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Selecting the Right Band Saw Blade in Five Steps
To get the best, most efficient performance from your band saw
machine requires the proper band saw blade. The information below will
give you the best blade recommendation in most cases.
1 - Blade Type
|
Materials |
Starrett Blade Type |
|
Tool Steel and Stainless Steel |
Best: Powerband M-42
Good: Powerband Matrix II |
|
Alloy and High Carbon Steel |
Best: Powerband Matrix II
Good: Powerband M-42 |
|
General Purpose |
Best: Powerband Matrix II |
|
Carbon Steel |
Best: Powerband Matrix II
Good: Premium Hardback or Flex-Back |
|
Aluminum |
Best: Flex-Back
Good: Carbide Tipped |
|
Cast Aluminum |
Best: Carbide Tipped
Good: Flex-Back |
2 - Tooth Rake
|
Material shape |
Rake Selection |
|
Large solids |
Positive |
|
Large tubing |
Straight (zero) |
|
Small solids |
Positive or Straight (zero) |
|
Structural Shapes |
Straight (zero) |
|
Small tubing |
Straight (zero) |
3 - Tooth Shape
|
Regular - A conventional tooth used for general purpose
sawing, straight or zero rake. |
|
|
Bearcat - Massive teeth, deep gullets, positive rake used
for aggressive production cutting of solids. |
|
|
Hook - 10° positive rake for
fast cutting of non-ferrous metals and non-metallics |
|
|
Skip - Straight rake and shallow gullets for cutting large
sections of soft, non-ferrous material. |
|
4 - Type of Pitch
|
Constant - All teeth on the blade have uniform spacing,
gullet depth, rake angle throughout the full length. Usually
general purpose cutting with Powerband Matrix II, Premium Hardback
and Flex-Back types - identified by one pitch number. |
|
|
Variable - Size of tooth and depth of gullet varies to
substantially reduce noise levels and vibration so as to cut all
structurals, tubing and solids, smoothly and quickly. Identified
by two pitch numbers. |
|
5 - Pitch
Pitch is the number of teeth per inch or 25 mm.
Cutting thinner sections requires a finer pitch (more teeth per
inch or 25 mm). Thick sections requires coarser pitches (less
teeth per inch or 25 mm). The chart is a good guideline.
Because the cross section limits in the chart are broad and overlap,
choose a coarser pitch if the speed of cut is most important. Choose a
finer pitch if finish is most important.
Constant Pitch Selection
|
Cross Section Thickness To Be Cut |
Use Constant Pitch |
|
Inch |
mm |
|
Up to 5/16” |
Up to 8 mm |
32* |
|
5/32”-1/2” |
4-13 mm |
24 |
|
7/32”-5/8” |
6-16 mm |
18 |
|
1/4"-7/8” |
6.4-22 mm |
14 |
|
3/8”-1 1/4" |
9.5-35 mm |
10 |
|
1/2"-1 1/2" |
13-40 mm |
8 |
|
1”-2” |
25-50 mm |
6 |
|
1 1/2"-3” |
38-75 mm |
4 |
|
2”-4” |
50-100 mm |
3 |
|
3”-6” |
75-150 mm |
2 |
|
4 1/2"-9” |
114-225 mm |
1 1/4 |
|
8” and Over |
200 mm and Over |
3/4 |
*Anything thinner than a 1/8” (3.2 mm) in cross section should be
angled to the blade.
Variable Pitch Selection
|
Cross Section Thickness To Be Cut |
Use Variable Pitch |
|
Inch |
mm |
|
7/32”-7/8” |
6-22 mm |
14-18 |
|
1/4"-1 1/4" |
6.4-35 mm |
10-14 |
|
11/32”-1 1/2" |
9-40 mm |
8-12 |
|
3/8”-2” |
9.5-50 mm |
6-10 |
|
1/2"-2 3/8” |
13-60 mm |
5-8 |
|
1”-3” |
25-75 mm |
4-6 |
|
1 1/2"-4” |
38-100 mm |
3-4 |
|
2”-6” |
50-150 mm |
2-3 |
|
3”-12” |
75-300 mm |
1-2 |
|
8” and Over |
200 mm and Over |
3/4-1 1/4 |
Band Saw Blade Break-In Procedure
The proper break-in of a bi-metal blade assures longer blade life,
faster cuts for a longer period of time and consistent performance.
Run the normal surface feet per minute (SFM). Adjust the feed
pressure to about one-half the normal cutting rate for the first few
cuts or for 50-100 square inches (323-645 sq. cm). Increase to the
normal cutting rate.
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