SKIL 2.8 Amp 9 In. 2-Speed Benchtop Band Saw for Woodworking - BW9501-00

I've only used it once, but straight, smooth and accurate cuts right out of the box. Seems they set it up at the factory. Very quiet also, at least compared to my old one.

For the size and price, you can't beat it for hobby stuff

I’m never quite sure what to leave in a review like this, or if I should leave one at all. The product (or at the very least the box) came damaged. It was smashed in on one whole side, upon opening, the styrofoam on the inside was broken as well, and I could hear metal parts jangling around. I wouldn’t buy it from a brick and mortar store, so back it went. I’ve kept damaged products in the past where I didn’t see any damage, and it came back to bite me well after the return window.I have several Skil products (a drill press, a router, router table, drills and the like) and I am a big fan, they have never let me down. They are all quality products from the budget price range. I obviously can’t tell where in the process the box took the hit (as a former factory guy, it looks to me like someone got in a hurry on the forklift) so based on previous Skil performance I will assume it’s a 5 star tool and I got a bad beat. I don’t want to leave a bad review for something that might not have been Skil’s doing.

This is basically an upgraded version of the WEN 3959. I bought this saw because it has 2 speeds vs. the single speed of the WEN. The addition of the tension release lever is also a nice feature. It would be nice if Skil sold it with a fence, but the one that comes with the WEN 3959 fits it perfectly and can be had for somewhere around $20-$25 if you order directly from WEN. The blade that comes with the saw is 59-1/2 x 1/4 x 14. It's a decent general-purpose wood blade and seems to be of decent quality.As for assembly, all you have to do is remove the saw from the box and attach the table. It's just a matter of putting the table assembly in place and installing the two locking knobs that secure the tilt adjustment. That being said, it's easier to adjust the thrust bearings and blade guides before the table is in place.Surprisingly, the blade guides and thrust bearings are not even close to being in approximate adjustment from the factory. Be sure to calibrate them or the blade is going to wander everywhere. It's not necessary to follow the instruction manual exactly. Just make sure that the thrust bearings barely miss the back of the blade and that the guides don't pinch the blade when the splice comes around. Once adjusted the saw cuts well. The first thing I did with mine was to resaw some teak, and the saw barely slowed down even going through a 2-1/2" thickness.All in all, it's a well-designed saw that should give years of service if you take care of it.

easy to operate, takes up little space

Very nice I’ve used it a few times but I am ordering a1/8” blade for better cornering.

I use this to cut out my kydex holsters and its extremely fast and easy to use. Setup took 5 minutes, much better than a scroll saw.

I use the saw in my workshop. My shop is small so the saw is the right size for my workbench