Next you need to figure out the width of the blade that will work for the type of cut you plan to make. If you want to make a curve, your blade width should be slightly less than the radius of the curve you plan to make. Many blade manufacturers offer charts to help you pick the right width – like this one. You can find charts like this on most major bandsaw blade websites. Generally, the more teeth per inch, the finer the cut will be; the fewer teeth per inch, the rougher the cut will be. Once you determine length, width and teeth per inch, you need to figure out what type of tooth configuration is right for the cut type and material you are cutting. There are three main types of bandsaw blade teeth: regular, hook and skip.
A bandsaw will make many cuts with precision and speed-when equipped with the right blade for the application. Bandsaw blades differ in thickness, width, length, and tooth configuration. Every time you change from one bandsaw blade width to another, you have to reset the saw’s tracking, tension, and blade guides.
Blades are also categorized by the type of material used for the backing/teeth or in the case of “Carbide” blades the tooth material. They tend to be good inexpensive blades that are great to have in the configurations you use but not often since high usage blades are more economical if bought in Bimetal or carbide tipped. Bimetal blades will outlast carbon blades 8-10 times and though “Duller” initially than all but carbide blades they stay sharp longer than all but carbide blades. These blades though expensive are the kings of resaw and will outlast bimetal blades 3-4 times. Be aware there are entire books written about the myriad types of carbide and its use in tooling but since the number of wood-centric carbide bandsaw blades is fairly small I have just used personal experience as opposed to researching the type of carbide each uses, plus manufacturers are often tight lipped about these things. Most bandsaw blades have either a 0 degree rake or a slight positive rake. The more positive rake the more agressive the blade, normally standard and skip blades have 0 degree rake, hook blades have positive rakes, usually around 5 degrees.
bandsaw skip vs hook Related Question:
What is the difference between hook and Raker bandsaw blades?
Hook tooth blades have a deeper gullet—that is, larger teeth—and a positive 10 degree rake angle. This helps the blade to feed into the material more aggressively. The result is faster cutting rates.
What should you not do with a bandsaw?
Never clear small pieces while blade is moving. Never adjust saw or setup while saw is running. Never cross arms. Always follow 4 inch rule.
Is more TPI better?
Woodworkers quickly learn that the number of teeth-per-inch (TPI) on the blade has a big impact on the quality of a cut. The general rule of thumb is “the more TPI, the smoother the cut.” The true answer, however, is just a little more complicated than that, as you’ll learn once you understand how saw teeth work.
What is the best TPI for cutting wood?
If you’re looking to cut wood or other soft materials, you’ll need a blade with a TPI of 6 up to 20. For harder materials like metal, a TPI between 14 up to 36 is more suitable. The number of teeth can be found on the blade.
What’s the difference between bandsaw blades?
Bandsaw blades differ in thickness, width, length, and tooth configuration. Length varies by machine, but the size of your saw’s wheels typically determines thickness and width: Smaller machines (9–12″ wheels) need thinner blades to prevent breaking the welds. They also accept only narrow blades, often 1⁄ 2 ” or less.
How tight should my bandsaw blade be?
The blade should deflect no more than 1/4 in. A good place to begin is to tension the blade until the meter reads proper tension for the next wider blade. For example, if you’re tensioning a 3/8-in. blade, I would set the scale to 1/2 in.
Can you rip wood on a bandsaw?
A band saw can shape curves, saw rough lumber safely, cut joinery, and even rip boards to width.
How safe is a bandsaw?
The band saw is widely regarded as among the safest of all woodworking machinery. However, it is still a dangerous woodworking tool, one that can cause considerable injury if used improperly.
How many teeth per inch should a bandsaw blade have?
The general rule of thumb is: For wood and soft materials aim for 3 – 6 teeth in the workpiece. For metals and harder materials aim for 6 – 24 teeth in the workpiece.
What does TPI mean on a bandsaw blade?
TPI: The number of teeth per inch as measured from gullet to gullet. 7.
What does 32 TPI mean?
TPI is an acronym for Teeth Per Inch and is a common measurement to be detailed on saws. As a general rule, the more teeth per inch a saw has, the neater the finish will be, but the slower the saw will cut. The fewer teeth per inch, the faster the saw will cut but the rougher the finish will be.
Why is my bandsaw burning the wood?
A majority of issues with wood burning is because of a dull saw blade. These blades may not be sharp enough to efficiently cut the wood, and thus create enough friction to heat and burn the wood. What is this? Dull blades make it more challenging to cut, which causes friction as you pass the wood through.
What is a 24 tooth blade used for?
For most construction work, a 24-tooth general use blade is sufficient. That blade is very aggressive and will help you rip and cross-cut lumber and sheet goods quickly and with a high degree of accuracy. With a 24-tooth demo blade, you’re getting work done quickly, but you won’t get a near-finished edge.
Is a wider bandsaw blade better?
The wider blades are stiffer overall (more metal) and tend to track better on the band wheels than narrow blades. When cutting thicker material, the wider blade has less ability to deviate because the back end, when in the cut, helps steer the front of the blade, especially if the side clearance is not excessive.
How long should a metal bandsaw blade last?
On average your bandsaw blade should last 6 months to as long as a few years depending on what your cutting with it. Make sure to match your blade strength and quality to the project and material your cutting.