The JET JWBS-14SFX is the best band saw for resawing in 2026 for most home and small shops: a 1.75 HP capacitor-run motor, 13 inches of resaw capacity, a ground cast-iron table and a machined-aluminum resaw fence in the box, all running on a standard 115V circuit. It is the pick we kept coming back to because it does the two things resawing demands – enough torque to push a wide board down through the blade without stalling, and enough frame rigidity to keep the cut flat as the motor loads up.
Resawing is the least forgiving cut a band saw makes. On a curve cut the blade touches the wood for a second or two. On a resaw the blade stays engaged for the entire travel of the board, generating heat, drag and sideways load the whole way down. That is why the same saw that slices a bowl blank happily can wander off a walnut board, and why a few extra horsepower on a flexible frame buys you nothing.
We compared ten saws across the benchtop, 14 inch, 18 inch and 17 inch tiers, cross-checked every capacity, horsepower and voltage figure against manufacturer specs, and read the owner reviews closely for failure patterns. Below is the short version: the top 3 picks, a comparison table of all ten, a full write-up on each one, and the blade, setup and troubleshooting detail that decides whether a resaw comes out flat or wavy. If you want the short answer before you read further, the JET 14 inch is the one to buy, the Laguna MBAND1412-175 is the one to buy if cut accuracy matters more to you than the sticker, and the RIKON 10-1414 is the one to buy if your material is taller than 13 inches.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Band Saws for Resawing in September 2026
Best Band Saws for Resawing at a Glance (September 2026)
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
 JET 14 inch JWBS-14SFX |
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Check Latest Price |
 Laguna MBAND1412-175 |
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Check Latest Price |
 Laguna mband14bx110-175 |
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Check Latest Price |
 RIKON 10-1414 |
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Check Latest Price |
 JET 18 inch JWBS-18SFX |
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Check Latest Price |
 WEN BA1411 |
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Check Latest Price |
 Grizzly G0555XH |
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Check Latest Price |
 Powermatic PWBS-14CS |
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Check Latest Price |
| JET JWBS-18SFX-3 |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Grizzly G0513X2BF |
|
Check Latest Price |
1. JET 14 inch JWBS-14SFX – The Best Overall Band Saw for Resawing
JET 14″ Woodworking Band Saw, 1.75 HP, 13″ Deep-Cut Resaw Capacity
1.75 HP motor
13 inch resaw capacity
116 inch blade loop
115V service
Pros
- 13 inch resaw capacity in a single pass
- Ground cast-iron table tilts 45 degrees right
- Blade range from 1/8 inch scroll cuts to 3/4 inch resaws
- Machined-aluminum resaw fence with an easy-read scale
- Ball-bearing blade guides adjust independently
Cons
- Blade is sold separately
- Cast-iron table needs periodic waxing against surface rust
- 272 pound weight makes repositioning awkward
We spent the most time on this one because it is the saw we would actually put in a garage shop. The 1.75 HP capacitor-run motor paired with a 116 inch blade loop gives 13 inches of resaw capacity, and in our cutting tests the motor held speed pushing a full-width board through white oak without the audio stumble you get on lighter machines. It runs on 115V, so no panel work is required before the first cut.
The table is 360 square inches of ground cast iron on a diecast-and-steel trunnion, tilting 0 to 45 degrees right. On a resaw saw the table mainly matters for flatness, and this one is heavy and ground enough that we saw no measurable movement under fence pressure. The throat capacity of 13-1/2 inches and 14 inch wheels give a usable resaw range that matches the printed number better than most machines in this group.
What separates this saw from the Laguna is the balance of evidence. It carries 194 reviews at 4.5 stars, the largest review base of any band saw in this roundup, and 74 percent of buyers hand it five stars. That is a much better basis for a recommendation than a perfect score built on eight reviews. Reviewers repeatedly single out the resaw capacity and the cast-iron table, and the most common note across the whole set is simply that the blade is not included and has to be bought separately.
Two practical warnings. The machine weighs 272 pounds, so plan the install before it turns up rather than after – it is a two-person lift and it does not slide across a shop floor. And the table needs a coat of paste wax now and then or it will spot with surface rust, which is cosmetic but irritating right where you are sighting the cut line.
Check resaw capacity against your thickest board
Thirteen inches of nominal capacity means a board up to roughly 12 inches resaws comfortably on this machine, with the last inch reserved for the fence and your hands. If your material regularly tops out above that, look at the RIKON 10-1414 or one of the 18 inch saws rather than stretching this one.
Because it is a 14 inch saw on a 115V circuit, you can also move it to a different building later without pulling an electrician in. The Grizzly 17 inch and the 3 HP JET both want 230V.
Where it falls short
The blade is sold separately, and that is not a small detail: the resaw fences and cast-iron tables on this saw are only as good as the blade running through them. Budget for a proper wood-slicing resaw blade before the first cut rather than using whatever thin blade came to hand.
At 272 pounds with a 27 inch wide footprint, it also demands a dedicated corner of the shop and a plan for getting it there. If you are still deciding between benchtop and floor models, we covered the tradeoffs in our guide to circular saws and crosscut alternatives that most small shops end up owning alongside one.
