Blade is the most crucial component of a bandsaw. When equipped with right blade, a band saw will provide precise cuts without any hassle. The bandsaw blades are available in different widths, lengths, thicknesses, and tooth configurations to cater different needs. Finding the right compatible blade to your existing bandsaw can be a little confusing. To help you make the right choice, we suggest you consider the following key factors. Blade Length – Purchase the right length of the bandsaw blade for its proper functioning/cutting. To know its right length, you have to check out the user manual or use this formula (2XA) + (3.14XB). Here A refers to the distance between the wheel centers with the upper wheel midway, and B refers to the wheel diameter of the bandsaw. Blade Width – The blade width varies based on the type of cutting you want to do. If making straight, large cuts in thick wood pieces, then use a bandsaw with a wider blade width. While a bandsaw with a smaller blade width is required to make accurate or curved cuts. Number of Teeth – It refers to Teeth Per Inch (TPI). Here a blade with a greater number of teeth will aid in a smoother cut with a perfect finish. Blade with 2 – 3 TPI is enough to saw through thick material. Whereas, blade with 6 – 8 TPI is good for general purpose saw, and a blade with around 14 TPI is perfect for doing the intricate cutting. You can find more information on how to choose a compatible bandsaw blade in our “Buying Guide”. And also, we listed some best bandsaw blades below for your reference.
Best Bandsaw Blades Chart
5 Best Bandsaw Blades Reviews
1. Dewalt Band Saw Blade
You can find a wide range of power tool offerings from Dewalt as it is quite a popular and reputable brand that generally makes highly durable and reliable products. The Dewalt DW3986C bandsaw blade is present in the 1st position in this article as it is the most durable and reliable option present in this article. It offers a great build quality with its blades that can easily last for a long time. In fact, you even get a 3-year long warranty with it for peace of mind. As for the blade dimensions, all of the 3 blades included in this bandsaw blade pack are of 32 ⅞ inch length. Just like most other options out there, you get a blade width of ½ inch for high compatibility. You get a decent teeth count of up to 18 TPI with this bandsaw blade. Best Features:
32 ⅞ inch blade length ½ inch blade width 3-year long warranty Up to 18 TPI teeth count Comes with a total of 3 blades
Pros:
Most durable and reliable bandsaw blades kit Includes multiple blades for high value for money Decent sharpness for the given price
Cons:
Not the highest blade length rating
3. Bosch Bandsaw Blade
Most of the power tool offerings from Bosch are made for heavy-duty usage, just like its bandsaw blade model mentioned here in this article. Bosch’s BS6412-24M bandsaw blade is present in the 3rd position in this article as it is the best performing option mentioned here. You get a pretty high length of 64 ½ inch with this bandsaw blade that should be more than enough for most users when combined with its ½ inch width. Apart from being long and large, you get the highest teeth count of 24 TPI or teeth per inch in this blade. This ensures that you can get sharp cuts while using this blade. Even though you get a 1-year long warranty with this bandsaw blade, its build quality could have been slightly better. Best Features:
64 ½ inch blade length ½ inch blade width 1-year long warranty Up to 24 TPI teeth count
Pros:
Best performing option present in this article Comes at an affordable price tag for a high value for money Offers a high tooth count for sharp cuts
Cons:
Build quality could have been slightly better
2. POWERTEC Store Bandsaw Blade
POWERTEC is reliable brand for providing power tools, dust management, and other workshop tool accessories. Their bandsaw blade has a premium and high-grade carbon steel. So, it is quite durable and long lasting. It is also heat-resistant and weld which ensures the premium cutting experience without any issues. It has optimal geometric tooth arrangement which cuts the material precisely even at high speeds. This blade works on a wide range of materials that include plastic, hard wood, softwood and non-ferrous metals. This blade is compatible with 59-1/2” long, 3/8” wide, 0. 014” thick, band saw blades Best Features:
Heat resistant blade Geometric blades Premium carbon steel 59 ½ inch band saw blade
Pros:
Works precisely on different materials Seamless cutting High quality Good value Good tooth spacing
Cons:
Takes more time to cut compared to other blades
4. Lenox Tools Band Saw Blades
