The best bandsaws, compared.
Top pick: ONEMANA cordless metal bandsaw Best value: KATSU Tools 200 mm bandsaw 100552 – Same 80 mm and 200 mm class with a named blade at about £119.99. Four reviews, and not a lower price than the 100555. Updated October 2026.
In a UK workshop that is usually a benchtop saw for curves and short rips in small timber. A handheld metal saw for pipe and bar is a different job and should not be ranked as the same machine. You judge a listing by the throat, which is blade to frame, by the cut height under the upper guide, by whether the table returns to square, by whether the blade stays on the wheels, and by whether the fence can sit parallel to the blade. The three 800 W compact listings have no review line. Throat, table and blade are set out in the [bandsaw buying guide](/hub/power-saws/bandsaw/sub/bandsaw-buying-guide). In the UK that is mostly curves and small wood sections, and in a separate handheld form it is metal pipe and bar. The usual home machine is a benchtop two-wheel saw of about 200 mm throat and about 80 mm cut height. A floor-standing saw is the next class when the work is wider or thicker. The title says 250 W and the specification table says 230 W. Named UK hobby saws in this band sit around 250–350 W. An 800 W claim beside a smaller throat is not a larger saw.
In a UK workshop that is usually a benchtop saw for curves and short rips in small timber. A handheld metal saw for pipe and bar is a different job and should not be ranked as the same machine.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you cutting?
The ONEMANA ODBS18V65X0-E-U is a portable metal bandsaw at £99.99, sold for pipe and conduit rather than as a bench saw for timber. The title states a 2.5 inch cut, six speeds and a brushless motor, and the saw weighs 4.77 kg. Five amazon.co.uk ratings sit at 5.0, with three texts: one UK review says the quality is very good and describes no cut, and two German-language reviews on the same listing say the first cuts were fine, with one adding that Makita packs fit a little loose and still work. The title says tools only, while the included-components field says a battery, and the title says 20 V while the table says 18 V. Those lines conflict, so the listing does not settle which pack is in the box. It belongs on a pipe job once that battery question is answered, and it does not belong on a shortlist for curves in wood.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Cutting pipe or conduit away from a bench, once you have confirmed which battery is in the box.
Less suitable: Bench woodwork, curves in timber, or a buyer who needs a long UK review file.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the ONEMANA bandsaw include a battery?
The title says tools only. The included-components field says Battery, and the table says one lithium-ion battery is required. Those lines conflict, so the listing does not settle it.
What does the ONEMANA listing say it cuts?
The title and bullets name metal, pipe and conduit, including steel, aluminium and PVC, with a stated 2.5 inch cut. It is a handheld saw, not a bench wood saw.
Will Makita batteries fit the ONEMANA saw?
The bullets claim Makita-platform packs. One German-language review on the UK listing says Makita packs fit a little loose and still work. The UK review text does not discuss batteries.
The KATSU 100552 is a 350 W bench saw listed at £119.99, with an 80 mm cutting depth, a 200 mm throat and a 1400 × 6.35 × 0.35 mm 6 TPI carbon-steel blade in the bullets. Four amazon.co.uk reviews sit at 4.7. One buyer cut a timber template at that 80 mm maximum, and another called it a great saw for the price. The same small file says the blade was not centred or tensioned out of the box, and the manual was too thin to put that right, so the reviewer used a video of a similar machine. Voltage, a dust-port size and a UK 13 A plug are not stated. The bullets limit the motor to wood and plastic, and a question about metal has no answer. Four ratings cannot show whether the blade stays on after the first afternoon. It is the other stated 80 mm saw in this set, at £10 more than the 100555, which is why the thin file keeps it off the top of the shortlist.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A small timber template or hobby piece within 80 mm, if you will tension and centre the blade before the first cut.
Less suitable: Metal, a resaw past 80 mm, or a buyer who wants more than four UK reviews before paying.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the KATSU 100552 listing say it cuts metal?
The bullets say the 350 W motor is for wood and plastic. The surface field says wood. A listing question asks about metal cutting and the listing has no answer.
What blade is supplied with the KATSU 100552?
The bullets say a 1400 × 6.35 × 0.35 mm 6 TPI carbon-steel blade is included. The listing does not state a dust-port size or whether a UK 13 A plug is fitted.