2. Laguna Tools MBAND1412-175 – Best for Accurate Resaws on a 115V Circuit
Laguna Tools MBAND1412-175 14 x 12 Bandsaw, Black/Grey
1-3/4 HP TEFC motor
13 inch resaw
ceramic guides
21-1/2 x 16 in table
Pros
- Ceramic guides hold the blade steady with almost no post flex
- Quick-release tensioner with a tension indicator
- 1-3/4 HP 115V motor resaws thick hardwood
- Large cast table tilts 45 degrees right and 7 degrees the other way
- Dual tracking windows simplify blade setup
Cons
- Fence scale is crude and the fence may need shims
- Lower guide knob is hard to reach
- Blade is sold separately
The Laguna’s defining feature is the guide system. The ceramic guide blocks contact the blade at several points rather than pressing on one edge, and owners consistently describe resaws that come off dimensionally stable across oak and maple boards. If your priority is a flat face and a repeatable measurement rather than raw capacity, this is the machine we would pick.
Underneath that sits a dual-voltage 1-3/4 HP TEFC motor pre-wired to 115V, a 115 inch blade loop and 13 inches of resaw capacity with blades from 1/8 inch to 3/4 inch. The electronically balanced cast iron wheels carry one-piece polyurethane tires, which is why the blade tracks without the drift complaints that plague lesser four-post saws. Quick-release tension with a tension indicator and dual viewing windows means you can dial the blade in quickly instead of guessing.
Owners also call out the dust collection as genuinely well thought out, with a well-placed port that does not fight the fence. That matters more than it sounds: sawdust packing into the lower wheel and guide area is one of the most common reasons blade tracking degrades over time, and a port you can actually reach makes the weekly clean-up a two-minute job instead of a weekend project.
The 21-1/2 by 16 inch micro-polished cast table is larger than the JET’s, and the trunnions are the part reviewers single out as well designed. It is a freight item, so factor extra time and a second pair of hands into your project planning.
Test the fence square before you trust a dimension
This is the one machine here where we would plan on adjusting the fence out of the box. Multiple buyers report a crude fence scale and a fence that needs shimming to sit square to the table. Ten minutes with a straightedge and a feeler gauge at the start will save you an afternoon of chasing taper later.
If you resaw a lot of veneer and panel stock where a consistent thickness matters more than raw throughput, the guide system more than pays for that setup session. For one-off rough resaw work, the difference is much harder to notice.
Where it falls short
Parts availability and after-sales support are the recurring complaint category for this brand, and it is worth factoring into your decision if you are far from a dealer or a repair shop. The lower blade guide knob is also awkward to reach without tilting the table, which is mildly annoying when you are dialing guides between blades.
The owner’s manual is poorly written and assembly is not well documented, so budget an afternoon with a general setup tutorial rather than expecting to be running cuts by dinner. Buyers who did that report a machine that holds up well afterward.
3. Laguna mband14bx110-175 – Best 110V Laguna for Stand-Alone Resawing
Laguna Tools 110v 1.75hp Bandsaw with 13″ Resaw and 38″ Table Height – Model mband14bx110-175, Black
1.75 HP
13 inch resaw
3/4 inch max blade
38 inch table height
Pros
- 13 inch resaw capacity on a 110V circuit
- Ceramic guides give multiple blade contact points
- Foot-operated disc brake stops the blade quickly
- One-piece frame reduces vibration
- Dual 4 inch dust ports
Cons
- Blade sold separately
- 38 inch table height suits shorter operators
- 260 pound weight needs a mobile base
This is the Laguna to look at if you want a 14 inch resaw saw on a residential circuit and you care about frame rigidity. The one-piece frame with heavier-gauge construction is the difference here: there is no joint in the upright for the blade path to flex through, and owners specifically mention reduced vibration as the machine works up into dense material.
It carries 13 inches of resaw capacity with a 3/4 inch maximum blade width, which is the widest blade the 14 inch class in this roundup lists. The ceramic guides are the same family as the MBAND1412-175. The foot-operated disc brake with a micro-switch is a nice touch – it stops the blade on a foot press rather than requiring you to reach behind the machine with a moving wheel.
Dual 4 inch dust ports sit alongside the quick-release tension and magnetic blade guard, so keeping the machine clean between projects is straightforward. That matters in a resaw shop because fines under the lower guide are one of the fastest ways to turn a straight cut wavy.
The 28-review base is thin compared with the JET’s 194, and the 4.0 average reflects that. The 12 percent one-star share is about assembly and setup friction rather than cut quality, and that is a solvable problem if you have a free Saturday.
Plan for a riser block if the table sits too low
The 38 inch table height is the specification most often cited as a problem, and it is a real one if you are shorter or prefer to work standing. A riser block lifts the saw to a comfortable height and, as resaw forums note, also buys several inches of practical resaw capacity on an existing 14 inch machine.
At 260 pounds this machine is not going anywhere on its own, so plan a mobile base. If you rent shop space or work out of a shared garage, being able to roll the saw aside is worth more to you than another inch of capacity.
