How to select the best bandsaw blade?

In fact, there are many types of bandsaw blades that offer specialized purpose. Therefore, choosing the right one depends on many factors; consisting of type of band saw, condition of band saw, what material is to be cut, and how the material will be cut. Clearly, it is impossible for one blade to work well for every purpose. Some applications need special blades for best results. The below 3 steps will help you choose a proper best bandsaw blades.

 1.      Choose a product: What do you use band saw for?

Almost people use band saw for metal cutting or wood cutting. For each aim, the blade has been designed by different material. In particular, metal cutting band saws often use carbon tool steel or bimetal blades. The advantage of carbon tool steel blade is that it is cheaper than the other one. I prefer you use coolant when use this type of blade. It has best result when performing at speed under 200 feet per minute while cutting mild steel. The other one that more expensive is bimetal band saw blade. It is suitable for cutting harder materials like stainless steel. Moreover, the blade’s outstanding advantage is a longer life span, easy to repair and adjust.

If your aim is to cut wood, you can choose 3 different types: carbon tool steel, premium gold carbide or Specialty resaw blade. Generally, Carbon tool steel blade can be used for vertical woodcutting band saws from 10” and up for most sawing needs. However, craftsman choose premium gold carbide blade in many cases because of the longer life span as well as high velocity. In addition, it is capable of cutting hardwoods when conserving material is very important. 

 2.      Choose a width: How tight do you need to turn? 

If you own a horizontal metal cutting band saw, you do not need to find out the right width of blade. There is only one width size of blade in this band saw. In other words, Vertical metal cutting band saw and wood cutting band saw have the capacity to run a wide range of width.

3.      Choose a tooth pattern: What are you cutting?

Wood cutting band saw: There are various tooth pattern types of blade to cut wood. The blade has fewer teeth per inch provides a faster and coarser cut. On the other hand, the more teeth one provides a smoother and slower cut. It is a general rule that you should remember when choosing blade.

Metal cutting band saw: To cut metal requires specialized blade. Choosing the proper tooth pattern depends on how thick of material is. If the material is thick, you should choose fewer teeth per inch type. On the contrary, blade which is more teeth per inch is more suitable.

Solids and structural shapes: Cutting a structural shape thing must be a challenge for you. It is harder to choose the right tooth pattern for structural than solids shapes. Structural shapes such as square tubing and angle pieces must be cut at the correct angle in order to keep the teeth in contact with the thinner portion of the cut.

Stack cutting: Stack cutting should always be avoided if possible, because there will always be a wide range of thickness to cut and you cannot match teeth properly. The other problem is vibration. Make sure the stack is as tight as possible. 

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