Lenox Tools is a new brand of power tools that happens to offer bulk bandsaw blades for its bandsaw models so that you do not have to buy again and again. The Lenox Tools 8010838PW185 bandsaw blade kit offers the highest number of blades when compared with the rest of the options present in this article. It is the only that comes with a total of 5 blades that means that you can keep using them for a long time. All of these blades have a length rating of 44 ⅞ inch. Just like most other options in this article, you get a width rating of ½ inch with this blade kit. One of the best things about Lenox is that it offers a 3-year long warranty to the user. You also get a great build quality with these blades that allow you to keep using it for a long time quite easily. Best Features:
44 ⅞ inch blade length ½ inch blade width 3-year long warranty Up to 18 TPI teeth count Comes with a total of 5 blades
Pros:
Comes with the highest number of blades in a kit Offers great build quality and long warranty Decent teeth count for great cutting performance
Cons:
Blade length can be a bit short for some users
5. Imachinist Band Saw Blades
In comparison to the rest of the options in this article, Imachinist is a much smaller brand of bandsaw blades that offers large and high-performance bandsaw blades. Imachinist’s S6412121418 bandsaw blade is one of the largest blade options out there in terms of its blade length. Just per its name, you get a high blade length rating of 64 ½ inch that is quite high. You also get a decent teeth count rating of up to 18 TPI with this bandsaw blade that should be adequate for most users. Its ½ inch blade width is the same as all other options mentioned in this article. You also get a great build quality with this blade so that you can keep using it for a long time. The only issue with this bandsaw blade is that you do not get any warranty with it. Best Features:
64 ½ inch blade length ½ inch blade width Up to 18 TPI teeth count
Pros:
Offers a high blade length for heavy-duty usage Comes with decent teeth count Great build quality for longevity
Cons:
Does not come with any warranty at all
How to Choose the Best Bandsaw Blades:
The blade of the bandsaw will affect the outcome of the project that is dealing with, as it determines the cut to be either smooth, jagged, rough, curved or irregular. So, it is essential to pick the right one as per your bandsaw and project requirements.
Types of Bandsaw Blades:
Bandsaw blades are categorized into 4 different types depending on the teeth type they possess. Check out what are those types, when and how to use them. a. Regular Tooth Bandsaw Blades – It is a commonly used and preferred bandsaw blade by most people. This type of blade comes with straight teeth, which are spaced evenly across the length of the blade, with deep gullets between the teeth. So, it is a regular tooth saw blade having a straight or zero-degree rake. One can use this blade for woodworking and general-purpose cutting, such as contour sawing or cut off pieces. However, it creates the perfect results on thin material, yet works on both woods and metals. This type of blade will smoothly cut the material and often offers higher TPI counts. b. Hook Tooth Bandsaw Blades – This type of blade offers larger teeth and deep gullet that are spaced widely and has a positive 10° rake angle. Mostly, these blades are used for quicker, aggressive and coarser cuts in thicker woods, plastics, hardwoods, and hard sheet metals. Since its positive rake angle and deep gullet will move the material quickly and efficiently to do longer cuts. Yet these blades are not suitable for smaller, accurate cuts. c. Skip Tooth Bandsaw Blades – This blade type is a kind of cross between hook tooth and regular tooth blades. They come with a shallow gullet, widely spaced teeth and a 0° rake angle. They have a 90°tooth that allows having clean, unclogged cutting of plastics, softwood, and non-ferrous metals, which gum up the blade. It generates a smoother and slower cut in the wood, yet lacks precision. d. Variable Tooth Bandsaw Blades – This type of blade is categorized into two styles – variable pitch blade and variable tooth blade. Let’s know about them in detail. Variable Tooth Blade – They have different set angles or varying gullet depth. If you are using a variable tooth blade, then it eliminates the harmonic vibrations while cutting through any material. Thus, it makes them an ideal option to use for re-sawing, as it prevents vibration from spoiling the work. Variable Pitch Blade – They come with different pitches all over the blade length. Such as, a 6 Teeth Per Inch (TPI) is offered by a 6 – 10 pitch blade, followed by a group of 10 TPI blade. If you are using a set and pitch blade (constant), then it generates harmonic vibration, which lessens the saw’s lifespan while sawing/cutting. Also, it results in raising noise pollution and poor finish to the product.