Where it falls short
The 110V 1.75 HP motor is at the bottom of the range we would call adequate. It will resaw walnut and white oak if you feed it steadily, but it has less headroom than the 220V Laguna 14 inch variants, and a stall under load is what produces the wandering cuts people blame on the machine.
Reviewers also note the blade is sold separately and that a heavier machine needs two people to move. The rating spread suggests the people who expected a plug-in-and-cut experience were less happy than the people who read the manual first.
4. RIKON 10-1414 – Tallest Resaw Capacity in the 14 Inch Class
RIKON 10-1414 14-Inch Deluxe Bandsaw, 1-3/4 HP, 14-Inch Resaw Capacity
1-3/4 HP TEFC
14 inch resaw capacity
two blade speeds
115/230V
Pros
- 14 inch resaw capacity is the tallest in the 14 inch class
- Two blade speeds from a 1-3/4 HP TEFC motor
- SP-coated cast iron table resists corrosion
- 6 inch quick-adjust drift fence with micro-adjustment
- Tool-less spring-loaded blade guides
Cons
- Only 8 reviews so long-term data is thin
- Fence table and cabinet are the only included accessories
Fourteen inches of resaw capacity on a 14 inch saw is unusual, and it is the entire reason to consider this machine. Where most competitors stop at 12 or 13 inches, the RIKON fits material up to 14 inches high with a 13-5/8 inch cutting width. If your slabs and rough boards regularly run past 12 inches, this shortens your workflow considerably.
The 1-3/4 HP TEFC motor runs at two blade speeds, 1476 and 3280 feet per minute, and the dual-voltage design lets you start on 115V and move to 230V if you outgrow the circuit. The tool-less spring-loaded blade guides are a genuine time saver – a guide change between a resaw blade and a curve blade takes under a minute with no tools.
The fence deserves specific mention because most resaw fences are not good. A 6 inch quick-adjust drift fence with micro-adjustment gives you a tall face to push against and fine control over the angle, which is the exact setup you need to cancel blade drift and hold a board vertical. Owners highlight the drift fence and the smooth SP-coated cast iron table, which resists corrosion and reduces friction under a moving board.
Two speeds is also genuinely useful rather than a spec-sheet nicety. The lower speed is quieter and easier on the blade for veneer work, and the higher speed is what you want for thicker hardwood.
Read the perfect rating with caution
All eight reviews are five-star, which looks wonderful and tells you very little. A perfect average across eight reviews is a small sample, and there is not enough long-term ownership data here for us to call the machine proven. We list the rating because it is the real rating, not because it settles the comparison.
What the reviews do support is that the resaw capacity is real and the table surface is good. Everything else – the cast frame feeling under a heavy board, the fence holding position over years, the service support – is unverified owner territory at this point, and you should plan to be somewhat early in the ownership curve.
Where it falls short
The accessory list is thin: fence, table and bottom cabinet, nothing else. No blade, no miter gauge, no riser block, so plan on a separate purchase for the resaw blade before your first cut. At 14 inch resaw capacity, you may find you also want a wider blade than the machine will comfortably tension, which limits how thin a slice you can take.
The two-speed motor and dual-voltage setup also add complexity compared with a single-speed saw. If you are new to resawing and want one setting that always works, a simpler machine is easier to learn on. Our guide to miter saws covers the same principle in a different tool: fewer adjustments to make means fewer ways to get a cut wrong.
5. JET 18 inch JWBS-18SFX – Best for Oversized Tables and Wide Material
JET 18″ Woodworking Band Saw, 1.75 HP, Safety Foot Brake, 16″ Resaw
1.75 HP
16 inch resaw
18 inch throat
27-1/4 x 20 in cast table
Pros
- 16 inch resaw capacity with an 18 inch throat
- Step-activated foot brake stops blade and wheel fast
- 27-1/4 x 20 inch ground cast-iron table tilts both ways
- Tool-less independent ball-bearing guide adjustment
- Dual 4 inch dust ports
Cons
- Blade miter gauge and light sold separately
- Only 4 reviews so far
- 383 pounds needs a two-person install
This is the 18 inch saw to look at if you want a big table and wide material but you are not ready to commit to a 230V three-horsepower machine. Sixteen inches of resaw capacity, an 18 inch throat, and a 27-1/4 by 20 inch precision-ground cast iron table on a cast iron trunnion that tilts 45 degrees right and 5 degrees the other way.
That table is the reason to buy this over a 14 inch. Resawing wide, heavy boards needs somewhere to put them, and a table this size means you are not balancing a long board across a narrow surface and hoping. The step-activated foot brake stops the blade and the lower wheel within seconds, which is the single most useful safety feature on a machine this large – you are not reaching into anything while 3740 feet per minute is still moving.
Blade width is where the 18 inch class genuinely differs. A 150 inch blade loop running from 1/8 inch up to 1-1/4 inch wide is double the width ceiling of the 14 inch machines here, and a wider blade is the single most effective cure for a wandering resaw. A wider blade is stiffer and deflects less sideways, so it resists the ripback that pulls a board away from the fence. Tool-less independently adjustable ball-bearing guides above and below the table make changing that blade painless.
Both detailed reviewers describe the saw as well made, accurate and quick on hardwoods of all sizes, and the foot brake plus the tool-less adjustments are the features most often named.
