The Best Benchtop Bandsaws Of 2023: Our Reviews Of Top Models For Any Workshop

Whether it's time for you to upgrade your current tools, or you're a first-time buyer searching for the best benchtop bandsaw, one thing is for sure - it's never easy to pick a good one at the drop of your hat.

This especially applies to choosing the right benchtop bandsaw for your individual projects. Although there are plenty of options on the market nowadays, choosing the right benchtop bandsaw can pose a challenge even to the more experienced jewelry makers. After all, most of these tools are designed primarily for woodworkers rather than jewelry makers.

And that's what we're here for. By the end of this article, you'll not only know which benchtop bandsaws are the best on the market, but you'll be ready to choose the best one for your specific use case! Our in-depth reviews will answer all your questions and help you understand all the important points you should consider before you pull the trigger.

Let's get started!

Comparison Chart

WEN 3959T 2.5-Amp 9-Inch Benchtop Band Saw

Budget

Motor Power

1/3 HP

Warranty

two-year warranty

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Gryphon C-40 Band Saw

Budget

Motor Power

1/3 HP

Warranty

View On Amazon

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The Best Benchtop Bandsaws: Our 2020 Reviews

Best on a Budget

1.) WEN 3959 2.5-Amp 9-Inch Benchtop Band Saw: Best Benchtop Bandsaw On A Budget

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"a perfect match for those contemplating how to spend less money without completely sacrificing quality"

The Wen 3959 2.5-Amp 9-Inch Benchtop Band Saw is a perfect match for those contemplating how to spend less money without completely sacrificing quality. It's a great benchtop bandsaw for new jewelry makers and it requires minimal setup (5 minutes or maybe even less). Overall, while there's no comparison between the WEN and a high-end tool, we think it's a great first bandsaw for a jewelry workbench.

Pros:

This benchtop bandsaw is very affordable, which makes it a no-brainer for anyone on a tight budget. It usually costs around $130. While cheaper bandsaws usually have cheaper blades, this is definitely not the case with the Wen 3959 2.5-Amp 9-Inch Benchtop Band Saw. Again, while it's far from a premium tool, it's a standout in the budget range.

"an absolute must for anyone on a tight budget"

The Wen 3959 2.5-Amp 9-Inch Benchtop Band Saw is well-built and has a compact design. Compared with other cheap options, it's built heavier and to a surprisingly good degree of quality control. You'd never mistake this for a Jet or a Grizzly, but it can easily match up to Dewalt equivalents.

It's also relatively user-friendly. It comes with a spacious worktable which can be leveled up to forty-five degrees, leaving you room to maneuver with any of your projects. Its blade guard is quite adjustable too, allowing you greater flexibility while working. You don't get all the options of a high-end tool, but the basics are covered handily.

Another standout feature of this benchtop bandsaw we can't neglect is its powerful motor. In fact, its 2.5-amp motor is able to rotate the included 1/4-inch blade up to a maximum speed of 2500 feet per minute. This is much more powerful than what other budget bandsaws can offer, and that's one key reason why the WEN is our top budget pick.

Not only does this bandsaw come with a 2-year warranty, but there's also a customer support line you can use if you're experiencing issues with it. Of course, this is an affordable Chinese-made tool, so you'll get about the level of communication you'd expect. Still, they do have relatively good support compared to the rest of the budget options.

Cons:

You might find that the metal base can be a bit uneven, due to occasional quality control issues. While it's not something we've run into personally, we've found a few customer reports of problems in this department. If you end up buying one of these, be sure you check yours out of the box so that you can exchange it if needed.

Why does it matter? Having a wonky base can cause the entire bandsaw to potentially wobble, which, as a result, makes it difficult to get a straight cut (not to mention dangerous). This isn't something you have to think about with our pricier picks. The Grizzly Industrial and the Gryphon C-40 Band Saw offer much greater stability while working (and they have better quality control).

We think the WEN is by far the best budget option for a benchtop bandsaw. Having said that, you should know that it's still a budget tool and it comes with all the downsides that usually entails. It's not as solidly built as premium tools, the motor probably won't last as long, and it doesn't have the kind of precise tolerances you can expect when you pay more money.

The Wen 3959 2.5-Amp 9-Inch Benchtop Band Saw quite loud, as you'd expect from a less expensive (and more lightly built) tool. Be sure to use adequate ear protection with this one-you'll need it.

Best Traditional Benchtop Bandsaw

2.) Grizzly Industrial G0803Z - 9″ Benchtop Bandsaw: Best Traditional Benchtop Bandsaw

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"the GO803 version was the recipient of the Top Value award given by Wood Magazine for its features, and now it comes upgraded with a more advanced cutting mechanism"

If you're looking for a powerful all-purpose bandsaw, then you've found the right one. The GO803 version  of this Grizzly was the recipient of the Top Value award given by Wood Magazine for its impressive features, and now it comes upgraded with a more advanced cutting mechanism. We think it's the best traditional model on the market right now.

Pros:

This benchtop bandsaw is lightweight and easily portable (it weighs less than 50 lbs), so you can freely move it around your shop or even between workspaces. For such a well-made tool, it's surprisingly simple to handle.

Unlike so many pro-grade tools, this Grizzly is very easy to use. When you order it, it arrives 80% assembled and then you can use the operation manual to set up the rest. Everything's laid out the way you'd expect it to be, and you can easily see the attention to detail that's gone into the design.

The Grizzly also comes with all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a premium tool in this category. It includes the following: a laser guide, providing greater precision; an adjustable blower that will help keep your area clean when you finish off your jewelry work and an in-built LED worklight to provide you better working visibility.

