Over 200 years ago, the idea of the band saw was born. A patent in 1808 was approved in England to William New-berry. Although another 40 years passed before a French woman, Anne Paulin Crepin, invented a welding technique that made manufacturing band saw blades, and hence the band saw, practical.
What Do They Do?
Band saws have a flexible metal saw blade that spins around two (or sometimes three) wheels — a drive wheel and an idler wheel that tensions it. It is a highly versatile tool that enhances woodworking in a number of ways. Band saws are used to cut wood, plastic, non-ferrous metals and even animal parts (at butcher shops). One of the most important aspects of band saws is that they can controllably cut curves in wood, an essential task in many aspects of wood-working. But they can do much more than that.
The reason that band saws are so versatile is due to their cutting action. The flexible metal saw blade is driven around the drive and idle wheels with the cutting action pushing straight down onto the table. The force exerted by the blade is beneficial in a couple of ways. First, unlike a circular saw blade, there is no rotational force pushing back on the saw cut; any directional force that you apply will not be inhibited in any way. Second, even if the saw blade binds up in the wood, there is no kickback or dangerous release
