Bandsaws are valuable cutting tools that can be found in workshops around the world. The efficiency of your bandsaw will depend largely on the blade that you choose to install on the saw itself. Blade selection can be a complex and tedious task.
Here are three characteristics that you should be looking at when choosing a bandsaw blade to ensure you pick the right blade for the project on which you are working.
1. Width
Width is a major factor in determining the quality of a bandsaw cut. All bandsaws have a maximum and minimum blade width capacity. Any blade that you choose to use with your bandsaw must fall within these parameters.
You want to use the widest blade possible when you are completing linear cuts or engaging in re-sawing. A wider blade will keep your cuts straight and even without causing any significant blade damage. If you plan to complete any contour cuts, you will want a bandsaw blade on the thinner side. A thin blade can bend and flex to provide you with the cut radius that you are looking for.
2. Surface Feet per Minute
Both your bandsaw and the blades designed to pair with the bandsaw will have a surface feet per minute (SFM) rating. This rating refers to the ideal speed at which material can be fed through the saw. It's critical that you select a blade whose SFM closely matches the SFM setting on your bandsaw. When both the saw and blade are in sync in terms of SFM, you can produce more efficient and effective cuts.
3. Tooth Spacing
If you look closely at the teeth on bandsaw blades, you will see that these teeth can be close together or farther apart. The distance between teeth will affect how the blade cuts. A bandsaw blade with teeth that are wide apart will bite more aggressively into the material being cut. This can create a rough cut if you are using softwoods or metals. Bandsaw blades with teeth that are closer together are better suited for creating fine and clean cuts.
Be sure that you factor in the hardness of your material and the type of cut you want to produce so that you can invest in a bandsaw blade with the right tooth spacing.
Being able to choose the right bandsaw blade for your project will help you improve the safety and cleanliness of your cuts in the future. For more information about bandsaw blades, like Lenox bandsaw blades, contact a local supplier.
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