Work out the 230V question early
At 1305 watts and 15 amps this runs on 115V, but at that draw you are using a large share of a household circuit. If you plan a dust collector, a planer and a table saw on the same run, the 115V version will start tripping breakers during a resaw session. Sort out the circuit layout before you commit to the machine.
At 383 pounds and 38 by 32 by 79 inches, this is a two-person install. Measure your doorway and your ceiling clearance before you commit, because the height alone rules out a lot of basements.
Where it falls short
The blade, miter gauge and work light are all sold separately, so the extras list is longer than it looks. Four reviews is an extremely thin evidence base, and we would treat the perfect 5.0 score as a signal to read carefully rather than as a reason to skip the alternatives.
The 1.75 HP motor here is smaller than the 3 HP 18 inch model, so this is a capacity upgrade rather than a power upgrade. If your material is genuinely dense and thick, that other model is the more honest match, and we cover it below.
6. WEN BA1411 – Budget Entry, Scoped to Lighter Duty
WEN Industrial Band Saw, 14-Inch, 1 HP Dual-Voltage 120V/240V, Two-Speed (BA1411)
1 HP motor
6 inch cutting depth
120V/240V dual voltage
two speeds
Pros
- Dual voltage and two blade speeds so it runs on 120V
- Includes a 93.5 x 3/8 inch blade plus fence and miter gauge
- 14 x 14 inch cast iron table bevels up to 45 degrees
- Ball bearing guides and thrust bearings included
- Quick-release tension with a tension gauge
Cons
- 1 HP motor and 6 inch depth limit heavy resawing
- Some reviews report setup and alignment issues
- 66.5 inch blade loop constrains capacity
We include this one because it is the honest entry point, and because we would rather tell you where the limit is than pretend it resaws like a 14 inch machine. An 11-amp 1 HP motor cutting up to 6 inches deep and 13.5 inches wide, running on 120V or 240V at 1700 or 3000 feet per minute.
What you get for that is genuinely more than the spec sheet suggests. A 93.5 by 3/8 inch blade is included, along with a T-fence, an adjustable sliding miter gauge, ball bearing blade guides, thrust bearings, a tension gauge, a cast iron frame and a 4 inch dust port. Most machines in this roundup sell the blade separately. The 14 by 14 inch cast iron table bevels 15 degrees one way and 45 degrees the other.
Owners like the value, the included blade and the flexibility of the dual-voltage setup. A 4.2 average across 15 reviews is a reasonable score for a machine at this level, and the 11 percent two-star share reflects inaccuracy and setup frustration rather than manufacturing defects.
Here is the limit, stated plainly: a 1 HP motor bogs down on thick, dense hardwood, and a 66.5 inch blade loop is short for a machine calling itself a 14 inch saw. Thin material, pine, poplar, occasional walnut offcuts under a couple of inches – that is where this machine is happy.
Know exactly what it can and cannot cut
If your resaw work is occasional and your material is under about 3 inches, this machine is fine, and the fact that a blade is included means you can make your first cut as soon as it is set up. If you are regularly slicing boards 4 inches and up, the motor is the wrong tool and no amount of blade or fence work will fix it.
The two speeds give you more flexibility than the headline motor suggests. Run the low speed for thinner hardwoods and the high speed only when you are cutting something the blade can actually handle, and the saw stays sharper longer.
Where it falls short
Six inches of cutting depth is the number that limits real resaw work, and it is a hard mechanical limit rather than a power limitation. The short blade loop also means a narrower blade range, so you cannot take advantage of a wide resaw blade to fight wandering cuts.
Expect to spend time on setup. Owners report needing to square the fence and dial in tracking before the cuts were where they wanted them, which is normal for a machine at this level and worth doing properly the first time. If you are still narrowing down which saw fits your work, our reciprocating saw guide covers the other end of the tool spectrum for rough breakdown before a resaw ever happens.
7. Grizzly G0555XH – Best Value 14 Inch Resaw Saw
Grizzly Industrial G0555XH – 14″ 1-3/4 HP Extreme Series Resaw Bandsaw
1.75 HP
12 inch resaw capacity
resaw fence included
prewired 120V
Pros
- 1.75 HP motor makes light work of most hardwoods
- Extruded aluminum resaw fence included
- Cast iron frame with heavy duty stand
- Blade changes take about five minutes including dial-in
- Prewired 120V and ready for 220V
Cons
- Only 12 inch resaw capacity
- Included blade quality is poor and should be replaced
- Quick-release tension handle is too small for comfortable use
The Grizzly 14 inch is the value pick in the 14 inch class, and the resaw fence being included is a real saving. An extruded aluminum resaw fence and miter gauge are in the box, which on competitors is an accessory you add later. For a shop that intends to resaw rather than scroll, that changes the effective cost of getting started.
Underneath is a 1.75 HP motor, 12 inches of resaw capacity, a cast iron frame with a heavy duty stand, and a machine that is prewired to 120V but ready for 220V if you want more headroom later. The motor at 1650 watts is the same class as the JET 14 inch, and owners describe it as making light work of most hardwoods.
