A lot depends on what size saw you can accommodate and how much you want to spend. Here are some general observations from owning a few saws and doing a lot of shopping around:

- Stay away from cheap saws with cast iron frames. Every one I've owned (12, 14 and 18 inch) or examined has had the upper guide hole drilled slightly off - or perhaps a warped frame - that results in the upper guides not tracking parallel to the blade. That requires you to adjust the guides every time you raise or lower them, which is a pain in the butt, particularly with the crappy guides that come on many cheap saws. Nowadays, I ALWAYS check the upper guide tracking on any saw I consider buying.

- The best new saws use welded steel frames. As a general rule, they're stronger, stiffer and more precise than cast iron frames. They're also showing up on reasonably priced saw and offer a better overall value. I would not buy a new saw with a cast iron frame, though I would consider restoring an older one if it was precisely aligned. I'm sure that some of the better brand cast-frame saws (Delta, Jet, Powermatic) are OK, but since there is no price advantage to buying cast frames, I can't see paying for old technology when there's something better available.

- Although many 10" saws are basically toys, that's not always the case. If you're only going to use it for light duty work, a good 10" saw may do the trick for you. I recently picked up a 10" Craftsman (made by Rikon) with a welded steel frame, roller guides, 4 5/8" cutting depth and a generously-sized cast iron table for $120, on sale from $160 (the Rikon-branded version has a smaller aluminum table and 3 3/8" cutting depth for $10 less). With a little tweaking during assembly, the upper guide tracks properly and everything runs smoothly. I bought because it's small and light enough to be portable for paddle making demos(cutting cedar) and boat outfitting clinics (cutting Minicel foam). I have no illusions about using it for anything more demanding and I have other saws for heavier work.

- A GOOD 14" saw will handle most woodworking chores, provided it has enough horsepower. I consider 1hp to be the minimum and 1.5hp would be better. Saws in this size vary dramatically in quality, so be careful. My cheapo Bridgewood 14" saw is basically a piece of junk, but it only cost me $75 used, so I got more than I paid for.

- A 16"-18" saw is a real workhorse that can handle anything, as long as it has at least 2hp. I have an 18" Enco 2hp saw that cuts through 8" thick oak splits just fine. I bought it for $300 (several years old but never used), put Carter guides on it and it works well for rough wood and metal cutting.

- Rikon seems to offer the best bang for the buck these days and they apparently make many of the welded steel frame saws currently marketed by other brands.

I'm done buying cheap band saws. Someday I will own a Laguna 16" or 18" saw. If you can swing the price, they are amazing tools.