Using a bandsaw blade that lasts longer while making high-quality cuts, to minimize the cost per cut directly correlates to increased productivity. The service life of a bandsaw blade and the quality of the surface finish made by the cut are not solely determined by the blade manufacturer’s product design. The process to break-in a bandsaw blade will vary depending on the characteristics of the material being cut.
The importance of breaking in a new blade should not be under estimated. Think of a new band saw blade as if it were a knife with a new edge or a pencil with a new point. The following are a few successful ways to properly break-in bandsaw blades.
Intenss™ PRO-VTH Bi-Metal Band Saw Blades from L.S. Starrett feature a uniquely designed tooth edge with variable height and set resulting in easy penetration for faster cuts when production cutting across a wide range of metals. Intenss PRO-VTH Bi-Metal Band Saw Blades from L.S. Starrett feature a uniquely designed tooth edge with variable height and set resulting in easy penetration for faster cuts when production cutting across a wide range of metals. In the context of band saw cutting operations, high efficiency and productivity means keeping the saw running.
band saw blade break in procedure Related Question:
How should a bandsaw operator break in a new blade?
Break-In Process While breaking-in a blade, have the machine running at the normal surface feet per minute. For softer materials, such as carbon steel and aluminum, adjust the feed pressure to 50 percent of the normal cutting rate for the first 50 to 100 square inches.
What is the result of breaking in a saw blade?
When you break in a blade, you wear off the sharp pointed edge on the blade teeth and form a small rounded tip. This small radius will be able to better withstand the cutting pressures of sawing and will deliver more consistent cutting results.
How long should a metal cutting 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.
How many band saw teeth should contact the workpiece at once?
TPI is measured from gullet to gullet, not tooth tip to tooth tip – this is known as pitch. 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.
How do you break metal?
Use a grinder to cut through large sheets of metal. A grinder is a hand-held power tool that grinds through metal rather than cutting it with a blade. Place the vertical edge of the grinder on the metal and slowly ease it (because it is grinding not cutting) through the length of metal you are cutting.
How do I adjust my band saw speed?
Answer: Some models of bandsaws do provide the ability to alter the speed of the blade (usually expressed as FPM – feet per minute). The change of speed is usually accomplished by moving a drive belt to a secondary location on the pulley(s) of the drive pulley and motor pulley.
What is the blade break?
All band saw blades, regardless of the manufacturer, need to be “broken in”. When new, the teeth are just too sharp. Cutting at full rate will cause fracturing of the feather edges which will lead to premature blade failure.
Why do saws break?
If you saw too fast, the wood might get pushed into the blade too quickly. When this happens, it probably is happening so fast that the sawdust can’t even be removed, which is going to cause a clog, which will cause your blade to break.
How much tension should a bandsaw blade have?
For carbon steel toothed blades (cutting blades) this is typically 15,000 to 25,000 PSI. Slitting type blades typically are tensioned in the range of 12,000 to 20,000 PSI. In general bandsaw blades are never tensioned past 35,000 psi.
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.
How often do bandsaw blades break?
Some can last under six months, and some can last years! Some of the most important variables to consider are what you are cutting, the condition of the machine and blade, how long you are using the blade, and even how you are feeding the wood through your saw as well.
How many times can a bandsaw blade be sharpened?
It often makes sense to replace a dull blade with a new one, but you can sometimes get the best value out of merely sharpening an old blade instead of replacing it altogether. You should typically be able to get two to three sharpenings before you need to change your blade completely.
Are bandsaw blades worth sharpening?
Since a carbide-tipped bandsaw blade will cost well over $100, spending a third of the cost of the blade (or more) to get it sharp and working like new again can make financial sense. However the majority of bandsaw blades, the Wood Slicer included, are not worth spending money to have sharpened.
What is a skip tooth band saw blade?
Skip tooth blades have widely spaced teeth at a 0 degree rake angle to prevent clogging when cutting soft wood, non-ferrous metals and plastics. 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.
What is the space between two protruding teeth on a saw blade called?
Gullet (handsaw) The space between a saw’s teeth, where the saw dust is carried out. It is an equilateral triangle, just like the file that shapes the teeth.