Hey everyone, I’ve been having issues with my band-saw not tracking and decided to look into it. Since researching I’ve managed to find 2 things I should be trying; the first is to get my settings correct on the band-saw – blade location, guides properly tuned, tension set properly. The second is possibly needing a new blade.
I’m offshore at the moment so I decided to research into what I can control now – buying a proper blade. I’ve never bought a band-saw blade before so I couldn’t just go out and purchase straight away. HOWEVER, now I have done quite a bit of looking up and made the tables you see below. It actually seems to be quite straightforward for a hobbyist such as myself.
If you would like much more in-depth knowledge, the best I have found all in one place was at Saw Mill Creek forum.
Take a look at the information below to determine the best blade for you. For those of you that can fill me in on anything missing please leave a comment or drop me an email.
Teeth Per Inch (TPI)
From the table below, find material thickness then use the corresponding TPI value or greater by up to around 2 “levels”. Table was determined based off the need for a minimum of 3 teeth in the material at any time.
Lower TPI = Faster, rougher cut
Higher TPI = Slower, smoother cut
|
TPI |
Minimum Material thickness |
|
32 |
3/32” |
|
24 |
1/8” |
|
18 |
5/32” |
|
14 |
¼” |
|
10 |
5/16” |
|
8 |
3/8” |
|
6 |
½” |
|
4 |
¾” |
|
3 |
1” |
|
2 |
1-1/2” |
Blade Width
Determine the radius you will be cutting to find the maximum blade width. You should used the widest blade you can keeping in mind the limitations of your saw by consulting your owner’s manual.
|
Blade Width (Inches) |
Minimum Radius (inches) |
|
1 |
7 |
|
¾ |
5-1/2 |
|
5/8 |
4 |
|
½ |
2-1/2 |
|
3/8 |
1-1/2 |
|
¼ |
5/8 |
|
3/16 |
5/16 |
|
1/8 |
3/16 |
Tooth Shape
|
Shape Style |
Description |
Best for |
|
Regular tooth |
Most commonly used |
All purpose, Best for fine cuts |
|
Skip Tooth |
Widely spaced teeth to prevent clogging |
Soft, non-ferrous metal, plastic, and wood |
|
Hook tooth |
Positive rake to cut faster |
Long cuts in thicker materials – Aggressive |
Tooth Set
|
Tooth Set |
Description |
Best for |
|
Raker Set |
One left, one right, one center |
Contour cutting and re-sawing |
|
Alternate |
Left, right, left, right – No teeth center aligned |
Fast smooth cuts in wood |
|
Wavy Set |
Multiple set left, No set, Multiple set right, no set. Primarily small teeth |
Thin sections: tubes, pipe, thin sheets |
Blade Material
Below are the most widely recommended blade materials for woodworking. More materials are available but these should cover you.
|
Material |
Recommended for |
Notes |
|
Carbon Steel |
Blade configurations not used often |
Most common |
|
Bi-Metal |
If you frequently use your band-saw or blades you will use frequently |
Requires more tension than carbon steel |
|
Carbide Tipped |
Re-saw work or LOTS of ripping |
Requires more tension than carbon steel |
If this helped you at all or you know someone it might help please press the like and share buttons.
Unleveled Designs 