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.
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. De-tensioning is preventing your blade from being run down too early by taking all the tension off your blade when you’re done the cutting. Bandsaw blades have a lot of different uses and the choice to use one doesn’t include being stuck in one style of blade. You could potentially use the same blade on the wood as the metal; however, make changes as you see fit on what blade is best. These factors are what types of teeth you want for your blade, how long or wide you want your blade, what type of bandsaw you want, whether it be portable or a big floor model.
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.
Choosing the right bandsaw blade depends on many factors; including type of bandsaw, condition of bandsaw, what material is to be cut, and how the material will be cut. If you are sawing in a production setting, your saw is in good repair and adjusted correctly, and want the longest life blade available, then you should use Bimetal bandsaw blades. The challenge with these saws is that the wheels are so small that a standard thickness blade exes beyond proper tolerances when it travels around these small wheels, thereby shortening blade life.
Tooth pitch is measured in TPI and is the main factor to think of when choosing a blade, when the pitch is correct you will see a large improvement in cutting performance also resulting in longer blade life. If you are cutting the same product day in day out you could save money and time by selecting the correct blade, as well as the common variable pitch, we offer wide set, profile and coated variants of our Goldcut bandsaw blade. Take your time and explore your bandsaw blade options, if you have any questions or need advice please get in touch with our experienced consumables team who will be more than happy to discuss your blade requirements.
how to choose the correct bandsaw blade Related Question:
How do I know what bandsaw blade I need?
In inches, determine the radius of each wheel, by measuring from the center to the outside of the wheel. Apply the following formula: (R1 x 3.1416) + (R2 x 3.1416) + (2 x C) = Saw blade length. Put a strip of tape on the floor to mark a starting point.
How many TPI do you need for hardwood?
If you’re looking to cut wood or other soft materials, you’ll need a blade with a TPI of 6 up to 20. For harder materials like metal, a TPI between 14 up to 36 is more suitable.
Is a wider bandsaw blade better?
The wider blades are stiffer overall (more metal) and tend to track better on the band wheels than narrow blades. When cutting thicker material, the wider blade has less ability to deviate because the back end, when in the cut, helps steer the front of the blade, especially if the side clearance is not excessive.
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 should I look for in a bandsaw?
The two main things to consider when choosing a band saw are the depth of cut and the throat. The saw’s depth of cut is the distance from the table to the upper blade guides. Many band saws are marketed on this feature alone, which tells the prospective buyer how thick of stock can be cut using the band saw.
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 do you measure a TPI on a bandsaw blade?
To avoid stripping teeth, always have a minimum of three teeth in the work surface How to measure TPI: Measure 1 or 2 inches along the blade from the center of the gullet. Count the number of teeth in that space. This is the TPI.
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.
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 a 3h bandsaw blade?
Description. These are excellent-quality steel bandsaw blades that excel at ripping thick stock and resawing, and are also suitable for roughing blanks for carving or turning. The coarse 3 tpi hooked teeth power through hard woods and difficult grain, and have deep gullets for clearing sawdust.
What type of bandsaw blade is best for resawing?
Resawing involves making rip cuts in the face of a wide board. So just like you would on the table saw, you’ll want to select a blade with fewer teeth per inch (TPI) than the blades you use for crosscutting or cutting curves. For most 14″ band saws, a 1 ⁄ 2 “-wide blade with 2-3 TPI is a good choice.
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.
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.
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 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.