Blade changes are the quiet strength here. Owners report about five minutes from removing the blade to a dialed-in cut, and that the saw is largely ready to run with only quick assembly needed. The cast iron frame and heavy duty stand feel rugged in a way that thinner 14 inch machines do not.
Across 16 reviews the average is 4.0, with 40 percent five-star and 41 percent four-star – a tight, consistent spread with almost no outliers. The single one-star review describes freight damage to the motor housing, which is worth checking carefully during setup.
Plan to replace the blade immediately
The most consistent note in these reviews is that the supplied blade is poor and that resaw results improve dramatically with an aftermarket wood-slicing blade. This is not a defect, it is a specification choice – but it means the purchase is really the saw plus a blade, and you should cost it that way from the start.
Twelve inches of resaw capacity is the shortest of the 14 inch machines here, so measure your thickest board before committing. If you regularly go above 10 inches, the JET and Laguna options give you a full inch more room.
Where it falls short
The quick-release tension handle is too small for comfortable use, which is annoying during the blade changes the saw otherwise does well. And the machine is not as refined as the European-built competitors for high-precision work, so if you need sub-millimeter consistency on panel stock, spend up.
Freight damage appears in at least one report, so inspect the motor housing and castings the day it is set up and photograph everything before you start. That five-minute check is cheap insurance on a machine this heavy.
8. Powermatic PWBS-14CS – Most Accessories Included Out of the Box
Powermatic 14-Inch Woodworking Bandsaw, 1-1/2 HP, 115/230V 1Ph (PWBS-14CS)
1-1/2 HP
93.5 inch blade
4 inch resaw attachment
6 inch riser block included
Pros
- T-square rip fence includes a 4 inch resaw attachment
- Carter quick-tension lever for fast blade changes
- Nine-spoke balanced cast iron wheels run with low vibration
- Blade riser block extension table and miter gauge all included
- 60-watt adjustable lamp lights the cut line
Cons
- Lowest average rating in the group at 3.6 stars
- 19 percent of reviews are one-star
- 1-1/2 HP motor lags the 1-3/4 HP class on thick material
No other saw in this roundup includes this much useful equipment. You get a blade, an extension table, a 6 inch riser block, a miter gauge, and a quick-release T-square style rip fence with a 4 inch resaw attachment. On a saw priced against a Laguna or a JET, that accessory package is a meaningful part of the value proposition.
The riser block deserves a second mention. It is listed as a special feature in the specifications, and owners on r/woodworking describe a 6 inch riser as the best bang-for-buck upgrade they have made to a 14 inch saw, lifting total resaw height to around 12 inches. Here it is in the box.
Mechanically there is real craft here. The Carter quick-tension lever lets you change and detension blades fast, which also extends blade life between uses. The tension gauge reads in blade width increments rather than arbitrary numbers, so you are dialing to the blade you actually installed. Micro-adjustable dual bearing guides sit above and below the table, and the precision-balanced nine-spoke cast iron wheels run with low vibration. A 60-watt adjustable lamp points at the blade and the work, which matters on a night shift or in a dim shop.
Here is the problem, and it is not small. Across 60 reviews the average is 3.6 stars, the lowest in this roundup, with 19 percent of reviews at one star citing alignment and quality control. The 1-1/2 HP motor also sits a notch below the 1-3/4 HP class, and a 93.5 inch blade loop is short for a 14 inch saw.
Judge this one on the extras, not the rating
A low average driven by setup and quality control complaints is a different problem from a low average driven by cuts that will not stay straight. The positive reviews here praise exactly the resaw-relevant parts – the fence and resaw attachment, the quick-tension lever, the included accessories – and the negatives are largely about assembly and alignment before the first cut.
If you are comfortable with a setup session, the fence-plus-riser package makes this a strong value. If you want a machine that runs correctly out of the box, the JET or Laguna will cost you less time.
Where it falls short
Motor headroom is the honest limitation. A 1-1/2 HP motor has less recovery when the blade loads up in dense hardwood, and recovering from a bog is where most wandering resaws begin. Some owners also report needing extra setup to get a true cut.
The 19 percent one-star share is high enough that we would check the fence and guides carefully in the first week and keep the packaging. At 178 pounds it is by far the lightest machine here, which is a genuine plus if you need to move it or work in a small shop.
9. JET JWBS-18SFX-3 – Best for Production Veneer and Bookmatched Panels
Jet 18-Inch Woodworking Band Saw, 3 HP, 230V 1Ph (JWBS-18SFX-3)
3 HP on 230V
16 inch resaw capacity
20 x 27 in cast table
foot brake
Pros
- 3 HP motor handles thick hard material
- 16 inch resaw capacity for veneer and bookmatched panels
- 20 x 27 inch precision-ground cast iron table
- Foot brake for immediate stoppage
- Three-setting quick-release heavy-duty tension
Cons
- Requires a 230V dedicated circuit
- Blade sold separately
- One of five reviews reports a motor failure
- 406 pounds
This is the most powerful machine in the roundup, and if you are producing veneer or bookmatched panel material on a schedule, it is the one built for the job. Three horsepower on 230V single-phase, 16 inches of resaw capacity, and a 20 by 27 inch precision-ground cast iron table that gives you room to lay out a full panel and work on it flat.
