1060 – 01 – Key Features of Band Saws

Band sawing is one of the most common cutting operations. It employs a specialized toothed blade that slices through a work piece. Most band saw cuts involve separating stock into two separate segments.

Band sawing‘s most important task is to cut metal. However, the best band saws have three key features that help them accomplish the job efficiently: precision, a high material removal rate, and a long blade life.

Typically, an emphasis in one of these features means a de-emphasis in at least one of the others, so it’s important to consider the features and qualities of different types of band saw blades before purchasing.

Even for a simple operation, band saws have a number of variables that can affect the sawing process. Different types of tooth sets, tooth forms and blade materials can all have an impact on the way a saw operates.

  1. List three Key Features to a good band saw blade. 

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1060 – 02 – Blade Material Options

1060 – 02 – Blade Material Options

One fundamental factor to consider when you select a band saw is the blade material. The three most common blade types all have different benefits. Most blades are composed of carbide, carbon steel, or bi-metal. Carbon steel blades consist of a one-piece strip of material. It is a metal sawing shop favorite and is extremely cost-efficient. A similar type of blade called the carbon hard-back blade is heat treated for strength so it can take heavier feed pressures than regular blades. Bi-metal blades are made from two types of steel. The blade backing is comprised of spring steel, which is […]

1060 – 03 – Tooth Preference

1060 – 03 – Tooth Preference

Saw blade teeth have a large impact on cutting performance. Slight differences in any tooth can affect accuracy, blade life, and speed. Knowing about tooth variables will help you make a more informed decision about what type of blade you should use in your shop. Today, blade manufacturers are always improving upon blade design. There are multiple combinations of tooth set, tooth forms, tooth pitch, and gullet capacity that exist because of this. To help with decision-making, a number of guides exist to inform buyers.

1060 – 04 – Understanding Saw Blades: TPI & Tooth Pitch

1060 – 04 – Understanding Saw Blades: TPI & Tooth Pitch

Choosing the right saw blade is crucial for efficient and safe woodworking. A primary consideration in this decision-making process revolves around two essential variables: teeth per inch (TPI) and tooth pitch. Both these factors play a vital role in determining the blade’s cutting capability and how it interacts with various materials. In this article, we’ll delve deep into understanding what TPI on saw blades means, the significance of tooth pitch, and their combined impact on your sawing projects. What is TPI on Saw Blades? TPI, or Teeth Per Inch, is a measure used to denote how many teeth – or […]

1060 – 05 – Figuring Out Tooth Spacing

1060 – 05 – Figuring Out Tooth Spacing

Tooth spacing is determined by shape and amount of the material to be cut. Be sure that the piece or bundles of pieces be measured by its greatest width. When using a vertical band saw, measure material from top to bottom; measure side to side when using a horizontal band saw. Your measurement determines which blade you will need to deploy. A general rule to follow is 3-6-12-24. This means you should have at least 3 teeth, and at the most 24 teeth, touching the material at any point. The premium number of teeth that should touch the material is […]

1060 – 06 – Types of Tooth Form

1060 – 06 – Types of Tooth Form

Tooth form is the shape of the saw blade tooth. It affects how effective the blade can pass through a material. Blade fortitude, noise, ease of the cut, and chip capacity. There are several common types of tooth forms that differ from each other in tooth rake angle or the slant of the tooth face. They include:• Standard• Variable• Variable Positive• Hook• Skip• Skip Positive

1060 – 07 – Gullet & Gullet Capacity

1060 – 07 – Gullet & Gullet Capacity

Another important variable crucial to proper cutting is gullet capacity. The rounded area between the teeth on a blade collects chips as the blade passes through the material. This is called the gullet. When the tooth scrapes away material during the cut, the chip curls into the area. A proper clearance allows the chip to curl up the same way into the gullet and fall away as the blade clears the material. When too much material is scraped away, the gullet area overflows, deforms, and can stick which causes resistance. This can cause the machine to become impaired, even causing […]

1060 – 08 – What is Tooth Set?

1060 – 08 – What is Tooth Set?

Tooth set is a term used to describe when the teeth of the blade are bent from side to side in different patterns. This causes a blade to make a slightly wider cut, reducing pinch back. Pinch back happens when the blade’s gauge doesn’t have enough clearance, causing the cut groove to close back over the blade and pinch it. Other important benefits of having different tooth sets include different qualities of edge and noise reduction. We at Sawblade.com carry a wide range of saw blades with different tooth sets for specialized applications.

