What criteria should I use in buying a band saw?

[Mekon]

Given that here in Australia brands may be different or unavailable, how best can you judge one against the other?

Mekon

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Motor horsepower, table size, fit and finish, ease of adjustment, open versus closed base, number of spokes on the wheels

[Mark Jerde]

Availabilty of a mate with whom to swap (blades / lies / parts)?

-- Mark

[bridger]

by weight. get the heaviest one.

[George]

Of equal capacity - distance to other side of blade and under - the recommendation of the heavier is pretty good.

If you're in the 14" range, watch out for bargains with non-hinged covers - not worth it - fence included "bargains" the same. By the time you've adjusted it for your blade you might as well have clamped an ad-hoc variety, which would not have abdomen-goring horns sticking out all the time.

The 16" types appear a bad deal based on comments here when compared either below at 14 or above at 18 capacity.

Most important criterion of all, someone like a dealer obligated to help you whose face you can see, not some voice behind seven steps of voicemail jail. Worth 10% to me.