Craftsman 21400 Bandsaw Review

Craftsman 21400 product image

Editor Rating: 3.9/5

Great

Craftsman 21400 Bandsaw Review

Reviewed by: Timothy Henderson

Published on: February 18, 2018

Last modified:

February 16, 2018 @ 5:39 pm

 

  • Design
  • Functionality
  • Price

Craftsman 21400 Review Summary:

Have you ever wondered which bandsaw model is the best on the market?

If you ever stumbled upon a concrete answer, then you probably didn’t go to the right place because there is no such thing as the best unit on the market. Instead, one can find some models that offer features that are close to perfect, but still have certain limitations due to various other elements that are involved. The sooner you give up on the search for the ultimate unit, the sooner you’ll find one that fits your plans.

We are here to offer you a better insight into the overall capabilities of the Craftsman 21400 so that you don’t have to look through numerous websites and spend hours reading tedious and biased reviews. If you have a certain dilemma or are simply interested in knowing more about this particular model, take a moment and check our review out. It’s designed to bring this model closer to you so that you can make the right decision.

Specifications:

  • Power – 3.5-amp motor
  • Weight – 66 pounds
  • Blade length – 70.5 inches
  • Table dimensions – 12-3/8 x 13-3/4 inches
  • Blade speed – 2780 Feet per minute (single speed)

Craftsman 21400 – The Basics


When it comes to simplistic yet powerful machines, this particular model is one of our top-recommended benchtop bandsaws. It’s not foreseen for professional use, but it offers more than enough power and features for an average enthusiast. Its 1/3HP motor is decent, but far from an ideal one if you’re looking to diversify among different applications. In simpler terms, it’s a great machine for cutting wood of almost any density, but it doesn’t do well with anything other than that.

The worktable is a good addition, and it’s spacious enough for you to hold, measure, and cut a piece of wood without any major issues. Even though this unit has its fair share of limitations, it’s a decent solution for most DIYers.

The Features


The Design


The design is somewhat conventional, and quite frankly it doesn’t seem too complex to handle. Some assembly is required, but it’s nothing you can’t overcome within a few minutes, especially if you refer to the user manual. The thing that separates this unit from most others is its weight. With only 66 pounds it’s one of the lightest ones around, especially considering the fact that it can cope with intense projects even though it’s not foreseen for them.

Furthermore, the dust port allows you to hook up a vac and reduce the amount of sawdust and debris to a bare minimum. While it doesn’t sound particularly impressive, the fact that it features a dust port is well-worth mentioning because even some much more expensive ones simply don’t have an extracting system at all.

The cast iron table can tilt from 0 up to 45 degrees which allows you to cut at an angle with high precision. Speaking of precision, this unit is specifically designed for peculiar shapes and projects that require high accuracy.

Usability


This model works well with many different types of wood, but it doesn’t perform nearly as good with other materials such as metal. In fact, it’s not even designed to cope with anything other than wood. Therefore, if you’re looking for a versatile unit in terms of supporting materials, this one might not be the ideal choice. On the other hand, if you’re an occasional user, the Craftsman 21400 offers some pretty interesting features.

Pros:

N

Lightweight

N

Compact

N

Stable

Cons:

N

Somewhat underpowered

N

Price could be better

R

Things we liked about it

The compactness and light weight of this unit are its two main selling points. ON top of that, we also liked its simplicity and ease of use. One doesn’t have to worry about complexity too much nor do they need much experience in the first place.

The user manual is comprehensive, although we would have liked seeing a better written one. It’s not a bad user manual per se, but it does lack some crucial points, especially when it comes to assembly and help for absolute beginners.

The materials used in production are quite reliable and ensure a decent amount of stability. It may not sound like an advantage to some people, but it should be mentioned because many other models struggle with stability and consequently suffer in the accuracy department.

Q

Things we didn’t like

The motor is okay, but it could definitely use a bit more power. It’s not underpowered per se, but you shouldn’t expect it to cope well with massive projects. Also, the included blade is of questionable quality; therefore, we strongly recommend getting a few spare ones as soon as possible.

Speaking of blades, some people had issues with finding the proper ones in regular hardware stores meaning there is a chance that you’ll have to order them online and wait a couple of days for them to arrive.

The price is relatively acceptable, but we feel that it should be a bit lower.

What Users Say About The Craftsman 21400


DIYers love the compactness of this product, but the professionals, on the other hand, have a long list of complaints. However, it’s an expected outcome because the unit isn’t foreseen for professional use in the first place. Even though the opinions are somewhat mixed, the overall verdict is positive. The unit does come with a few downsides, but all of them are more or less bearable and acceptable.

Conclusion


Whether you’re looking to cut complex shapes or simple pieces in bulk, the Craftsman 21400 is a decent choice. As we said, one shouldn’t expect any miracles from this machine, but it does its job well and performs as advertised. The price is somewhat acceptable, but it’s far from an impressive one.

Is it worth investing in this particular model? The answer depends on what you expect of it. If you keep your expectations on a realistic level, then it’s definitely an investment you should consider. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a heavy-duty tool with exceptional performance, we recommend that you keep searching.

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