2. Blade Length:
Purchasing a bandsaw blade with the correct length will ensure its proper functioning. A few models permit up to a 2-inch margin of error that still works reliably, yet the more accurate one will offer better results. To know the exact blade length of your bandsaw, you can either check out your user manual (or) simply use this formula to measure its length – (2XA) + (3.14XB), in which A refers to the distance between the saw wheel centers with the upper wheel midway in its adjustment range (measured in inches), and B refers to the wheel diameter of the bandsaw. So, calculate the blade length of the bandsaw and purchase the correct one to make it function properly without any issues.
3. Blade Width:
One has to set the blade width based on the type of task they are doing/working on. Pick a bandsaw with wider blade width when you need straight, larger cuts in thicker wood pieces or other materials. Go with a smaller blade width when you need to do more curved or precise cuts. Usually, while making curved cuts, the blade width should be slightly less than the radius of your preferred curve. So, here we came up with a table that helps you in selecting the proper blade width for the radius of the curve before cutting the material.
4. Blade Thickness:
Choosing the right blade thickness is vital for the bandsaw blades, as the continued flexing and heating of the blade may result in early metal fatigue or failure. In general, the blade thickness will depend on the saw wheels’ diameter. A saw with a thicker blade works well for straight cutting, while curved angle cutting needs a thinner blade or else the blade will break quickly. Also, a thinner blade is used for lighter and more accurate work. Here we came up with a chart that helps you know how to select the blade thickness based on the wheel diameter of your using bandsaw.
5. Blade Pitch or Teeth Per Inch (TPI):
The blade pitch is usually measured in teeth per inch (TPI). A bandsaw blade with higher (or more) teeth will offer a smooth and defined finish, yet takes a bit longer time to finish the cut compared to a blade with lesser TPI. Alternatively, a blade with a lower number of teeth will be aggressive at cutting and thereby produce a rough finish. Looking to saw through thick material, then a blade with 2 – 5 TPI is enough. Here is the table that gives an idea of TPI value and section size based on your usage.
6. Fine Vs. Coarse Blades:
The total teeth count on the blade will make it either coarse or fine. If the blade has lower number of teeth, then the blade will be rough or coarse, and they have 2 – 6 TPI. This rough blade is ideal to cut through soft materials quickly and produce larger cuts. Also, they can be used for accurate cuts, which makes them most preferred by woodworkers. Alternatively, a blade is fine if having a high number of teeth, that range from 14 – 24 TPI. This fine blade is ideal to cut through hard materials like thin sheets and metals and produce small, precise cuts. Yet it can’t do larger cuts and gets dull easily due to a higher teeth count. Also, not suitable to make a quick cutting of materials.
7. Blade Teeth (or) Set of Tooth:
Blade teeth will bend slightly towards the left and right to clear the bandsaw blade’s backside. Thus, the last cut width gets wider than blade thickness. So, there are various sets of tooth available for performing different applications. Here are a few commonly used ones. Alternate Set of Tooth – This set has two-tooth sequences, in which one tooth bent to the right and the another one to the left for better performance. Raker Set of Tooth – These blades accompany three-tooth sequences and a raker set. Here, one bends towards the left, the second one towards the right and the final tooth is straight or unset.
8. Blade Material:
In general, the bandsaw blades are made from either carbide-tipped teeth or carbon steel or bi-metal. Let’s know about them in detail to know which type of blade suits best for your requirement. Carbon Steel – It is the soft material used to make bandsaw and is preferred by most hobbyists. This type of blade is not hardwearing and gets dull quickly and easily upon constant usage. The carbon steel made blades are affordable and are an ideal option to cut plyboard, wood, plastics, aluminum, brass, carbon, graphite, and bronze. Bi-Metal Blades – They are a lot tougher, durable, and pricier compared to carbon steel blades. As the name implies, it is composed of two different materials (steel and carbon steel). Here the blade is made with a high-speed steel cutting edge that is welded to a flexible carbon steel backing. Thus, it gets hard-wearing, yet retain the carbon steel’s flexibility. The bimetal bandsaw blades are best for cutting non-ferrous materials, aluminum, carbon steels, alloy steels, tool steels, and stainless steels. Carbide-Tipped Blades – Compared to the above two types, this carbide-tipped blade is considered the toughest, sturdy, and expensive. They come with titanium or tungsten coated teeth to deflect heat. Thus, it preserves the life of the cutting edge and aids in excellent long-lasting performance.