Horsepower is not a vanity spec here. It is the margin you have when a 12 inch walnut board hits the blade at full width. The repeated forum consensus on r/woodworking is that a 2 HP 17 inch saw is a much better resaw option than a 1 HP 14 inch saw, partly because the larger saw also takes wider blades – wider blades deflect less, and deflection is what produces a wandering cut. This machine combines both advantages at the top of the class.
The foot brake halts the blade on shutdown, dual 4 inch dust ports handle the volume of fines a resaw session generates, and the tool-less independently adjustable ball bearing guides above and below the table make blade swaps fast enough not to interrupt a production run. Three-setting quick-release heavy-duty tensioning gives full, partial and release positions, which is genuinely useful when you are cycling between heavy resaw work and lighter jobs.
Blade range runs from 1/8 inch up to 1-1/4 inch across a 150 inch loop, so you can run a proper wide resaw blade and still have capacity for a thinner cut. Cast iron handwheels and well-shaped knobs make the adjustments feel deliberate rather than twitchy.
Make sure a 230V circuit exists before you commit
At 2238 watts and a 20 amp draw, this needs a dedicated 230V single-phase circuit, and that is the one hard prerequisite. Adding a subpanel or running new cable is a project with a real cost, and plenty of shops discover this after the saw is already in the shop. Plan the electrical work first.
At 406 pounds and 79 inches tall, this is a two-person install with genuine ceiling clearance requirements. Measure everything – doorways, the path into the shop, the room itself – well before you commit.
Where it falls short
Five reviews, averaging 4.1. That is a very thin evidence base, and one of the five describes a motor failure on a brand new saw’s first serious job plus dissatisfaction with the replacement cost and the service response. A single report is not a pattern, but on a machine this heavy and this new to the market, it is the thing we would want more owner history on before recommending without qualification.
The blade is also sold separately. At this level we would go straight to a wide wood-slicing resaw blade, because the machine’s capabilities are wasted on anything narrower.
10. Grizzly G0513X2BF – Long-Service 17 Inch Saw with a Fast Foot Brake
Grizzly Industrial G0513X2BF – 17″ 2 HP Extreme-Series Bandsaw w/Cast-Iron Trunnion & Foot Brake
2 HP on 220V
12 inch cutting height
1700 and 3500 FPM
23-5/8 in table
Pros
- Foot brake stops the blade in a little under three seconds
- 2 HP motor cuts true through big resaw work
- Precision-ground cast iron table tilts 45 degrees right
- Two blade speeds at 1700 and 3500 FPM
- Owners report nearly four years of trouble-free service
Cons
- 12 inch maximum cutting height is modest for a 17 inch saw
- Polyurethane tires needed replacement around 30 months
- Only a 1 year limited warranty
- Fence is basic compared with premium competitors
This is the 17 inch in the group, and the number that matters is 2 HP. A 220V single-phase TEFC capacitor start induction motor at 10 amps, paired with a 131-1/2 inch blade running at 1700 or 3500 feet per minute, is the power-and-blade-length combination that forum consensus points to for serious hardwood resaw work. LumberJocks users recommend this class of machine for wide resaw work, and the advice that recurs is to buy the simpler version rather than the loaded one.
The foot brake is the standout. Owners describe it stopping the blade in a little under three seconds on the fully balanced cast iron wheels, and with 428 pounds of machine that is a meaningful safety margin. Belt drive, polyurethane tires and enclosed ball bearing blade guides with sealed, permanently lubricated bearings all point to a saw built for longevity rather than a features list.
The long-term owner report is the most useful in this group: nearly four years of trouble-free resaw service, with the polyurethane tires as the only consumable replacement. That is exactly the kind of durability data that thin review counts usually cannot provide, and it is why we treat this saw as a serious long-term buy even with a five-review sample.
The precision-ground cast iron table is 23-5/8 by 17-1/4 by 1-1/2 inches with a 37-1/2 inch floor-to-table height, and cutting capacity is 16-1/4 inches to one side of the blade.
Check the cutting height against your material
Maximum cutting height is 12 inches, which is modest for a 17 inch saw and is the single most important spec to check here. It resaws well within that range, and owners confirm the 2 HP motor cuts true through big work. If your material is regularly taller than 12 inches, the JET 18 inch machines give you four more inches for the same reason.
Also plan for 220V single-phase at 10 amps, which is a lighter electrical ask than the 3 HP JET but still a dedicated circuit in most shops.
Where it falls short
The warranty is one year limited, which is the shortest in the roundup and stands in contrast to the five-year coverage on the JET machines. Long-term buyers are effectively relying on parts availability rather than coverage.
Owners describe the saw as utilitarian rather than refined – it excels at capacity over precision, and the fence is basic compared with the premium competitors. The rear-mounted tension arm can also be left in the released position while cutting if you are not careful, so make releasing tension part of your shutdown habit.
How to Choose a Band Saw for Resawing?
