A band-saw-cutting system for cutting sections from a work in a substantially continuous, automated manner. The system includes a work carrier adapted to support one or more pieces of work and to be reciprocated to carry the work from a home position to a forward position in a cutting stroke to cut the work and back to the home position in a return stroke. The system includes blade-moving means for automatically moving the blade out of the cutting plane of the blade during each return stroke such that the work will not contact and rub against the blade during the return stroke, and for moving the blade back into the cutting plane prior to the initiation of the next cutting stroke. The system further includes means for automatically moving the work transversely against an adjustable fence to position the work relative to the cutting plane to cut desired thicknesses from the work during each cutting stroke. The fence includes means for insuring that the work is properly aligned with the cutting plane before a cutting stroke can be initiated. The system also includes a work-engaging means for holding the work during the cutting and return strokes and means for easily and quickly adjusting the tension on the cutting blade or to replace the blade. The invention permits a band-saw system to be utilized to cut work automatically with a high cutting rate and with minimal operator involvement.