9. Price:
The price of bandsaw blades varies depending on the models, features, and durability. Have a look at its price ranges based on its features. Price Under $10 – The bandsaw blades within this cheaper price range are made with mid-grade materials. They are perfect for occasional sawing tasks, yet the blades get dull quickly compared to high-end options. Price Within $10 to $15 – The blades within this price range are a bit sturdier and last longer. The reason is they are made with reliable metals that won’t get dull or break faster. Price Above $15 – One can find some premium bandsaw blades that are strong, durable, long-lasting and best-engineered blades. They offer multi-blade packs for those using the saw most frequently.
10. Warranty:
Almost all of the bandsaw blades available out there comes with a manufacturer warranty. The warranty on the particular bandsaw blade will ensure its reliability and durability to use them for a longer time. Most options come out with a minimum of 1-year warranty and a few premium models offer a 3-year long warranty to have peace of mind in the long run.
Benefits of Bandsaw Blades:
It is quite essential to know the benefit of a product before making its purchase. Here we have listed some of the bandsaw blade benefits. Take a look at them.
Versatile – These are strong and durable, which makes them not restrict cutting to a specific material. It allows you to cut metals, wood, plastic, non-ferrous materials, and others effectively. Improved Efficiency – With its smaller kerf (compared to other cutting tools or saws), it results in more efficient use of materials with less wasted product. So, the thinner the blade, the less will be the material wastage, and thereby improves its efficiency. Enhanced Precision – With its dual bearing blade guide rollers and blade tracking adjustments, the usage of bandsaw blades will give superior results in terms of precision and accuracy than most other sawing or cutting tools. Increased Control – It has the ability to precisely cut and trim irregular shapes quickly and easily. This can be done in a far superior way compared to other creative cutting methods.
How to Change a Bandsaw Blades?
Changing the blade of a bandsaw is a quite irritating part, even experienced users face some struggles when changing its blade. So, we are here to help you with how to do this in a detailed step-by-step process. Take a look at them and follow as per the given instructions.
1. Open Both Top & Bottom Cabinet –
Before starting this blade changing process, disconnect the power cord to deter any accidents. Then open up both the top and bottom cabinet of the bandsaw. Check out the two tires where the blade is tightened. If you notice any extreme sawdust, then clean them thoroughly.
2. Undo the Blade Tension –
After cleaning sawdust in both top and bottom cabinets, it’s time to loosen the blade tension. This tension knob is found on the top of the device and turn the knob to loosen the blade tension till the blade is flexible.
3. Elevate the Blade Guard –
When the blade gets loose, then change the blade by increasing the blade guard, which is used to adjust the material as per its required thickness. For this, one can slide it down and up, yet it has to be in a possible low position. Secure the blade by raising the guard and tighten the tightening knob.
4. Eliminate Rear and Below Blade Guard –
Take out the rear blade guard covering the blade. For doing this, you have to remove the screws with the help of a screwdriver. Ensure to keep those screws aside for reinstalling. Likewise, take out the guard underneath the table by turning it at 180° till it comes out properly.
5. Remove the Blade –
When once you removed all those blade guards, then it’s time to remove the blade safely. For this, take out the old blade from the top wheel and slowly pull it off from two tracking tires. Then rotate the wheel 90°, which makes the blade teeth stay in the correct position. After removing it, fold the blade to store it properly.
6. Install A New Blade –
Finally, install a new bandsaw blade in the same way you remove the old one. Here the blade is all over the slot and center cut-out of the table. Rotate the blade to place it over the top and bottom tire. Ensure to place the blade over the center of each tire and tighten the blade tension knob to hold the blade correctly, yet not too tightly.
7. Adjusting the Blade Guide Blocks –
We notice two sets of guide blocks and rollers – one above the table and another below the table. Loosen the screws holding these blocks on each side of the blade. Then adjust the blade to slide right or left freely. Continue the same to adjust blocks and rollers underneath the table.
8. Adjust the Blade Tension –
It’s time to apply the correct amount of tension to the blade to stay in its position. If you adjust this tensioning knob, then the blade will be positioned center on the tire and ride perfectly. Also, it has another tensioning gauge at the back of the upper cabinet of the bandsaw’s back. You have to adjust it till the gauge indicator is positioned perfectly as per the blade’s thickness. Ensure that blade is positioned square to the bandsaw table.