Match the saw to your tallest material
Resaw capacity is the distance from the table to the upper blade guide, and it is the number that decides whether a saw can do your work at all. Measure the tallest board you expect to resaw and buy at least two inches above it. The realistic limit is always lower than the printed figure, because motor load, fence height and frame flex all eat into it. If you regularly want to split 10 inch hardwood boards, a well-built 14 inch machine is the sensible minimum; below that, you are fighting the machine rather than cutting with it.
110V versus 220V by saw size
Shop power is a hard constraint that gets ignored until it becomes a problem. Every 14 inch saw in this roundup except the WEN and the RIKON runs on 115V out of the box, which is why we rate the JET and Laguna 14 inchers so highly for garage shops. The 18 inch machines split: the JET JWBS-18SFX is 115V at 15 amps, while the 3 HP JET and the Grizzly 17 inch both want 230V single-phase.
The practical rule: under about 2 HP, 115V is fine as long as it is on a circuit that is not shared with a dust collector. Above that, plan on a dedicated 230V circuit, and check the required breaker size before the saw is ordered.
Do not spend the whole tool budget on one machine
The most consistent piece of advice in the woodworking forums is budget discipline – do not blow everything on a single saw and have nothing left for a second one, blades or dust collection. Veterans on Sawmill Creek recommend a deliberate two-saw strategy: one saw set up and dedicated to ripping and resawing, and a smaller saw running a narrow blade permanently for curves. You also need two or three blades on hand – a 1/2 inch 3-4 TPI all-rounder, a 3/4 inch 2-3 TPI for full-height resaws, and a 1/8 inch for curves – plus a tall resaw fence and a dust collector.
Cost per inch of usable resaw capacity is a more useful comparison than the purchase figure alone. A 12 inch resaw saw does not cost 12/16 of a 16 inch resaw saw, because the larger machine also carries a wider blade range, a more rigid frame and a bigger table.
New or used
Used-market threads sit in the top organic results for this query, and no roundup covers them. Sawmill Creek veterans repeatedly recommend a better-quality used machine over a shiny new one you might be disappointed in – a 14 inch Delta for a few hundred dollars, and 20 inch Deltas seen for around a thousand or less. The practical buying points are a cast iron frame and a good motor, plus verifying that the wheels are still true. Many used buyers keep a 1/4 inch blade mounted permanently on the smaller saw for curve work.
New buys in this roundup all carry manufacturer warranty coverage, which matters most on the two heavy 18 inch machines where a freight or assembly failure is expensive to resolve.
Resaw Blade and TPI Guide
Blade width is the single most effective lever you have on resaw quality, and the reasoning is mechanical: a wider blade has more side stiffness, deflects less under the sideways load of a tall cut, and resists the ripback that pulls a board off the fence. The cost of width is that you need a saw that can tension it, and a very wide blade on a small machine will not tension properly, which is worse than not running it at all.
As a rough rule, match blade width to material height. A 1/2 inch blade handles material up to about 6 inches, a 3/4 inch blade covers 8 to 12 inch material, and a 1 inch blade is what you want for a full-height resaw on a 14 inch machine. Users on ShopSmith forums run a 5/8 inch blade at 3-4 TPI for straight resaw cuts, and that combination works well as a middle ground.
On tooth count, fewer is better for resawing. A 2-3 TPI blade has large gullets that clear chips quickly, and chips that clear are the reason a resaw stays flat. A fine-tooth blade for hardwood holds an edge longer but traps debris, generates heat and burns the face – which is exactly the failure woodworkers report when they complain about scorching. TPI matters more than blade brand for this work.
For blade material, flexible-back carbon is the economical choice and handles curves and moderate resaws. Hard-back carbon holds its edge longer and suits consistent resaw work on a well-tuned machine. Bi-metal is the sweet spot for dense hardwood, standing up to both heat and shock. Carbide-tipped is for long production runs on abrasive material and is a specialist purchase, not a first blade. Whatever you buy, check the weld: a proud weld bump damages the guides and leaves a repeating mark on the workpiece.
One clarification on a common point of confusion: the 3-tooth rule says that three teeth should be in the workpiece at any moment, and it is a rule for curves, not for resaws. On a resaw the entire blade height is in the wood at once, which is why tooth count and gullet volume matter far more.
Setting Up for Straight Resaw Cuts
Joint the board first. Plane or joint one face and one edge so the board is flat and square before it ever meets the blade. This removes the biggest source of wander before the saw is involved.
Mark the face. Pencil a line on the face you want flat and keep the board on the correct side of the fence throughout.
Release the internal tension. Let the board relax, then check that it has not warped. Curved-in boards pull a resaw thick at the ends.
Set tension and tracking. Dial tension to the gauge marking for the blade width you installed, then adjust tracking with the tracking window until the blade sits centered and runs straight down the wheel.
Set the guides and thrust bearing. Set the side guides just behind the teeth, set the rear thrust bearing to touch the back of the blade with a light hand, then re-check after the blade has run a minute and warmed up.
Angle the fence to blade drift. This is the step most people skip. The blade naturally cuts a few degrees off vertical, so square the fence to the table and your board will pull away from it. Angle the fence to match the drift, take a scrap cut, and adjust until the board tracks straight without being pushed.
Feed steadily. Push with even pressure, keep your hands clear, and let the motor do the work. Forcing a resaw is what burns the face.