How loud is the KATSU 100552?
The listing asks how loud it is and does not give a decibel figure. There is no noise measurement on the listing.
The KATSU 100555 is a 230 V, 350 W bench saw at £109.99, with a stated 80 mm cut, a 200 mm throat and a pre-fitted 1400 × 6.35 × 0.4 mm 6 TPI blade. Across 43 amazon.co.uk reviews at 3.9, several UK buyers describe decent cuts for the money once the saw is set up, and one review from Ireland says the blade tracks and that customer service replied. The bullets claim a parallel fence, but a UK review says it is not on a track, so a straight line is easy to miss. Other texts say the blade jumps off the wheels, the Allen keys did not fit, or the saw would not start. The bullets also name metal, and no separate metal-cutting blade is listed. A dust port and the plug type are not stated. It is the top pick in this set for small timber within 80 mm, because 230 V, the cut and a named blade sit on the largest review file among those saws, with the tracking complaints left in the score. It is also the lowest price of the 200 mm bench saws here.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Hobby wood and plastic within 80 mm, when you want 230 V in writing and can live with a fence that is not on a track.
Less suitable: Accurate ripping, metal, or a saw you expect to run without a setup afternoon.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the KATSU 100555 come with a blade?
The bullets say a 1400 × 6.35 × 0.4 mm 6 TPI blade is included and pre-fitted. The table lists the blade material as metal.
Can the KATSU 100555 make angled cuts?
The listing says the metal table tilts from 0° to 45°. It does not say the table has a positive stop at 90°.
What materials does the KATSU 100555 listing claim?
The bullets say wood, plastic and metal. The surface field lists the same three. No separate metal-cutting blade is named, and the dust port and plug type are not stated.
The Draper 82756 is a 230 V two-wheel saw at £138, with a steel table, a no-volt switch and a supplied 6 TPI blade, sold in the 200 mm class. Across 90 amazon.co.uk reviews at 3.7, buyers use it for model making and for shapes they say a jigsaw fights, and some call it fair value once a guide is tightened. The same file repeats a blade that will not stay on the wheels, a cut that wanders in harder wood, and rubber tyres that chew or come off. The title says 250 W and the specification table says 230 W. Cut height and the blade loop length are not stated, and the listed size of 14.1 × 10.9 × 28.3 cm sits oddly against a weight of 16.9 kg. One March 2026 review describes a larger Draper bought elsewhere, so that text is not this machine. A familiar name and the largest review count do not clear the tracking faults. It is a first hobby saw only if you can spend time on the blade, and a weak choice when you need a cut height in writing.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A first hobby bandsaw for small shapes, if you allow time to track the blade and you can measure the loop yourself.
Less suitable: Straight cuts in harder wood, or a buyer who needs a stated cut height.
Specifications
Common questions
What safety features does the Draper 82756 listing name?
The bullets name a table that tilts from 0° to 45°, a no-volt switch, and a supplied 6 TPI blade. They do not describe the blade guard.
Is a blade included with the Draper 82756?
Yes. The bullets say a 5 mm thick 6 TPI blade is supplied. The table lists high speed steel and a round blade shape. A loop length is not stated.
Why do the Draper watts not match?
The title says 250 W and the specification wattage is 230 watts. Both figures are copied from the same amazon.co.uk listing. Cut height is not stated.
The RETRIN listing at £206.99 claims 800 W, a 70 mm cut, a 90 mm throat and a metal table that tilts from 0° to 45°. The amazon.co.uk file has no star line and no review text, so those figures have no buyer account behind them. The item weight says 10 kg and the bullets say 8.5 kg. The dimension field is a 39.5 cm cube and the bullets say 460 × 350 × 275 mm. The number-of-items field says 20 on a one-machine title. Blade size, voltage and a dust-port diameter are not stated, and a question about cutting metal is unanswered. The bullets name wood and foam, and they also say chucks and grinding wheels can be fitted. A 90 mm throat is smaller than the opening on the £110 KATSU saws, at nearly twice the price, with nothing in a review file to close that gap.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A buyer who already accepts an unreviewed 70 mm compact and will check voltage and blade length before plugging it in.
