Bandsaw blades don’t last forever, but they are durable and can take on quite the workload. I wanted to learn more about how long these blades should last and how to extend the life of your blade. Keep reading below to discover more about how long your bandsaw blade should last. How long a bandsaw lasts depends mainly on the materials the band saw is used to cut, the condition of the blade and the bandsaw machine itself, how the materials are fed to the saw, frequency of usage, and maintenance.
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. Others think that if you want your new blade to last as long as it can, investing in a higher-quality blade will be worth it in the long run. How you use your blade does make a difference in how long the blade should last.
A common question new sawyers ask is how much life they can expect from a band saw blade. First, the band saw blade is an amazing combination of steel alloys, precision sharpening, heat treating, and welding. The harder the wood, the shorter the time between blade changes-not only because hard woods tend to dull the blade more quickly, but also because it takes a sharper blade to slice through it.
The blade is the standard 1″ silicon steel blade that shipped with my Laguna and I am trying to gage whether this is an appropriate life for a blade. 12-02-2008, 2:10 PM #2 Stock blades won’t last long. 12-03-2008, 7:39 AM #8 Timberwolf My Timberwolf blades last for years – if propertly tensioned before use and de-tensioned after use, if the feed rate is slow, if the blades are cleaned frequently, and cut only wood that has been inspected for metal objects such as nails or screws.
How long a blade last depends on how dirty the logs are. Don’t get tunnel vision just by reading what the info says about how long a blade will last. For the most part most blades will get the job done, some faster and some slower, the blades you have described should get you close to 1000 bdft, there might be some waving with knots, but this will happen regardless of blades.
I would think if you are re-sawing allot of hardwood your blade life would be short….I can tell you from experience that if your blade tracts off while the bandsaw is running and runs into the guard, it is history!!! So right you are…. Only takes a nano second to distroy a blade. I have had expensive blades that crack or drift within a few weeks use.
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. Return your sawmill blades to one of our Wood-Mizer ReSharp locations and we won’t just sharpen your blades – we will return them to original manufacturing standards for as little as $8.25 per sawmill blade. How to tell when your bandsaw blade is nearing the end of its life.
By one of those coincidences which happen more often than they ought, I logged on to the site tonight to ask almost exactly the same question as the OP. In my case the 3/8 x 3pi blade, on a Record 350S went bang when slicing up some 5mm plywood for kindling. OK, I know about the 3 tooth engagement thing and I was taking a chance, but it had worked so many times before without fuss… The blade broke at about the ten o’clock position on the top wheel. I suspect I’d overtensioned the blade though, as Jacob suggested, and it was just waiting to happen.
how long should a bandsaw blade last Related Question:
How many times can you sharpen a bandsaw blade?
You should be able to sharpen your blade two or three times before needing to replace it, but sometimes breakage happens. Blade breakage can result from a range of situations. Common causes of blade breakage include: Dull teeth.
How do you know if a bandsaw blade is bad?
Aside from visual signs like chipped blade teeth or rough cuts in material, you can hear when it’s time to replace a dull blade. As it goes bad, the saw blade forces the motor to work harder to cut through material, which causes a loud whining sound.
How long should a saw blade last?
They can last between 12 and 120 hours of continuous use, depending on the quality of the blade and material they’re used to cut.
Is it worth it to sharpen bandsaw blades?
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.
Can a bandsaw blade be sharpened?
If you’re looking to sharpen your band saw blade, you have two options: manually sharpen the blade yourself or use a mechanical sharpening machine.
How long do portable sawmill blades last?
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 often do you have to change blade on a sawmill?
When operating a band sawmill, a general rule is to replace the bandsaw blade with a sharpened one on average every 1,5 hours of cutting. In the case of cutting dirty wood, this time will be shorter.
How do you know when a blade is dull?
gently tap the edge of the blade against your fingernail. Your knife is sharp if the blade bites in, and dull if it deflects or slides.
Do band saw blades get dull?
It happens from time to time. A blade seems suddenly to dull and then the drift. You should have ordered more in but you procrastinated and when you need a reasonably sharp blade you’re out.
Is more teeth on a saw blade better?
The number of teeth on the blade helps determine the speed, type and finish of the cut. Blades with fewer teeth cut faster, but those with more teeth create a finer finish.
How long does a wood saw blade last?
The life span of a table saw blade depends entirely on the quality of the tool, how often it’s used, the type of wood material it’s used on, and many other factors. That said, an average table saw blade will last about 2-4 years until it needs to be replaced.
Are Diablo blades worth it?
Diablo blades are available in a wide selection of sizes and styles and are easy to find online and locally at Home Depot. The consensus is that Diablo saw blades balance great quality with excellent value, and are a good choice when replacing or upgrading the OEM blades that are often bundled with new saws.
Can you sharpen metal bandsaw blades?
There’s a couple out there that can accommodate bands as narrow as 5/8″, but any way you rip it, you’re looking at a couple of thousand dollars for both. However, in the spirit of D-I-Ying, it is possible to hand sharpen your bandsaw blades with either simple hand tools or hand held power tools.
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.
Why do bandsaw blades break?
Machine Defects Even the best blades can fail if there is something else wrong with your bandsaw, and even a small misalignment of bearings or guides can put a twist in the blade as it goes around. Resulting in tension being applied in all the wrong ways which will lead to early breakage.