Flash Sale Lee Valley Rikon 10″ Deluxe Bandsaw (Model 10-3061)

This updated version of Rikon’s compact benchtop saw improves on a tool that was already impressively accurate and easy to operate, with design modifications that make it even more user-friendly.

Tweaks to the welded steel frame make it simpler to adjust the plate and guide assembly and ensure you can use the full 5″ maximum cutting height and 9 5/8″ cutting width consistently. Plastic inserts have been added to let you change the tilt of the fence carrier, and the rip fence now has a low-friction pad for smoother travel when you position it. The cabinet has sturdier door hinges and a redesigned 2 1/2″ dust port for easier attachment of hoses.

In our testing, we had no difficulty using the supplied blade to make clean cuts in 3″ thick walnut. The 1/2 hp motor can be set to 1515’/min. or 3250’/min., and the rigid frame as well as low-friction ball-bearing blade guides above and below the table help prevent twisting and deflection.

Unique to Rikon, blade changes and bearing adjustments are done without tools. Instead of the usual grub screws, low-profile knobs secure the bearings, which are spring-tensioned to retract automatically during blade changes but are easy to reposition before locking them back down.

When you’ve finished a work session, a release lever lets you instantly loosen blade tension to prevent premature blade fatigue and wear to the saw’s bearings, tires and spring. An upper guide/blade guard assembly with a rack-and-pinion mechanism permits smooth height adjustments, and the rip fence is equipped with a direct-reading scale for quick, accurate positioning when re-sawing.

A good choice for small workshops, it is relatively easy to move and store. Comes with a 5/16″ × 6 tpi regular-tooth blade; additional 70 1/2″ long blades are available. Backed by a 5-year warranty.