Whenever you work a new blade it is essential to run in the blade before commencing a production cycle. If you want to change your blade very regularly, buy cheaper ones, but if you want a blade that will not only last but will deliver premier cuts for its whole life, it is worth spending a little more. Bandsaw blades are designed to produce perfect cuts time and again, and if used properly, and on a well-maintained machine, you can be assured of a long blade life too.
Bandsaw blades will break if you force timber into it, apply too much or too little tension, you use the wrong type of blade for the cut, the blade tooth pitch is incorrect, the blade is installed incorrectly, the thrust bearings are not adjusted, the blade is blunt, the blade has a faulty weld, you are cutting too tight a curve or you are not using the correct run in sequence. If you have gone through all of these items to see why your blade has broken and you are still not sure, it is possible you have a faulty blade or faulty weld on the blade. I hope this article was helpful in explaining the most common reasons why your bandsaw blade keeps breaking.
The band saw blade is prone to breaking prematurely for several reasons. The main reason for band saw blades breaking is incorrect technique or maintenance. It is evident from the myriad of factors that affect band saw blades and cut performance that a band saw is not the ideal tool for a novice to work with.
Anyone of the above reasons are a good, well rounded, general guidelines to follow, not only with bandsaw blades but any blade in general if you think about it. Buy a quality bandsaw blade from a reputable company. You will be on your way to finishing your projects, however if this doesn’t sound like your situation, then I encourage you to read on and perhaps discover some more reasons your bandsaw blade is always breaking.
If your band saw blade is undergoing weld breakage when you use it, there may be a number of reasons things have gone wrong. Even though many of the problems are unique, keep listening to learn about the most common problems with band saw blades. Although many cases are unique, the following list of problems are the most common reason for bandsaw blades breaking at the weld.
All band saw blades, regardless of the manufacturer, need to be “Broken in”. Breaking in a band saw blade wears off this ultra sharp edge and allows the blade to retain its cutting ability longer. Refer to this checklist of bandsaw blade problems and causes if you have any problems with your band saw blade’s operation.
Delta, Jet, Grizzly, all good brands….you can probably pick up a nice bandsaw that is 3-5 years old, used lightly, for about $250. to $300. Check out Craig’s list for your area. “You can get a 14” Jet or Delta bandsaw used and ad the “Riser attachment” to it to allow you to cut thicker wood. In his travels, hubby has found quite a few 14″ bandsaws that had the riser attachment added, for less than half the price of the new 14″ saw without the riser……..
Especially where bimetal blades are cutting soft materials such as aluminium, it is often the case that by the time the blade snaps, the teeth are still like new but the band is worn out. Some bandsaw models have a relatively short blade length when compared to the width of the blade or cutting capacity. Rarer factors causing bimetal blades to break include blade tension, material clamping and the concentricity of the band wheels.
why does my bandsaw blade keep breaking Related Question:
Why do my band saw blades keep breaking?
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.
How long should a 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 most common cause of a ruined band saw blade?
The most common reason for band saw blade failure is end of life due to wear of the cutting teeth, but also unnatural cutting characteristics, poor cutting surface and band or weld seam breakage.
How often do bandsaw blades break?
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 many times can a bandsaw blade be sharpened?
It often makes sense to replace a dull blade with a new one, but you can sometimes get the best value out of merely sharpening an old blade instead of replacing it altogether. You should typically be able to get two to three sharpenings before you need to change your blade completely.
Are bandsaw blades worth sharpening?
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.
What is a relief cut on a bandsaw?
A preliminary cut with a jig saw or band saw to prevent the saw from binding, when cutting a curve in a piece of wood.
What causes a blade to shatter?
Blade speed is too fast for material generating high heat at tips causing rapid wear. Feed rate is too low causing teeth to rub material instead of cut. Coolant is the wrong type or mix and is not cooling the blade properly.
How much tension should a bandsaw blade be?
For carbon steel toothed blades (cutting blades) this is typically 15,000 to 25,000 PSI. Slitting type blades typically are tensioned in the range of 12,000 to 20,000 PSI. In general bandsaw blades are never tensioned past 35,000 psi.
Can you fix a bent bandsaw blade?
How to straighten a bandsaw blade? It is risky but if it’s absolutely necessary, a temporary fix to straighten a bandsaw blade can be done by placing it on an anvil and gently tapping it flat with a nylon head hammer/mallet or using a pair of gas pliers to straighten out the blade.
What is a blade welder?
Produce and mend high-quality welded bandsaw blades. The T27556 Blade Welder can cut, weld, anneal, and grind bandsaw blades. This allows you to make new blades from bulk coils of band stock. Quickly rejoin a blade that has been purposely cut for making an internal contour cut.
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.
Can you sharpen sawmill blades?
In general, the sharpening wheel should be around half the length of the tooth pitch in thickness. You can also sharpen a blade manually by applying a Dremel tool to the tip and gullet. Manually sharpening a wide band saw blade can be a time-consuming process and requires a steady hand.