The ideal TPI for cutting thick aluminum plate is 10-14. Thickness of metal to be cut Blade Teeth per inch 1/8″ to 1/2 inch thick 18 3/32″ to 1/8 inch thick 24 Thickness of metal to be cut Blade Teeth per inch 7/32″ to 7/8 inch thick 3/16″ to 5/8 inch thick 5/32″ to 3/8 inch thick 10 14 18. Cutting thinner metals, including sheet metal, requires a finer cut.
If the sheet metal is too thin for this to work with the finest tooth blade available, a useful trick is to put the metal between pieces of plywood, fiberboard, or soft thicker metal to support the blade. Our webpage How to use a BandSaw has a guide for selecting the proper pitch band saw blade for different metals and metal thickness. Recommended use of a CARBON STEEL BLADE Thickness of metal to be cut Blade Teeth per inch For high speed cutting of aluminum, brass, copper, soft bronze, magnesium, wood, mild steel and also tougher steels at slow speed.
Regular tooth bandsaw blades are the most common type of saw blades. Skip tooth bandsaw blades are sort of a cross between regular tooth and hook tooth blades. Bandsaw Blade PricingUnder $10: Bandsaw blades in this price range are for the extremely budget-conscious.
With too fine a blade tendency is to try and force the cut jamming chips into the gullet which isn’t good for the blade. “I think my bandsaw blade is 14tpi and I cut through 3” aluminium with it without clogging, a coarser blade might require more power to make use of the bigger gullets. Here’s the link to the blade on the website: **LINK** The blade length and tooth pitch can be picked from the drop down menus on the page but if you have any problems or questions, please don’t hesitate in contacting me.
One of the more traditional methods of sawing large-diameter aluminum has been with very large circular saw blades. This sawing method caught on because of the speed at which the aluminum could be cut compared to band sawing. The best saw for aluminum sawing depends on the application.
For general wood cutting jobs in the typical 3/4 “material, use a 4 TPI blade for rough, quick cuts and a 14 TPI blade for slower, smoother cuts. Low TPI blades allow for faster cuts with rougher edges and are ideal for cutting wood. A fine tooth blade should be used for lower metals and thinner plastics up to 1/4. For general cuts of 3/4 wood, 4 TPI gives fast cuts and 14 TPI slow cuts, but a smoother surface.
best bandsaw blade for aluminum Related Question:
What TPI is used to cut aluminum?
For aluminum, an 8-10 TPI blade is best. As far as the best brand of metal cutting blade, we like MK Morse. If you are cutting cast iron, stainless steel, and high-strength alloys, or for jobs like auto dismantling and fire & rescue, look for a carbide-tipped blade that is at least 8 TPI.
Can I cut aluminum with a bandsaw?
Band saws were never really considered to be a wise choice for aluminum cutting, but that has changed recently. With the advancements in band saw technology, large aluminum billet now can be cut almost as quickly as with large circular saws.
What blade should I use to cut aluminum?
When cutting material up to 1/8-inch thick, use a blade with 10 teeth per inch, such as a 10-inch x 100 tooth or 12-inch x 120 tooth blade. For material up to 1/4-inch thick, use eight teeth per inch. For thicker sheets of aluminum, use a blade with just six teeth per diameter inch.
What TPI is best for cutting metal?
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.
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 blade is best for cutting metal?
Ferrous blades are ideal for cutting metals that contain iron, such as stainless steel or cast iron. Choose a non-ferrous blade when cutting softer metals, like aluminum or copper. For the best results, use a diamond blade that’s rated to cut the type of metal you are working with.
Can you cut aluminum with knife?
Sheet aluminium can be cut without the need for a guillotine or tin-snips which tend to deform the metal. With the aid of a straight-edge and a sharp knife “score” BOTH sides of the aluminium sheet. This weakens the aluminium and creates a “fracture line”.
Can any band saw cut metal?
Band saws are not suitable for cutting very thin sheet metal; a rule of thumb suggests the metal to be cut should be thicker than the depth of 3 band saw blade teeth, however they are excellent for cutting thin walled profiles such as box and angle.
Can Diablo blade cut aluminum?
Diablo’s Aluminum saw blade series is ideal for corded and cordless saws when on-the-job cutting non-ferrous metals such as aluminum extrusions, copper pipe, brass plate, etc.
Can a carbide blade cut aluminum?
You should be able to use a carbide-tipped abrasive cutoff wheel for non-ferrous metals like brass, aluminum, copper or lead. Carbide-tipped blades last up to 10 times longer than regular steel ones.
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.
What is 18 TPI for cutting?
Blades 12-18 TPI are typically used for metal and denser materials as well as finish cuts in wood. The 18-24 TPI range is almost always used for metal cutting. Pro Tip: Always keep 3 teeth in contact with the material being cut.
What is 24 TPI for cutting?
18-24 TPI is the range of metal cutting, PVC cutting and finish cut blades. The blades cut faster then the higher TPI blades and create a smooth edge on the material, the edge is not as smooth as what a higher TPI blade would primarily cut. 24-32 TPI is the range of metal cutting, PVC cutting and finish cut blades.
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 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.