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G0513X/G0514X/G0514X3 Extreme Series Bandsaw
-41-
• Hook: The teeth on this style have a posi-
tive angle (downward) which makes them
dig into the material, and the gullets are usu
-
ally rounded for easier waste removal. These
blades are excellent for the tough demands
of resawing and ripping thick material.
Tooth Pitch
Usually measured as TPI (teeth per inch), tooth
pitch determines the size of the teeth. More teeth
per inch (fine pitch) will cut slower, but smoother;
while fewer teeth per inch (coarse pitch) will cut
rougher, but faster. As a general rule, choose
blades that will have at least three teeth in the
material at all times. Use fine pitched blades on
harder woods and coarse pitched blades on softer
woods.
Blade Care
A bandsaw blade is a delicate piece of steel that
is subjected to tremendous strain. You can obtain
longer use from a bandsaw blade if you give it fair
treatment and always use the appropriate feed
rate for your operation.
Be sure to select blades with the proper width,
style, and pitch for each application. The wrong
choice of blades will often produce unnecessary
heat which will shorten the life of your blade.
A clean blade will perform much better than a dirty
blade. Dirty or gummed up blades pass through
the cutting material with much more resistance
than clean blades. This extra resistance also
causes unnecessary heat.
Blade Breakage
Many conditions may cause a bandsaw blade to
break. Blade breakage is unavoidable, in some
cases, since it is the natural result of the peculiar
stresses that bandsaw blades are subjected to.
Blade breakage is also due to avoidable circum
-
stances. Avoidable breakage is most often the
result of poor care or judgement on the part of the
operator when mounting or adjusting the blade or
support guides.
The most common causes of blade breakage
are:
• Faulty alignment and adjustment of the
guides.
• Forcing or twisting a wide blade around a
curve of short radius.
• Feeding the workpiece into the blade too
fast.
• Tooth dullness or absence of sufficient set.
• Incorrect tension.
• Top blade guide assembly set too high above
the workpiece.
• Using a blade with a lumpy or improperly fin
-
ished braze or weld.
• Continuously running the bandsaw when not
in use.