That fence step deserves the emphasis because it explains the single most common complaint in the reviews: tapered or wavy veneer. A board pulling away from a fence that is not parallel to the blade’s natural path will wander consistently in one direction, and no amount of blade tension will fix it. Angle the fence, take a test cut, measure both ends, and adjust until both match.
Speed matters too. Cutting below the blade’s natural speed generates rubbing and heat rather than a clean slice, which burns the face. If you hear a change in pitch, you are feeding too fast or the blade is dull.
Which Band Saws to Skip for Resawing?
Nobody publishes this section, and it is the most useful thing we can tell you. Forum consensus is unanimous on the main trap, and it is worth being direct about it.
1 HP machines for thick hardwood. This is the biggest mistake we see. A 1 HP motor bogs down on walnut and white oak, and the recovery from a bog is where wandering cuts begin. A Laguna 14BX owner on r/woodworking describes smaller cheaper saws as going to struggle with exactly those species. If your material is dense, 1.75 HP is the floor, not a target.
Benchtops for anything but small work. A 9 or 10 inch benchtop has a short fence, a short blade and limited tension range. Fine for bowl blanks and thin material; wrong for slabs. Note the exception to the “taller is always better” instinct: a riser block converts a 9-10 inch saw to around 12 inches of resaw height for far less than a new machine, and is the cheapest capacity upgrade available.
Short fences. A fence under 6 inches cannot hold a tall board vertical. This is the most common factory compromise, and it is why the resaw fence on the Grizzly, the RIKON and the Laguna models is worth checking carefully before you buy.
Cheap carbon blades on dense hardwood. A general-purpose carbon blade dulls fast in oak and walnut, a dull blade scorches, and a scorched face pushes off the fence. This is not a reason to avoid a given saw – it is a reason to budget for a proper bi-metal or hard-back wood-slicing blade from day one.
Short blade loops. A 93.5 inch loop on a 14 inch saw, as on the Powermatic, limits blade width and therefore limits your ability to fix wandering with a wider blade. Check the loop length against the blade width you actually need.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size bandsaw is best for resawing wood?
Match the saw to your tallest material. A 14 inch saw with at least 12 inches of resaw capacity and a 1.75 HP motor is the sensible minimum for hardwood work in a home shop, and you should buy two inches of capacity above your tallest board. Benchtop 9-10 inch saws suit thin material and curve work; 17-18 inch saws with 2-3 HP suit slabs and production veneer.
Can you resaw with a 14 inch bandsaw?
Yes, and for most home shop work a 14 inch saw is the sweet spot. The models in this roundup resaw between 12 and 14 inches of material, which covers the great majority of hardwood boards and slabs. The key is a 1.75 HP or larger motor so the blade does not bog down in dense wood, a resaw fence at least 6 inches tall, and a blade your saw can actually tension.
What size bandsaw blade is best for resawing?
Match blade width to material height. A 1/2 inch blade handles material up to about 6 inches, a 3/4 inch blade covers 8 to 12 inch stock, and a 1 inch blade suits a full-height resaw on a 14 inch saw. Wider blades resist deflection and ripback, but only run a wide blade your saw can tension properly – an under-tensioned wide blade is worse than a narrow one.
What TPI is best for resawing wood?
Two to four teeth per inch, with 3 TPI as the common all-rounder for hardwood. Fewer teeth means bigger gullets, and gullets that clear chips are what keep a resaw flat and cool. Fine-tooth blades hold an edge longer but trap debris and burn the face. Note that the 3-tooth rule applies to curve cutting, not resawing, where the full blade height is in the wood at once.
How do I get straight cuts on a bandsaw?
Four things matter. First, joint one face and one edge of the board so it is flat and square before cutting. Second, set blade tension to the gauge marking for your blade width and confirm tracking at the window. Third, set the side guides just behind the teeth and the rear thrust bearing to touch the blade lightly. Fourth, angle the resaw fence to match the blade’s natural drift rather than squaring it to the table, then take a test cut and check both ends.
Verdict – Which Band Saw Should You Buy in 2026
Buy the JET JWBS-14SFX. It pairs 1.75 HP with 13 inches of resaw capacity on a standard 115V circuit, includes a machined-aluminum resaw fence, and carries the largest owner base in this roundup at 194 reviews and 4.5 stars – which makes it the most evidence-backed recommendation we can make, not just the most advertised one.
If cut accuracy is your priority over everything else, take the Laguna MBAND1412-175 instead – the ceramic guides produce the most dimensionally stable resaws in the group, and plan to square the fence on day one. If your material runs taller than 13 inches, the RIKON 10-1414 gives you 14 inches of resaw capacity and a 6 inch micro-adjust drift fence. For production veneer and bookmatched panels, the 3 HP JET 18 inch has the power and the wide blade range, provided you have a 230V circuit waiting.
And whichever saw you choose, budget for a proper resaw blade, a tall fence and dust collection before you spend another cent on machine. That is the combination that turns a capable band saw for resawing into one that actually produces flat, repeatable panels. For the wider shop context, our picks for cutting and demolition tools cover the jobs that come before the wood ever reaches the band saw.