1060 – 09 – The Different Types of Tooth Sets

1060 – 09 – The Different Types of Tooth Sets

The number and arrangement of saw blade teeth is called tooth set. There are three common types: The Raker – A tooth set with a uniform set angle, the Raker tooth set has a sequence of three teeth: left, right, and straight. It’s best when used to make quick cuts and achieve an excellent finish. This type of tooth set is the most popular. Alternate – This tooth sequence alters between left and right each tooth. When finish is no issue, this saw cuts quickly and effectively. Wavy – As the name suggests, this tooth sequence has a series of […]

1060 – 10 – How Shear Plane Angle Can Affect Your Cut

1060 – 10 – How Shear Plane Angle Can Affect Your Cut

Every metal cutting process, like sawing, produces chips. Whenever the saw digs into the material, it shears the metal producing long, curling, chips that fill the gullets. The angle at which the chip shears off a workpiece is the shear plane angle. Low shear plane angle makes thick chips and cutting efficiency is decreased as the tooth is more up and down. This plows the material as opposed to curling it. High shear plane angles turn out thinner chips and better efficiency as the tooth leans back so the chip may curl. Shear plane angle is the most essential factor […]

1060 – 11 – What is Speed & Feed?

1060 – 11 – What is Speed & Feed?

Two more important factors in sawing are speed and feed. Speed is the rate at which the blade cuts across the material. Feed is both the rate of travel and depth of the blade’s penetration into the material Horizontal band saws feed most times takes place in a downward motion pushing into the material. Vertical machines are typically fed sideways into the blade. Usually, faster speeds attain superior cutting angles. They also help make cuts more efficient. Faster feeds get better material removal. In order to be cost effective, you must use the highest feed and speed rates the machine […]

1060 – 12 – Figuring Out the Right Speed & Feed

1060 – 12 – Figuring Out the Right Speed & Feed

Saw blade manufacturers create speed and feed recommendations for different types of material. Speed and feed are determined by the machinability of the material and the amount of heat created during a sawing operation. When speed and feed are set too high, the blade will typically strip the teeth off, thus rendering it useless. Another area of failure is heat. Excessive heat can harden the material, making it impossible to cut. Chips may even weld themselves into the gullet. If speeds and feeds are too low, it can take longer to make cuts and can cause wear and tear on […]

1060 – 13 – Beam Strength

1060 – 13 – Beam Strength

Cutting may cause resistance to grow due to higher feed rates or the shape and consistency of work piece material. As the blade cuts, tension goes up on the back edge of the blade and lowers on the tooth edge resulting in compression. This forces the blade to arch into a crescent preventing it from making square cuts. A blade’s way to work against this resistance is beam strength. It helps a blade to withstand a faster feed rate and remain on point with greater beam strength. Beam strength is dependent on the size of blade material, along with the […]

1060 – 14 – Vice Loading and Bundling

1060 – 14 – Vice Loading and Bundling

In many saw cutting operations, workers will bundle multiple pieces. This effects beam strength. Even though all machines have a set capacity they can handle, the amount of material that is realistic to load might be lower. Typically, the harder materials are, the less a saw can handle at once. Positioning the material on the vise can have a large impact on cost per cut. When the material is shaped strangely, the materials need to be loaded so the blade cuts through as exact a width as possible. When grouping materials or cutting strangely shaped parts, it is of utmost […]

1060 – 15 – How to Compensate Blade Limitations

1060 – 15 – How to Compensate Blade Limitations

If you are cutting a particularly unique workpiece or a bundle of strangely-shaped pieces, be sure to cut at the point that is widest. If the width of the material varies, you need to pick a blade with enough gullet capacity to accommodate the largest portion. You need to change your feed rate based on the qualities of your material. When you reach the widest part of the cut, be sure to reduce the feed rate.

1060 – 16 – Blade Width

1060 – 16 – Blade Width

Widely used in a variety of cutting operations, band saws are prized for their capability to make straight, exact cuts. However, they are also specialized band saws effective in creating accurately shaped parts with radius cuts. The idea is to select a blade that’s both flexible and narrow. If the blade is thinner, it will be able to cut a tighter radius. A wider blade is typically the way to go if you are making square cuts because using the widest blade possible improves blade life.

1060 – 17 – Blade Break-In

1060 – 17 – Blade Break-In

Most band saw blades require being broken in before use. The reason for this is the milling process. When blades are created the manufacturer uses a mill cutter to create the teeth on the blade. A new blade must be used at a lower feed and until the tips of the tooth have been rounded gently. Many people will also drop the speed, this is a mistake as dropping the band speed will increase the feed force exerted on the blade. When beginning to break in your blade, use a similar material to the one you’ll be cutting during the […]

1060 – 18 – Summary

1060 – 18 – Summary

Balancing high material removal rates, an extensive blade life, and accuracy are important to having an effective band sawing operations. The material, tooth form and tooth set of a saw blade also have a hand to impact its effectiveness. Carbide blades, bi-metal blades, and carbon steel blades are the most common blade variants you can buy. Carbon steel blades are cheapest and last the least amount of time. Bi-metal blades may cost more, but the combination of its two metals help balance flexibility and hardness. Carbide blades are typically used for harder materials that are more difficult to work with. […]

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