Less suitable: Anyone who wants buyer reports, a 200 mm throat, or a stated 230 V supply.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the RETRIN listing include dust extraction?
The listing asks whether a dust collection system is included and does not answer. No port diameter is stated.
What cutting size does the RETRIN listing claim?
The bullets say a 70 mm cutting height and a 90 mm throat, with a table that tilts from 0° to 45°. The item-dimension and weight fields do not match those bullets.
Does the RETRIN listing say it cuts metal?
A listing question asks about metal and is not answered. The bullets name wood and foam. The surface field says wood.
The Generic mini band saw at £209.99 claims 800 W, 1,750 rpm, a 70 mm cut, a 90 mm throat, a metal table from 0° to 45° and a weight of 8.5 kg. There is no star rating and no review text on the amazon.co.uk file. Voltage, blade length and what is actually in the box are not stated. Questions about beginners, assembly and metal cutting sit on the listing without answers. The bullets name wood, acrylic and foam, and they also claim that drill chucks and flexible shafts can be fitted. The title calls it a desktop bench table saw as well as a band saw, which leaves the machine type less settled than on the KATSU rows. An 800 W line on a 90 mm throat does not make this a larger saw than a 200 mm bench saw that states 230 V and an 80 mm cut.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Only a buyer who has already decided on an unreviewed 70 mm compact and will confirm the plug and the blade before use.
Less suitable: A first bandsaw purchase, metal, or any job that needs a 200 mm throat.
Specifications
Common questions
Can this Generic mini band saw cut metal?
The listing asks that question and does not answer it. The bullets name wood, acrylic and foam. The surface field says wood.
What size does the Generic mini band saw claim?
The bullets say it cuts up to 70 mm high, with a 90 mm throat, a metal table that tilts from 0° to 45°, and a weight of 8.5 kg. Voltage and blade size are not stated.
Does the listing say this saw is safe for beginners?
The listing asks whether it is safe for beginners and whether it needs assembly. Neither question is answered on the listing.
The Generic vertical saw is listed at £248.99, the highest price in this set. The bullets claim 800 W, 1,750 r/min with no load, a 70 mm sawing depth and a 90 mm figure they call kerf depth, plus a metal table from 0° to 45°. A straight-line blade, a cloth wheel, a sandpaper disc and a grinding wheel are claimed, and none of those parts has a size. There is no star rating and no review text. Voltage and the overall dimensions are not stated. The bullets say the table supports straight and curved cuts in wood, acrylic and foam. Paying more than the 200 mm KATSU saws for a smaller stated opening, with no buyer record, does not buy a proven step up in capacity.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A buyer who specifically wants the claimed cloth wheel and grinding wheel and will check voltage and blade length on delivery.
Less suitable: Anyone comparing throat with the 200 mm bench saws, or anyone who wants a review file before paying £248.99.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this Generic vertical saw suitable for curves?
The bullets say the worktable supports straight-line and curved cutting. They also claim a 70 mm maximum sawing depth and a table that adjusts from 0° to 45°.
What comes with the Generic vertical band saw?
The bullets include a straight-line saw blade, a cloth wheel, a sandpaper disc and a grinding wheel. Blade size, voltage and overall dimensions are not stated.
What materials does the Generic vertical listing name?
The bullets name wood, acrylic and foam. The surface field says wood. No dust-port size is given.
Scores use the amazon.co.uk listings for these seven ASINs and the review notes already on file. This is not a lab test, and no listing was treated as safer than another. HSE woodworking guidance is a workplace reference, not a score. The highest score is the top pick. Best value is the next listing that still states a cut and a blade, after that badge is used.
Amazon evidence
30%Star rating on amazon.co.uk, then the review count. A count under 10, under 50, or under 100 is deducted. No star line scores zero on this block.
Listing fit
35%For a bench wood saw: a stated voltage, cut height, throat and blade length that do not contradict each other. A missing cut height, a watt clash, a missing blade length, or dimensions that disagree with the bullets are deducted. The portable metal saw is scored on the cut claim, voltage consistency, and whether a battery is actually included.
Review outcome
20%Review themes that name a real job, and the complaints that repeat, such as a blade off the wheels, wander, or a saw that will not start. A file of four ratings cannot score like a file of forty. No review text scores near the bottom of this block.