9. Re-Install the Guide Blocks and Test the Saw Blades –
After tensioning and tracking the blade properly on the center of the tires. Then reinstall the guards and blocks, which you removed and pug in the saw to check out the adjustments and tracking along with the tracking across the tires. Finally, end the process by closing both the bottom and top cabinets.
Common Bandsaw Blade Problems and Its Solutions:
One has to be cautious in selecting the right type of blade for cutting metals. We may hear that usage of the wrong kind of blade for the bandsaw to cut through a certain kind of material will ruin the project cutting process.
1. Blade gets Dull Quickly –
Always check out the blade speed and reduce its speed while running at a higher than ideal speed, or else it may quickly loosen the sharpness of the blade cutting teeth. Also, increase the feed pressure, if it is too light, why because the blade gets dull quickly, even if no force is applied for the tooth to bite/cut into the material.
2. Blade Breakage –
Usually, premature blade breakage happens due to various reasons. Among them, improper tuning is the most common one. So, check out whether the blade loaded correctly on the wheels and aligned straight. Also, check the blade for its proper blade tension, as poor welding may affect breakage.
3. Clogging –
There is the faster loading of the gullets when there is no enough space for metal chips or sawdust. For this, you have to use a coarse blade having deeper gullets along with reducing the blade speed.
Tips for Longer Usage of Bandsaw Blades:
There are various things that help to preserve the cutting integrity of bandsaw blades. Here are a few tips to be followed to make your bandsaw blade last longer.
Release the blade tension after using the bandsaw blades to enhance the reliability and longevity in both the bandsaw and its blade. Regular cleaning of the sawdust and other debris from the table insert blade guide will aid in the accurate and safe cutting of the material. Lubricate to maintain the blade guide bearings and drive components of the bandsaw and clear the build-up of sawdust to enhance its smooth operation. Frequent lubrication of saw blades during its usage will allow for a clean and smooth cutting of the material. Round the back of the blade to remove any imperfections or defects from the blade surface by using a file. This will prevent the scraping of the thrust binding and bearings while doing curve cutting. Thoroughly clean the surface of the saw’s table, miter slots, and fence. Also, apply the best quality wax on them to reduce friction while cutting any material. Check out the teeth, especially for any broken teeth, why because it may affect the cutting process that turns rough and coarse, yet not smooth and precise. Breaks and cracks are quite common around the seams of the blades. So, avoid putting much stress on the blade while cutting. Before starting any new project, check out the bandsaw blade thoroughly to ensure a break in the bandsaw blade by decreasing the speed and also perform some test cuts. It is a must to sharpen the blade regularly (quite often) to keep it work effectively every time. As we already said, an improperly tensioned blade will wear out quicker than a correctly tensioned blade. Different blades offer different optimal tensions. Check that blade is not getting a slip on the saw wheel and is cutting straight. The blade requires tension while you see a bow on cutting stock. Most models offer a rough guide of the right tensions to use, yet always check whether it is not right or not. Use a swarf brush to remove chips in the gullets of the saw blade. If it turns worn, then replace it immediately with new swarf, or else it may affect the blade sharpness effectively.
If looking to saw through metal with a low TPI blade, then it will ruin the blade and also provide poor results. Similarly, cutting the wrong material with a high TPI blade will produce a lot of friction and thereby heat up the blade and starts making it dull.
Conclusion:
Over time, the blades of your blade saw can become dull, resulting in poor cutting performance. In such a case, you have to buy new bandsaw blades from the various options available out there. Hence, we have mentioned some of the best bandsaw blades up above in this article. You can also find their major features and options mentioned in this article. When combined with the detailed buying guide, you can easily pick up the best one for you. But, if you are not able to, you can go ahead and choose one from our recommendations:
You can go with the Bosch bandsaw blade if you want the best performing bandsaw blade. It offers a length of 64 ½ inch along with a width of ½ inch along with a high teeth count of 24 TPI that is quite high. The Dewalt bandsaw blade is the most durable and reliable option present in this article. Apart from offering long-lasting, high-quality blades, you get a 3-year long warranty with this bandsaw blade for peace of mind. If you want a lot of blades for your bandsaw, then you should also consider the Lenox bandsaw blade. This one offers a total of 5 blades of 44 ⅞ inch length that is quite decent. You also get a 3-year long warranty with this bandsaw for easily
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