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G0621 Wood/Metal Bandsaw
Selecting the right blade for the cut requires a
knowledge of various blade characteristics.
Blade Length
Measured by the circumference, blade lengths
are usually unique to the brand of your bandsaw
and the distance between wheels. The Model
G0621 uses 108" long blades. Refer to Page 35
for blade replacements.
Blade Width
Measured from the back of the blade to the tip of
the blade tooth (the widest point), blade width is
often the first consideration given to blade selec
-
tion. Blade width dictates the largest and smallest
curve that can be cut, as well as how accurately it
can cut a straight line.
The Model G0621 uses blades from
1
⁄8" to 1" in
width. Always pick the size of blade that best suits
your application.
• Curve Cutting: Use the chart in Figure 35 to
determine the correct blade for curve cutting.
Determine the smallest radius curve that will
be cut on your workpiece and use the corre
-
sponding blade width.
• Straight Cutting: Use the largest width
blade that you own. Narrow blades can cut
tight curves (a small radius) but are not very
good at cutting straight lines because they
naturally wander (blade lead). Large blades
excel at cutting straight lines and are less
prone to wander.
Figure 37. Raker, Skip & Hook tooth styles.
Raker
Skip
Hook
Blade Selection
(Wood Cutting)
Tooth Style
When selecting blades, another option to con-
sider is the shape, gullet size, teeth set and teeth
angle—otherwise known as “Tooth Style."
Figure 37 illustrates the three main categories of
tooth style:
•
Raker: This style is considered to be the
standard because the tooth size and shape
are the same as the tooth gullet. The teeth
on raker blades usually are very numerous,
have no angle, and produce cuts by scrap
-
ing the material; these characteristics result
in very smooth cuts, but do not cut fast and
generate more heat than other types while
cutting.
• Skip: This style is similar to a raker blade
that is missing every other tooth. Because of
the design, skip toothed blades have a much
larger gullet than raker blades, and therefore,
cut faster and generate less heat. However,
these blades also leave a rougher cut than
raker blades.
• 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.