Value
15%Shelf price in GBP after the opening and the blade are usable. A low price does not score when the battery or the voltage contradicts itself. A high price does not score when the throat is smaller and nobody has reviewed the saw.
A bandsaw comparison starts with the job, not the wattage. The seven amazon.co.uk listings here mix 200 mm bench saws, unreviewed compact vertical saws, and one cordless metal saw. Prices on 19 October 2026 ran from about £99.99 to about £248.99. The top pick is the KATSU 100555 for small timber within 80 mm when you want 230 V in writing. Best value is the KATSU 100552, the same cut and throat, with only four reviews and no stated voltage. Use the table for throat, blade and supply.
A bandsaw uses a continuous toothed loop. In the UK that is mostly curves and small wood sections, and in a separate handheld form it is metal pipe and bar. The usual home machine in this set is a benchtop two-wheel saw of about 200 mm throat and about 80 mm cut height. Throat is blade to frame. Cut height is the opening under the upper guide. You use that opening for curves and for short rips in small sections. A floor-standing saw is the next class when the work is wider or thicker.
Named UK hobby saws in this set sit around 250–350 W. The compact listings claim 800 W and about 90 mm of throat. That wattage does not make them larger than a 200 mm bench saw that states an 80 mm cut.
The Draper title says 250 W and the specification table says 230 W. The ONEMANA title says 20 V and tools only. The table says 18 V, and the included-components field says a battery. Quote both lines. Do not pick one.
Both KATSU blades are about 1400 mm by 6.35 mm at 6 TPI. That is a general wood blade. The 100552 bullets limit the motor to wood and plastic. The 100555 names metal and does not list a metal-cutting blade.
Throat is the distance from the blade to the frame. Cut height is the opening under the upper guide. Rank those two before watts. The KATSU 100555 and the KATSU 100552 both state 200 mm of throat and 80 mm of cut. The Draper 82756 is sold in the 200 mm class and does not state a cut height, so you cannot check an 80 mm job against that listing. The RETRIN and the two generic compact rows claim about 90 mm of throat and about 70 mm of cut.
Tilt in this set is stated as 0–45°. A fence that stays parallel to the blade matters more than a small wattage gap. The KATSU 100555 bullets claim a parallel fence, and a UK review says it is not on a track, so a straight line is easy to miss. The 100552 bullets include a parallel stop. The Draper fence is mentioned in a review and not in the bullets. Both KATSU listings include a blade about 1400 mm by 6.35 mm at 6 TPI. Treat that as a general wood blade.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You cut curves and short rips in timber within 80 mm, from a house or shed socket. The KATSU 100555 is the top pick at about £109.99: 230 V, 350 W, an 80 mm cut, a 200 mm throat and 3.9 from 43 reviews. The fence is not on a track, and some reviews say the blade leaves the wheels.
You want the same 80 mm cut and 200 mm throat, and you can accept four reviews. The KATSU 100552 is best value at about £119.99, with a named 6 TPI blade and 4.7 from four reviews. It costs £10 more than the 100555, and voltage is not stated. Tension the blade before the first cut.
You need a saw you can carry to pipe or conduit, not a bench for timber. The ONEMANA is the portable metal row at about £99.99, with a stated 2.5 inch cut. The title says tools only and 20 V. The table says 18 V, and the included-components field says a battery. Confirm the pack before you rely on it.
The top pick is the KATSU 100555 at about £109.99. It scores 74, the highest in this set: 230 V, 350 W, an 80 mm cut, a 200 mm throat and a pre-fitted 6 TPI blade, with 3.9 from 43 reviews. The deductions are a fence that is not on a track, blades that leave the wheels, and saws that would not start. It is also the lowest price of the 200 mm bench saws that state 230 V. Best value is the KATSU 100552 at about £119.99. It is the next listing that still states an 80 mm cut, a 200 mm throat and a named blade, with 4.7 from four reviews. It is not a lower shelf price than the 100555, and four reviews cap the score. Voltage is not stated.
KATSU Tools 200 mm bandsaw 100552
Same 80 mm and 200 mm class with a named blade at about £119.99. Four reviews, and not a lower price than the 100555.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings compared on this page. Shelf date 19 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures already stored for this set. This is not a laboratory test.