What absolutely sells us on this benchtop bandsaw is its superior cutting performance. The 1/3HP motor is smooth and relentless, and with its 62-inch blade it has the ability to cut pieces even up to 3.5 inches high. It can tackle any jewelry venture, although it's a very good choice for non-jewelry projects as well.

So, while it's more expensive than many competing models, it offers everything a jeweler could want in addition to being a solid all-around bandsaw for your workshop.

Cons:

One of its drawbacks is the Grizzly's 1-year warranty, which is less than what most models tend to offer. Plus, the warranty doesn't cover belts and blades. You'll probably want to tack on some additional warranty coverage through Amazon when you check out.

Best Diamond Benchtop Bandsaw

3.) Gryphon C-40 Band Saw: Best Diamond Benchtop Bandsaw

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"The diamond blade is adept at cutting very hard materials with great precision "

Efficient, fast, and easy to use - that's the Gryphon C-40 Band Saw. It's designed for cutting all sorts of difficult materials and it's purpose-built for jewelry work. We suggest this as an alternative to traditional (dry) models like the Grizzly.

We especially recommend this bandsaw for jewelers who frequently cut glass and other gemstones. The diamond blade (hence why it's the best diamond benchtop we recommend) is adept at cutting very hard materials with great precision.

Pros:

If you've cut glass or stone, you definitely know that cutting these materials is not only a delicate business, but it's slow and time-consuming as well. Well, not with the Gryphon C-40 Band Saw, as it's capable of really high speeds. The new high-speed motor this bandsaw has provides you with the fastest cutting speeds currently on the market. If you're a pro jewelry maker you'll definitely appreciate this.

The Gryphon C-40 Band Saw has a very simple and straightforward design, which makes it portable (you can move it around your jewelry workshop without any difficulty) and easy to clean (as it doesn't have a lot of additional components).

This bandsaw has a huge water reservoir placed under the work surface, so the blade stays wet as you cut. Plus, it's good to know you can freely use tap water for it-no distilled bottles necessary.

Cons:

You may find that this benchtop bandsaw works better with smaller pieces, as larger pieces of material can flex the blade somewhat. Also, keep in mind that cutting stones and other very hard materials will wear the bandsaw blades much faster.

One of the things you have to keep in mind is that the Gryphon C-40 Band Saw comes with a 1-year warranty, just like the Grizzly Industrial G0803Z - 9" Benchtop Bandsaw. As with that model, we recommend adding on some additional coverage to the Gryphon. It's not unreliable, but when you're paying this amount for a tool you should really get yourself some extra peace of mind.

Conclusion

Which of these tools should you add to your workbench?

If you're looking for a decent tool and you don't want to break the bank, you shouldn't overlook the Wen 3959 2.5-Amp 9-Inch Benchtop Band Saw. It's the best bet for saving money. However, if you're willing to spend more to get better quality or simply get more features, we'd definitely recommend the Gryphon C-40 Band Saw or the Grizzly.

If you want a benchtop bandsaw suitable for jewelry newbies, check out the  Wen 3959 2.5-Amp 9-Inch Benchtop Band Saw again. It really is our go-to recommendation for any beginner. However, if you're looking for a far more professional benchtop bandsaw - opt for the Gryphon C-40 Band Saw. It cuts even the most delicate jewelry items. Or, for maximum versatility, go for the Grizzly.

Choosing the Best Benchtop Bandsaws

What do you need to take into account when buying a benchtop bandsaw?

What's Your Budget?

As with so many tool purchases, everything starts with your budget. Are you investing in a home tool for your new hobby or is this bandsaw something you'll use daily at your workplace? Are you a beginner or a more advanced user?

"Everything starts with your budget"

If you're just beginning and it's for your newly discovered hobby, opt for the Wen 3959 2.5-Amp 9-Inch Benchtop Band Saw. Its price is around $130. However, if you want something more advanced and you have money to burn, then, by all means, consider both the Grizzly Industrial G0803Z - 9" Benchtop Bandsaw (around $300) and the Gryphon C-40 Band Saw (approximately $450) - both are excellent, more high-end options.

What Are You Cutting?

What are you planning on using the bandsaw for? What type of jewelry materials do you usually work with?

"What type of jewelry materials do you usually work with?"

For example, if you're cutting stone or other super-tough materials that do best with a wet-cutting process, we recommend the Gryphon C-40 Band Saw. However, if you'd like something more versatile check out the Grizzly Industrial G0803Z - 9" Benchtop Bandsaw. It's our best pick when it comes to multipurpose benchtop bandsaws.

What Features Do You Need?

What kind of features does a bandsaw need to have to suit your needs? The features you should look for in a given bandsaw depend on the type of jewelry work you are planning on doing.

"The features you should look for in a given bandsaw depend on the type of jewelry work you are planning on doing"

Are you interested in the tool's warranty length? Or the motor's power? Maybe the different types of accessories included - such as an in-built LED worklight, or a laser guide perhaps?

You may not be able to find everything you're looking for in a single bandsaw, but our three picks are quite feature-packed and some of the best on the market, so we hope that one of them will do the trick.

What's Next?

We hope you found this article useful and informative, and that we managed to help you pick the best benchtop bandsaw for your needs. Surely there has to be at least one product that's a match for you!

If you want to know more, our website has a lot to offer - be sure to read our other jewelry-making tool reviews.

In the meantime, let us know whether you enjoyed our best benchtop bandsaw reviews, and which benchtop bandsaw is your favorite!