Horizontal Band Saw Vs Vertical Band Saw: Which One is Better?

Band saws are a state of the art improvement in wood and metalwork. The saws come in different shapes and sizes which makes it difficult to settle on which particular band saw is the best.

Picking the best band saw is like picking the best flavor of ice cream. All flavors are great, but the best depends on your taste and preferences.

When it comes to using band saws, two saws are always on the top of peoples’ list. The horizontal band saw and the vertical band saw.

Both saws are great and they are capable of providing amazing cutting results. So, what’s the difference between horizontal bandsaw vs vertical bandsaw. Well, let’s check them out.

Related Read — Best Horizontal/Vertical Bandsaws

Horizontal Bandsaw Vs Vertical Bandsaw

What is a Horizontal Band Saw?

The horizontal band saw is a powerful cutting tool that looks like a large irregular metal box. It is largely used in manufacturing companies and industries.

This is because of the high cost, power, and large size of the band saw. When it comes to power, the horizontal band saw is second to none in the world of band saws.

The size, speed, and power of the horizontal band saw make the saw capable of cutting through large and tough materials like metal and large wooden logs. The horizontal band saw is designed with a vise-clamp which holds the material to be cut firmly in place.

The vise-clamp has a lever that can be pulled all the way depending on the level of pressure required to hold the material in place.

The blade of the horizontal band saw is usually lowered on the material by hydraulics located behind the saw.

The horizontal band saw can be referred to as the “gentle giant” of band saws. This is because, despite its huge size and tremendous strength, the saw is quiet while cutting. Any of the “JET horizontal band saws” is a top choice.

What is a Vertical Band Saw?

The vertical band saw is another popular band saw. Though not as big or powerful as the horizontal band saw, it is still perfectly capable of making cuts.

The vertical band saw is more suited for small pieces of metal or wood. What this saw lacks in terms of power, it more than makes up for in terms of precision and intricacy.

The vertical saw is capable of making curves, designs, and round edges. This is because unlike the horizontal band saw, the blade of the vertical band saw isn’t lowered on the material. Instead, the material to be cut is moved against the running blade of the saw.

To put it in clearer terms, think of the blade of a vertical band saw as an upright blade that keeps spinning while the user moves the material against the blade.

Since the material is moved into the path of the blade, the user simply has to move it in the required direction to make any type of shape or design.

What Are the Uses of the Horizontal Band Saw?

Due to its power and size, the horizontal band saw is used to:

• Cut large metal or wooden stocks to the required size.
• Trim the toughest materials most saws wouldn’t even dare to cut.

Related Read — How To Use a Horizontal Bandsaw?

What Are the Uses of the Vertical Band Saw?

Due to the structure and position of the blade, the vertical band saw can be used to:

• Make intricate or complicated cuts on materials.
• Make straight cuts on materials.

What Are the Strengths of a Horizontal Band Saw?

• It is the most powerful band saw. This makes it capable of cutting large stocks easily and quickly.
• It reduces wastage due to the direction of the cut and the structure of the blade.
• It is not noisy. You would expect a machine with such power and capacity to produce much noise, but that expectation doesn’t apply to the horizontal band saw.
• You don’t have to lower the blade of the horizontal saw on the material yourself. The machine is built with a unique feature called a “lowering knob.” This knob allows you to set a particular drop speed for the blade. This continues to lower the blade at that particular speed while it cuts through the material.

What Are the Weaknesses of the Horizontal Band Saw?

• The machine is limited to straight cuts. It can’t make intricate cuts like curves and shapes.
• The large size of the machine makes it unsuitable for small spaces. It also makes moving the machine difficult.
• The horizontal band saw is quite expensive. Getting a horizontal band saw isn’t for everyone because this machine will cost you well over $xxx for a new one.

Related Read — Bandsaw vs Scroll Saw?

What Are the Strengths of a Vertical Band Saw?

The cutting technique of the vertical band saw gives it the luxury of giving additional advantages to the user.

• It is capable of making intricate cuts like curves, shapes, designs, and edges.
• It provides a very smooth and clean finish
• Most vertical band saws have “air blowers.” This feature removes debris and dirt that might get stuck to the blade while cutting.
• It doesn’t consume much electricity or power.
• Modern saws now have a tarmac that moves the material against the blade without any effort from the user. This reduces the possibility of injuries while using the equipment.

What Are the Weaknesses of the Vertical Band Saw?

• The vertical band saw can’t cut tough and large materials. It is limited to smaller pieces of wood and metal when compared to the horizontal band saw.
• It doesn’t pack much power.

What’s the Difference Between Horizontal and Vertical Bandsaw?

As stated earlier, both saws are great individually. However, when it comes to comparison, both band saws are compared based on their size, cost, power, and functionality.

The Size

The horizontal band saw is bigger than the vertical band saw. The size differential is a major difference between both saws. The horizontal band saw will require much more space for its set-up and use than the vertical band saw will.

The Cost

The horizontal band saw and vertical band saw are both quite expensive. However, getting the horizontal band saw will require more cash than the vertical saw will.

Power

The horizontal band saw packs more power than the vertical band saw. The increased power of the horizontal band saw is what makes it capable of cutting through large stocks and hard materials easily. The vertical band saw is also powerful but it doesn’t come close to the horizontal model.

Functionality

The horizontal band saw is used for cutting large metal sheets or beams and big wooden logs to the required size. The vertical band saw is used for making detailed and precise cuts on materials.

In summary, the horizontal band saw is powerful and bigger, but the vertical band saw is smaller and versatile.

That’s it. We hope this article helps you get acquainted with the differences and features of both band saws. If you are planning on buying one, consider the task at hand, your budget, and the space you got available for the band saw.

Then you should be able to make a decision. Ensure to leave a comment below on this article. Have a great day.