What is a Band Saw Blade?

A band saw is one tool all metalworkers heavily rely on for implementing all sorts of projects – from the most basic ones to the more creative ones requiring greater finesse. The tool can be put to use for a gamut of applications in the metalworking industry. However, as with any other tool, it is very important that a bimetal band saw blades too, is selected properly. Furthermore, another aspect of using the band saw properly entails using it with the right blade.

List of Tips and Tricks to Choose the Best Band Saw Blade

Here are a few tips you can bank on to select the right blade for your band saw:

1. Assess performance and cost requirements

Price considerations are always important when working on any project. The aim is to get the lowest cost per cut whilst simultaneously ensuring that the quality is not compromised with at any point.

2. Put the blade to use in the right manner

In order to ensure that the blades last long and operate in a trouble-free manner, you must use only the blade compatible with the material it is to handle. Using incompatible blade types can only cut short the operational life of the blade.

3. Assess blade impact correctly

One blade cannot work well with every type of material. Structural steel bundles and uniform solid materials, for instance, have different impacts on the band saw blade.

Whereas on the one hand, the former tend to intermittently exert pressure on the blade teeth from different angles all through the cutting procedure, on the other hand, the latter only exert pressure on the band saw blade during the initial cut.

4. Heed blade characteristics

Opting for the cheapest or the most expensive blade cannot guarantee you much. You must, instead, carefully select a blade which is hard enough to withstand high temperatures, tough enough to curtail uncalled-for chipping and resistant enough to last its expected service life.

5. Understand blade properties

It is best to use the blade having the widest possible blade-width for your application. When selecting on the basis of tooth rake, which is the measure of the angle formed by tooth face and the line perpendicular to the back of the blade, pay heed to the material and the shape that is to be cut.

Thick solids should be cut with blades with a positive tooth rake; structural or bundle materials can be cut with the help of straight rakes.

6. Consider blade pitch

A fine pitched blade can help with cutting through thin sections of materials; a blade with fewer teeth is adept for cutting through thicker sections of materials. The use of a constant-pitch blade is recommended for general purpose cutting applications. Taking into account the intricacy of the tasks band saws are used in, it is important that you select nothing short of sturdy blades for your applications. Miranda Tools, Bipico, Magicut and Lenox are a few manufacturers of the band saw blades you can rely on for your metalworking applications!

Final Words

Taking into account the intricacy of the tasks band saws are used in, it is important that you select nothing short of sturdy blades for your applications. Miranda Tools, Bipico, Magicut and Lenox are a few manufacturers of band saw blades you can rely on for your metalworking applications!