# What do I look for in a used band saw?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-look-for-in-a-used-band-saw/713801>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [February 27, 2015, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-look-for-in-a-used-band-saw/713801 "2015-02-27T21:37:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2015, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-look-for-in-a-used-band-saw/713801/21 "2015-03-01T03:47:20Z")

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> [@minor7flat5](#):
>
> \*\*One thing I look for in a band saw is how the guide is set up.\*\*In order to cut accurate lines the blade has to be held very well right above the piece, with tight accurate backing and side-to-side guides. This is often handled by some arrangement of small roller bearings and guide blocks.
> 
> One large shop saw I worked with had roller bearings and a final piece of bronze with a slot in it to keep the blade straight and provide backing. Over time the bronze chunk would wear until it was worn in two. Other than that, the mechanism was robust and held the blade very accurately.
> 
> Anyway, the quality and wear on that part will have a profound impact on the kind of cuts you can do. My current low-end Delta saw doesn’t have a good guide and the blade wanders accordingly.

Bolded your quote. Hope you don’t mind.

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