Ridgid BS1400 Band Saw Tool Review

The Ridgid BS1400 Band Saw is a fine 14-inch entry-level band saw for hobbyist and weekend woodworkers. However, if you plan to put this model to use in a production wood shop, you'll likely be disappointed. The motor is rather limited in power, so the blade speed will drop substantially when cutting some hardwoods or resawing. Additionally, the unit doesn't come equipped with a fence or miter gauge, and the stock blade will need to be replaced.

That being said, for those hobbyist woodworkers who are looking for an upgrade to their scroll saw and jig saw, this is a fine choice.

Pros

Cons

The Ridgid BS1400 band saw comes in a single box, and requires about two hours to assemble. The manual covers the assembly step-by-step, but the packaging for the hardware is quite confusing and small bolts, nuts, washers, etc. can be lost easily. In my case, the packaging containing the hardware had come open and I had to dig through the box to find all of the loose parts.

The base for the band saw is relatively light weight, although I didn't find the band saw to be unstable after completing the assembly of the top-heavy unit. However, I can't get over the thought that some of the vibration when using the band saw couldn't be addressed with a much more sturdy stand.

The BS1400 can accommodate blades from 1/8" to 3/4" in width, although the motor will be severely taxed when resawing with a thicker blade. Changing the blades can be a bit tricky, but the blade guides and adjustment options are well thought out and easy to tune. Additionally, the blade tensioning mechanism is simple and easy to operate.

The price of the band saw is quite affordable when compared to similar units, but the model does not come with a fence, riser block (to extend the cutting depth from 6-inches to 12) or miter gauge. Adding these accessories will raise the price to the same relative price range as other units which may have a bit more stout of a motor or more solid base. Keep this in mind when considering this saw.