Switched to a half-wheel band saw and never going back

Used a full-size for 5 years thinking bigger was better. Finally tried a 14 inch half-wheel at a shop in Portland and my precision on lamb chops jumped way up. Anyone else find smaller machines just handle better for primal cuts?

3 comments

3 Comments

rose_hart1mo ago

Stumbled onto this at @jesser79's shop and the half-wheel changed how I handle flank too.

tyler_wilson1mo ago

Heard a butcher from Chicago talk about this exact thing on a podcast last month. Said the half-wheel lets you keep more control on the bone, especially with lamb where the rib bones are small and easy to mess up. Makes sense when you think about it, the smaller wheels give you a tighter turning radius so you don't gouge the loin. I'd imagine it also cuts down on meat waste since you're not fighting the extra mass of a full-size machine.

jesser791mo ago

@tyler_wilson my old man used a half wheel on his bone saw for years and never once looked back at a full.