Jigsaw VS Bandsaw – Which is Perfect for Your Project?

My dear DIYers, if you are about to make a book-shelf, a table, or a chair for your personal use, you are in the right place. Every DIYer is a risk-taker person. Taking the risk is a big step, but it needs study before taking action.

Don’t end up buying a jigsaw or a bandsaw machine; it is a mistake. Talk to experts, take their suggestions and tips. There are many things to consider: your project, size, weight, price, your budget. After knowing all those things you will get to know what to buy and whatnot. Here, this jigsaw vs bandsaw article is full of information for you. Have a look!

Jigsaw vs Bandsaw

Both of them are considered as woodworking tools and equipment. Let’s see, what’s a jigsaw? And what is a bandsaw?

Jigsaw

Actually, it’s a beginner tool; it’s easy to carry and easy to control. Basically, it’s a handheld device with a vertical saw blade installed in it. It allows you to cut a curve in your desired way on wood planks or sheets. There are a few types of jigsaws, the corded one and the cordless one, straight reciprocating, orbital reciprocating, top handle, etc.

Bandsaw

The bandsaw is for a thick workpiece; it cuts through the workpiece straightly. There are two wheels in the machine, one on the upper side and the other on the lower side; these two wheels are connected with a blade-band in a circled way. This band works in up-down motion while cutting the workpiece. There are metal bandsaw, meat bandsaw, horizontal bandsaw, benchtop band saw, etc.

Both the jigsaw and bandsaw have similarities and dissimilarities.

Similarities

• Both have thin blades
• Cut straight lines and corners
• Provide precision in the cutting

Dissimilarities

Jigsaw is good at cutting curves, and bandsaw is for cutting lines and re-sawing the workpiece.

Jigsaw Cutting vs. Bandsaw Cutting

When it comes to big timber or workpiece, a Bandsaw is your tool. You can make a broader cut with it. Bandsaw blade is made of carbon steel, teeth are very sharp so that it can provide accuracy in your cutting.

Jigsaw is the boss when you want to do some curves on the wood. You can’t cut through bigger wood with it, it cuts only when the thickness of the wood is within the length of its blade. Because of the teeth of its blade, it gives you a rough cut.

Portability

Jigsaw is way lighter than the bandsaw. As I said, the jigsaw is a handheld device; it has more portability. The average weight is about 5 pounds. Though, it differs from one model to another. You are going to feel lighter when you will making some curves for your chair or something like these.

Bandsaw’s appearance gives you the sign of its heaviness and what it is capable of. You have to arrange a table before buying a bandsaw to place it there. You can find some portable bandsaw in the market or online shops, but still, in the term of weight, it always beats the jigsaw with a greater weight.

Cutting Range

Jigsaw is for short-range cutting while bandsaw is for big range. A bandsaw can cut through huge timbers easily. Jigsaw can cut thin wood pieces, and it’s for general purposes. The more the blade TPI (Teeth Per Inch) is, the smoother the cut you get.

Differences in Blades

Jigsaw’s blades are not as like as bandsaw’s blades. Both of them provide different purposes. Jigsaw blade’s one side is installed to the machine and the other side cut the workpiece. If you take a closer look at the blade, you will find different shapes of teeth on the blade.

The bandsaw blade is connected to two wheels in a circular pattern; as the wheel turns, the blade keeps moving with it. This is how it cuts. The teeth of this blade are the same in size, with no variation.

Scale of Use

If your workpiece is plywood or smaller width wood, a jigsaw is a perfect match. It’s easy to make curves or to cut through. Jigsaw is not ideal for the bigger project.

For a bigger project, a bandsaw is your tool. After putting a large timber on the working table, you can slice this easily.

Price Range

I think you have already assumed that jigsaws are very much lower in price range than the bandsaw. The costly jigsaw is about $200. It starts from nearly about $60. So the price range is $60 to $200.

On the other hand, bandsaw’s prices start at nearly about $200. Its price range withing $200 to $1000.

First find out what do you need, then spend your money wisely, don’t do what I did before.

Final Verdict

Don’t get me wrong, I named this article jigsaw vs bandsaw, it doesn’t mean I am telling you which one is better than the other. These devices serve different services for different purposes. Now, it’s your turn to look through what your project is and what device do you need.

For a smaller project, you need a jigsaw, and for a bigger project, you need a bandsaw. Such a time may come, you may need both of them, who knows! So study your project thoroughly, and then jump into it.