWBS-14SFX.
Click here to purchase JET JWBS-14SFX on Amazon.com
Click here to purchase RIKON 10-326 on Amazon.com