When properly used, bimetal bandsaw blades can last up to 10 times as long as carbon bandsaw blades but cost less than half the price. Our Hellbender Bimetal GP bandsaw blades combine M42 cobalt steel with an alloy steel backer for an economical bimetal blade that holds up to everyday use and abuse. Bimetal blades last 20% longer than standard bimetal blades by combining ultra-tough powder metal teeth with a rigid 4% chromium alloy steel backer for increased beam strength.
Carbon bandsaw blades are general-purpose saw blades ideal for use in small maintenance shops and for light-production cuts. Bi-Metal bandsaw blades are used to handle everything from simple metal cutting to production cutting of super alloys. It would be cost-effective to change from Carbon to Bi-Metal bandsaw blades if the types of materials being cut in production require the use of one blade over the other: materials exclusive to the Bi-Metal saw blade.
The welder also comes in handy when the blade just breaks. If it’s still sharp, I just weld it back togetherDave.
In this article, we will explain the benefits of carbide tipped band saw blades and when to use them. Band saw blades can be divided into three general types: carbon, bi-metal and carbide tipped. It’s commonly understood that carbide tipped blades should only be run on new, high end band saw machines.
09-18-2011, 09:50 PM #1 Band saw blades, carbon versus bi-metal A 100′ coil of carbon steel blade stock can be had for $65.00, shipping included. 09-19-2011, 12:12 AM #3 I too used carbon steel for many years until a friend of mine gave me replacement blades of Lenox Bimetal “Super” They were exactly twice as expensive as carbon steel and my personal experience has shown with bi-metal bands I get 4 to 5 times the life cutting structrual steel, continuous cast iron, mild and alloy steel bar stock both wet and dry. 09-19-2011, 08:45 AM #7 KNN,As just another individual doing small jobs in my home shop, the Bi-metal blades outlasted/performed the carbon blades 4-5:1.
As a general rule bimetal blades will cost about 2.5x a standard flex-back blade and last about 3-4x longer in metals, saving time and money. “Carbide tipped saw blade teeth are very hard and often used to cut exotic alloys and metals including inconel and titanium. They are also popular when cutting large aluminum or fiberglass cross sections to save time and prolong blade life. Because carbide tipped blades usually have a wide tooth spacing they are only designed to cut fairly large solids(3″+ min. A diamond grit band saw blade will cost about 2-3 times the price of a carbide grit blade but will last about 5-10 times longer on the correct applications.
The new Starrett blade dulled to useless in just a few cuts! I made a couple of crosscuts and ripped some turning squares and couldn’t cut any more. To this day I have no idea if the wood was just that abrasive or if I got a bad bandsaw blade. With normal use in equivalent materials they should outlast a carbon steel blade, especially with the way we woodturners abuse blades!
bi metal vs carbon bandsaw blades Related Question:
Is carbon steel better than bi-metal?
Bi-metal blades combine a high-carbon steel body for flexibility and break-resistance, and high-speed steel teeth for heat-resistance, hardness, and durability. On average, Bi-metal recip blades will last 10 times longer than a carbon steel blade.
What is a bi-metal band saw blade?
Bimetal blades are metal cutting blades. They are used on band saws to cut carbon steel, tool steel, structural steel, stainless steel, pipes and tubes, die steel, angles and flat stock, and mixed metal applications.
What is the advantage of using bi-metal blades in a band saw?
What is the advantage of using bi-metal blades in a band saw? Bi-metal blades have teeth with optimized hardness. This premium strength of the bi-metal teeth means that when cutting, the blade can maintain the edge, ensuring optimal flexibility without compromising resiliency or durability.
Are bi-metal blades good for wood?
The 2 kinds of reciprocating blades consist of wood and metal blades. Metal blades have smaller sized teeth and are used to cut pipes and metals. A bi-metal blade is used to destroy wood and metal. Wood blades have longer teeth and are used to cut wood.
Will a carbon steel hole saw cut metal?
Carbon Steel Hole Saws These are the cheapest and most common type of hole saws. They are made of high carbon steel and are used for cutting large holes in wood, plastics, plasterboard, and soft sheet metal.
How do I choose a metal cutting bandsaw blade?
In general the following rule applies to choosing the speed of your bandsaw blade: The harder the material, the slower the speed; conversely, the softer the material, the faster the speed. The faster the speed, the finer the finish produced on the cut surface.
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.
Can bi-metal cut metal?
Application of bi-metal hole saws. The bi-metal hole saws are best suited for cutting of metal and wood. Best results are achieved in steel up to max. 5.0 mm material thickness.
Which band saw blade material provides the highest performance?
The main reasons a shop would switch to carbide band saw blades are longer life and faster cutting. The reason these blades can deliver such results is the carbide itself, a popular material for cutting tools because of its high durability and high heat resistance.
Are carbide tipped blades better?
Carbide-tipped blades are much harder and more heat and impact resistant, making them deal well with steel and lasting up to 200 times longer than the basic carbon steel blade.
Can carbide tipped blade cut metal?
Carbide metal cutting blades offer a full range of sizes and profiles for cutting both ferrous and non-ferrous metal. Ferrous metal blades can be used for cutting all types of metal construction products including steel siding, roofing, steel studs, and other construction steel.
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 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.
Can a metal band saw cut wood?
What are the ideal conditions for cutting wood on a metal saw? While cutting wood on a metal bandsaw is perfectly fine, you should switch over to a 6TPI blade if you have the time or anticipate cutting a lot of wood.
How thick of metal can a hole saw cut?
HSS and tungsten carbide hole saws are ideally suitable for metal cutting. You can use the shallow cut to cut steel up to 4.0 mm thick.