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.
To achieve a smoother, more refined cut choose a blade that has more TPI. High TPI configurations should be used on thinner materials and may require a reduced material feed rate through the blade. Thicker materials require a low TPI blade, but may be fed through the blade at a higher feed rate. A regular tooth blade is available in higher TPI blades and produces smoother cuts in all woods.
Bandsaw blades come in a variety of widths, tooth designs, materials, and configurations. Or keep reading to learn more about choosing and using bandsaw blades. Never use water as a lubricant on bandsaw blades -or any other blades, for that matter.
Generally, a skip tooth blade is used for rip cutting, whereas a regular or triangular tooth blade is for cross cutting. “Now you have made the three basic choices, we will guide you through the types of blades that we offer. Depending on the length of blade required, it can be an easy choice or a little more complex. For machines with a blade length up to 70 1/12”, we supply high carbon blades only. For woodturners, we have a unique blade concept, the Back Tooth bandsaw blade.
With all of these things to consider, it is no surprise that you’re looking for an essential guide to bandsaw blades! The blade width determines how much your bandsaw will cut and the minimum number you want to cut. How many teeth you need for your bandsaw blade is another factor to consider when choosing your blade.
The wider blades are stiffer overall and tend to track better on the band wheels than narrow blades. Thicker blades are also wider blades and more tension means straighter cuts. Thicker blades are also more difficult to bend around the band wheels, so most bandsaw manufacturers will specify a thickness or thickness range.
how to choose a bandsaw blade Related Question:
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.
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.
What size blade does a 9 inch bandsaw take?
9″ Ryobi, 9″ B&D, 9″ Craftsman, 9″ Tradesman, 9″ Pro-Tech, 9″ Collins, B&D 3 Wheel. 0.50 (1/2 in.)
What is 14 TPI for cutting?
8-14 TPI blades are capable of cutting wood and the occasional nail. Demo blades fall into this category. 14-24 TPI is the range of metal cutting, PVC cutting and finish cut blades. The blades cut slowly, but leave being a very smooth edge.
What is the best TPI for cutting metal?
Cutting thinner metals, including sheet metal, requires a finer cut. Use 18-24 TPI bi-metal blades. For thicker metals such as steel pipe, angle irons, or tubing, use 14-18 TPI bi-metal blades. For aluminum, an 8-10 TPI blade is best.
What is the difference between a wood and metal band saw?
A metal cutting bandsaw is typically built more solidly than a saw designed for cutting wood, so there are no issues with the machine itself. As for the blade, the wood fibers could clog the metal blade’s teeth more quickly, and the blade will probably cut through the wood more slowly.
What size blade does a 12 inch bandsaw take?
The Craftsman 12″ Bandsaw-Sander takes an 80″ blade or an 80″, 1/2″ wide sanding belt. There is a Vacuum port on the back of the saw. Hook the shop vac to the port during operations.
How long is a 14 inch bandsaw blade?
Olson® All Pro&trade band saw blades 93-1/2″ length fits most 14″ band saws (Delta, Jet, etc.), hard back and exclusive material, in skip, hook, or regular teeth.
How many TPI does a bandsaw blade need?
For general wood cutting duties in typical 3/4″ material, use a 4 TPI blade for coarse, fast cutting and a 14 TPI blade for slower, smoother cutting. A blade in the 6 to 8 TPI range provides good general-purpose performance.
How many teeth does 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 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.
What causes bandsaw blade drift?
Drift is cause because the blade buckles under the load. You can see that by stretching a ribbon between 2 points and applying a pressure to one of the edges, it will turn sideway easily. A sharp blade and high blade speed will help a lot with that.
What size blade does a Ryobi band saw take?
Band saw comes with 1/4 In. X 6T Blade, and Miter Gauge.
How long is Ryobi bandsaw blade?
The blade is 62” so remember that when you’re ordering blades.
What does resaw mean on a bandsaw?
A resaw is a large band saw optimized for cutting timber along the grain to reduce larger sections into smaller sections or veneers. Resawing veneers requires a wide blade – commonly 2 to 3 inches (52–78 mm) – with a small kerf to minimize waste.