There are three different ways to measure the length of a bandsaw blade. Stand the blade hoop up on the strip of tape, and use a pen to mark a line on the inside of the blade and onto the tape. Roll the blade in a straight line for one rotation – until the mark on the inside of the blade hits the floor.
In order to determine bandsaw blade length for your saw, please reference our Bandsaw Blade Lengths & Manufacturers page for a list of common saws and sizes. If you cannot find your saw model or are unable to locate a manual, Detroit Band Saw can teach you how to determine bandsaw blade length. If you do not have an existing blade, there is a mathematical equation to help determine saw blade length in inches.
If you want a good blade for the task, check out the Olson Saw Hook Saw blade works well thanks to its easy to use and durable nature. You know how to calculate your band saw’s blade length, so we’ll look at how to get the width and depth measurements. Also known as the thickness, the depth of your band saw’s blade is easy to measure with a tape measure.
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. The chart below, developed by Starrett®, offers guidelines for TPI selection based on material thickness. There are typically three types of tooth configurations for woodworking bandsaw blades – regular, skip, and hook. A regular tooth blade is available in higher TPI blades and produces smoother cuts in all woods. A hook tooth blade has wider spaced teeth and typically features a 10° rake angle for aggressive cuts in hard or more difficult to cut woods. A skip tooth blade also has wider spaced teeth, but has 0° rake angle for a less aggressive, smoother cut in woods.
“We don’t know what bandsaw blade length fits your bandsaw either, but fortunately it’s easy to find out. It’s especially easy, of course, if you have an old bandsaw blade that fits the saw-just measure its length. Make a mark on the inside of the blade, and align it with the zero point on a measuring tape laid on the floor. Roll the blade along the tape until the mark reaches bottom center again, and there’s your measurement. The exact measurement is just a target, by the way – if your bandsaw blade measures 114-5/8″, you don’t have to special-order that exact length. If you don’t have a blade to measure, or if you simply want to know if a 93″ blade will fit a saw rated to handle 92”, here’s how to determine the range of lengths you can expect to mount on your saw. Bandsaw Blade length listed in owner’s manuals is usually the average of these two figures, or a convenient whole number somewhere in the vicinity.
The wider the blade, the stronger the beam strength; therefore, a 1″ blade has far greater beam strength than a 1/8″ blade and will cut straighter and is more suitable for resawing. BLADE BACK- The back of the blade that runs on the back blade guide. BLADE MAINTENANCE- There is not very much that needs to be maintained on the blade, but below are a few points that will help you keep your blade in peak cutting performance.
If you lost your bandsaw owner’s manual and don’t have a blade to measure from, or if you’ve added riser blocks, put this simple math formula to work to determine your tool’s blade length:Blade length = +. Key_A= distance in inches between bandsaw wheel centers when the upper wheel is midway in its adjustment rangeB= bandsaw wheel diameter.
how to size band saw blades Related Question:
How is the band saws size determined?
The Specs. A bandsaw is nominally sized by the diameter of its wheels. The throat width is then immediately recognizable as about 1″ less — that defines the widest board that can be passed between the blade and the column. The resaw capacity is the maximum height (thickness) that can be cut.
How is bandsaw blade width measured?
Bandsaw blade width can determine how straight you can make a cut, how tight a curve (radius) or the shape you can achieve with your bandsaw. The blade width is measured from the tooth tip to the back edge of the blade, as per the example diagram.
What are different size blades used for in a bandsaw?
Use coarse tooth blades (2 or 3 TPI) for re-sawing and cutting thicker materials. 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 size blade do I need for a 14-inch bandsaw?
Product Description. 3/16″ Wide x 93-1/2″ Long, 10 TPI, Band Saw Blade, . 025″ Thick, Fits All 14″ Delta/Rockwell, 14″ Jet, Grizzly, 14″ Reliant, Enlon, Star, Bridgewood & Most Imported 14″ Band Saws, Mild Scroll Cutting In Wood.
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.
How do you measure the depth of a bandsaw blade?
Also known as the thickness, the depth of your band saw’s blade is easy to measure with a tape measure. Place the tape measure on one edge of your band saw then slowly pull it until you reach the other end.
What size blade does a 9 inch bandsaw take?
9″ Ryobi, 9″ B&D, 9″ Craftsman, 9″ Tradesman, 9″ Pro-Tech, 9″ Collins, B&D 3 Wheel. 0.50 (1/2 in.)
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 does a 14 inch bandsaw mean?
Rob Johnstone: Band saw sizes are derived from the diameter of the wheels in the saw. So a 14-inch band saw will have wheels that are 14-inches in diameter. There is another measure that indicates how wide a board you can resaw.
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 many TPI does a bandsaw blade need?
A coarse tooth blade (2, 3 TPI) should be used for resawing wood and cutting thicker stock up to 8″. A fine toothed blade (18 to 32 TPI) should be used for thinner metals and plastics under 1/4″. For general cutting of 3/4″ wood 4 TPI will provide a fast cut and 14 TPI will cut slow, but leave a smoother finish.
How thick of wood can a 9 band saw cut?
There are several $99, 9 inch band saws on the market in my area (Ryobi, Skill). The are able to cut a thickness of 2 ½ inches.
What size bandsaw is best?
For a hobbyist, a 12″-14″ bandsaw is the ideal size. This size saw will provide plenty of power and a good deal of resawing capability. A professional will be better served with an 18″ bandsaw for a larger resawing capability. Choosing a 14″ band saw would provide plenty of power in a smaller footprint.
How thick of wood can a bandsaw cut?
Band saws are the undisputed champ when it comes to cutting curves and slicing through thick material. Many small band saws can slice though lumber a full four inches thick, and bigger saws handle six-inch cuts.
What is the most common bandsaw blade length?
Try a blade of 114″ or 115″ length; it’s more than likely that either one will work just fine. Most bandsaws will accept a range of blade lengths, sometimes with as much as 2″ difference between the shortest and longest blades that the saw can use.