I am toying between 2 options for my next workshop power tool. A bandsaw or table saw.
Both I am looking at have a maximum cutting depth of 80mm, both have fences to enable straight cuts and both have tiltable cutting tables with the same tilt angles available.
So, what are the advantages/disadvantages of each?
I have found the following answer by @Tester at https://diy.stackexchange.com/a/33313/52164
It depends on what you're cutting, why you're cutting it, and what type of cuts you're making.
When it comes to long straight cuts, a table saw is the best in the business. Set the fence, turn it on, and it'll cut the same width pieces forever. With a band saw (or most other saws), you'll be looking at using some type of jig for long straight cuts. Though even with a jig, you can end up with a bit of wobble in the cut since the blade may be a bit flexible.
If you're scrolling, you're not using a table saw. A band saw is going to allow you to make tighter radius curves, and do more accurate scrolling work.
In some cases you'll not want to cut clean through a board. Maybe you're cutting a dado, a groove, a tongue, etc. In these cases, the height adjustable blade on a table saw can be quite handy. You're not making these cuts on a band saw, though you could always use a router.
Some table saws also allow you to tilt the blade, which allows you to make long straight bevel cuts. You can do bevel cuts on a band saw, but you're going to have to tilt the work piece instead of the saw blade.
If you're working with more than just wood, a band saw will be your friend. You'll be able to cut metal, wood, plastics, and even meat, simply by installing an appropriate blade. A table saw is simply not going to offer the same versatility.
Kerf, is the amount of material removed by the saw blade. Since a band saws blades are thinner, they'll have a smaller kerf than a table saw. Whether that's a pro or con is up to you, but there you go.
In almost all cases, a band saw is going to be much quieter than a table saw.
Some people feel safer around a band saw. Maybe because it's quieter, or doesn't look as ominous. I'm not sure what the reason, that's just how it is. Don't be fooled, a band saw will take your finger off just the same as a table saw.
In the end, it depends what types of cuts you'll be making most, what materials you'll be using, and your own personal preference. I say, get both!
As with so many tool selection questions, a good place to start would be to ask yourself what you want to do with it.
If you have a specific need in mind, then choose the tool that's better for that. For example, if you plan to build a whole kitchen's worth of cabinets, the table saw is probably what you want. If you're interested in making bandsaw boxes, well...
The short version: a table saw does a handful of jobs better than anything else, while a bandsaw is extremely versatile.
A table saw is pretty much the archetypal woodworking power tool, and as a result, it tends to be the first tool many people buy when setting up their workshop. It was certainly the first tool I bought, for pretty much that reason. It's also the power tool that I use least often. If you don't have a specific need that you're trying to fill, and just want something for general woodworking use, I'd recommend a bandsaw.
Of these two tools, there are some tasks that a table saw does better than any other tool. Cutting (reasonably sized) sheet goods is one example. Making repeatable cuts on a lot of case parts is another example.
There are also a lot of tasks that table saws aren't suitable for. You should never try to make curved cuts on a table saw.
A bandsaw can do a lot of things competently, and some things really well. If you have any type of curved profile you want to apply to a piece along its length, a bandsaw is the best tool for this. If you need to resaw stock, a band saw is the best tool for this.1 If you need to make rip cuts on stock that doesn't have an absolutely flat, square edge on it yet, the bandsaw is much safer.2
And while there are safety concerns associated with any power tool, the risk of kickback is, in my mind, the biggest safety concern when using a table saw. Because the working portion of a table saw blade is moving toward you with a lot of energy, if the work piece binds in the cut, or if your technique is poor, a table saw can throw the work piece back at you, potentially causing serious injury. Because of the way a bandsaw blade moves toward the table, it can't throw the work piece in this way.3
In my particular usage, one of my bandsaw's greatest strength is its versatility. Very, very often when I'm in my shop, I'll have to make some quick and dirty cut on whatever I have in hand, just to get it to approximate size or whatever. Most of the time, I can just walk up to my bandsaw and get it done in 15 seconds, where if I were going to use my table saw for the same job, I'd have to worry about fixturing, flatness of the reference surface, etc.
1It is possible to resaw with a table saw, but the process is tedious, and you lose a lot more material thickness this way.
2Although you can build a jig to accomplish this on a table saw, too.
3Regardless of which of these you choose, please make sure you understand the safety considerations of the tool, and learn how to use it safely.
I had this exact dilemma. In fact, most of us probably did. My decision came down to which I would use more for my needs, which I determined would be the table saw.
Of course, we don't know your needs.
Since I already had a jigsaw, I figured that would do fine for a while. I ended up making a box for it, mounted an inverted jigsaw inside it, and used that as a "bandsaw" for over a year. It worked great for small projects.
