SKIL 2.8 Amp 9 In. 2-Speed Benchtop Band Saw for Woodworking - BW9501-00
Best for
Best benchtop
Amazon rating
Amazon aggregate, one input among many in the Verdict Score
Based on 1 trusted source
Current price
$159.99
Updated Jun 23, 2026 · 1 min read
Sources behind this verdict
10 reviewers weighted by source trust
The consensus
What reviewers found
Synthesized across the trust-weighted source mix below.
Across the reviewers we read, the SKIL BW9501 is framed as a no-fuss benchtop for small shops, with a 4.4 average across 292 Amazon ratings. Medium-trust r/BeginnerWoodWorking owners describe it plainly: 'simple machine, does its job with little fuss, simple setup, vacuum port works well.' SKIL's own listing and several YouTube reviews emphasize its 2.8-amp induction motor and ball-bearing guides for curve work and light ripping. The high-trust caveat comes from r/woodworking, where one owner reports that 'the cutting would burn the wood' and 'the blade wanders to the right when cutting' even after adjusting the guides, and a separate budget-saw thread lumps WEN, Ryobi and SKIL together with the warning that the cheap units 'don't cut straight.' As with its rivals, reviewers tie much of this to the factory blade and the limited throat depth, with one noting 'you can't' do larger work because of the small throat.
What reviewers liked
- Praised by community owners as simple to set up and operate
- Effective dust/vacuum port noted by reviewers
- Steady 4.4 average across 292 Amazon ratings
- Induction motor and ball-bearing guides at a low price
Where it falls short
- High-trust r/woodworking owner reports blade wander and wood burning
- Grouped with other budget saws criticized for not cutting straight
- Limited throat depth restricts workpiece size
- Factory blade upgrade effectively required for clean cuts
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Across the reviewers we read, the SKIL BW9501 is framed as a no-fuss benchtop for small shops, with a 4.4 average across 292 Amazon ratings. Medium-trust r/BeginnerWoodWorking owners describe it plainly: 'simple machine, does its job with little fuss, simple setup, vacuum port works well.' SKIL's own listing and several YouTube reviews emphasize its 2.8-amp induction motor and ball-bearing guides for curve work and light ripping.
The high-trust caveat comes from r/woodworking, where one owner reports that 'the cutting would burn the wood' and 'the blade wanders to the right when cutting' even after adjusting the guides, and a separate budget-saw thread lumps WEN, Ryobi and SKIL together with the warning that the cheap units 'don't cut straight.' As with its rivals, reviewers tie much of this to the factory blade and the limited throat depth, with one noting 'you can't' do larger work because of the small throat.
The synthesis: a tidy, well-organized benchtop that earns repeat praise for setup simplicity and dust extraction, balanced against the same straight-cut and burning concerns that follow every saw in this class. Reviewers recommend it for hobby curve cutting and light stock rather than precision rips or resawing.
- POWERFUL 2.8 AMP INDUCTION MOTOR—Rip through a variety of wood materials with the 2.8 amp induction motor
- 2-SPEED DRIVE SYSTEM—Allows tool-free belt tensioning
- QUICK BLADE TENSION SETTING—Set blade tension quickly and accurately for clean cuts
- PRECISION BALL BEARING AND LOWER BLADE GUIDES—Ensure consistent tracking for accurate cutting performance
- RACK AND PINION TABLE ADJUSTMENT—Makes quick angle adjustments
- DUST PORT—Accepts standard 2 ½-inch vacuum hoses, minimizing dust in work area
- MITER GAUGE—Guides the workpiece when making crosscuts
- STEEL BASE—Stabilizes band saw
Have a skil 2.8 Amp 9 in here. Simple machine. Does it's job with little fuss. Simple setup. Vacuum port works well. mcfarmer72. •. 3y ago. I ...
Also worth mentioning is that the cutting would burn the wood. I tried adjusting the guides. The blade wanders to the right when cutting, so I ...
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“SKIL BW9501” · 00 Benchtop Band Saw Review
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