Band saws use a single circular rotating saw blade to slice through metal, wood, plastic and other materials. While many types of saws cut only straight lines, band saws are ideal for cutting irregular shapes. Band saw blades are also narrower than many other saw blades, so they waste less material.

Band saws lend themselves to many business uses. Whether you need cutters for wood, pipe, meat or any of several other materials, a band saw may be the perfect tool to fill those needs. When shopping for band saws, consider the following:

1. Use portable band saws for field operations.

2. Understand that band saws are nearly indispensable for the butchering business.

3. Rely on industrial strength band saws for industrial strength jobs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy from a portable band saws list to stay ahead of the Jones'

Portable band saws are excellent for construction companies that need superior cutters. It's hard to understand why more workers don't use them on job sites. Portable band saws zip through pipe, wood and many other materials in the field.

I recommend: Choose from a band saws list of exceptional professional-grade portable band saws at Timberwolf Tools. If your budget calls for less expensive portable band saws, check for various fine products at mytoolstore.com.

Use band saws to avoid busting your chops while butchering meat

Meat-cutting band saws may be the single biggest time saver for butchers in the past several decades. If your business involves cutting or butchering meat, make sure your inventory includes meat-cutting band saws featuring hygienic stainless steel construction. Make sure the saws you use are for meat cutting only.

I recommend: You can find excellent machines loaded with smart, easy-to-use features at Pleasant Hill Grain. You can also get top quality Butcher Boy meat-cutting band saws at American Meat Equipment, a company dedicated to the manufacture of safe products.

Get your hands on industrial band saws and keep them on--carefully

What is the difference between hobbyist and industrial band saws? Most hobbyist band saws can cut about halfway through your wrist before you realize it, while industrial band saws can take off your entire hand in one quick kershlunk. They get through other materials just as fast.

I recommend: Shop Outfitters is a great band saws provider where you can get a high quality industrial one-and-one-half horsepower Kama EV-996 band saw that whips through metal easily at 90 or 45 degree angles. The EV-996 is a great space saver for those who need a lot of power in a small shop. Another excellent band saw is the Northern Industrial model TH203-004. It uses two-and-a-half gallons of fluid coolant to help blades last longer. You can get the TH203-004 at Northern Tool + Equipment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When using a band saw, let the tool do the work. When you push too hard against the cutting blade, it can twist and cut at the wrong angle, or the blade can break under excessive pressure.