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How-To’s
for all Band Saw
Blades
Blade Width - Inches
1
3
/
4
5
/
8
1
/
2
3
/
8
1
/
4
3
/
16
1
/
8
Choosing the Correct Blade
Width
Radius
Chart
If no such instructions are provided, blade width should be determined
with the following guidelines:
For Cut-Off Sawing, the blade should be as wide as the machine will
allow
.
Blade width is measured from the tips of the teeth to the back edge
of the blade as shown above. The
instructions for the particular
machine being used should be followed when selecting blade
width.
The wider the band is, the straighter the cut will be. Faster
feeding can be achieved.
For Contour Sawing, the blade should be
as wide as
the
machine allows,
but
s
t
ill
narrow enough so
that it
can
cut the
desired shape (radius). Minimum d
i
m
e
n
s
i
on
s
for different cutting radii are shown on the chart at
r
i
g
h
t
.
Blade
Width
7 5
1
/
2
4 2
1
/
2
1
1
/
2
5
⁄
8
5
⁄
16
3
⁄
16
How To Choose The Correct Number Of Teeth Per Inch
(TPI)
Minimum Radius - Inches
(Not To Scale)
The number of teeth per inch (TPI) is
important in obtaining the
finish desired and the proper feed
rate
. A coarse
tooth blade
(2, 3 TPI) should be used for resawing wood and cutting
thick
er
Minimum
Material
Thickness
It is important to know the SFM
for the various speed settings of your band saw, so that you can
select
the proper speed for cutting wood or other materials. Check the operator's manual of your band saw
to
determine the SFM
or use the following procedure:
TPI
32 3/32
″
stock up to
8
″
.
A fine toothed blade (18 to 32 TPI)
should be used
for thinner metals and plastics under 1/4
″
. For general
cutting of
24 1/8
″
1. Determine the RPM: check the operator's manual or clock the revolutions per
minute of the
wheels with a tachometer or revolution counter.
3/4
″
wood 4 TPI will provide a fast cut and 14 TPI will cut
slow
,
but leave a smoother
finish.
When Selecting TPI
remember:
•
More TPI
give a smoother but slower cut
•
Fewer TPI
allow a faster cut with a slightly
rougher
finish
•
At least three teeth must be
in the workpiece—
the chart to the right will help you
decide.
18 5/32
″
14 1/4
″
10 5/16
″
2. Measure the diameter of the drive wheel in inches and multiply by .262
to obtain the wheel
circumference. The RPM times circumference equals the surface speed
of the b
l
a
d
e
.
RPM x diameter in inches x .262
=
S
FM
.
8
3/8
″
6 1/2
″
4 3/4
″
Note:
Spring Steel Wood Cutting Band Saw Blades should never be operated at surface speeds
above
3000 SFM. Carbon Hard Edge Flexible Back Band Saw Blades may be run up to 8000 SFM.
3 1
″
2 1-1/2
″
Installing your Band Saw
Blade
1.
Unplug the saw, then loosen the tension on the upper wheel. With all the blade guides backed off, slip the new blade around the wheels and then tension
it.
2.
When you have tensioned the blade enough to keep it on the wheels, track it by turning the upper wheel with one hand while adjusting the tilt of the wheel's axis
with
the other hand.
The blade should ride in the middle of the rim.
Never track the blade with the motor running and the cover
open.
3.
Next, adjust the blade guides; first the thrust bearings: upper and lower, then the left had side guides.
4.
Use a square to make sure you are not pushing the blade out of line and place a piece of white paper between the blade guide and the blade to allow for clearance
.
Right
Right
Wrong
Wrong
Diagnosing
Problems
1. Premature and Excessive Tooth
Wear
•
Feed pressure too light, increase
it.
•
Lower band velocity.
•
Improper tooth selection, use a
finer pitch.
•
Improper break-in with new band. Velocity and
feeding should be reduced the first few cuts.
•
Teeth are
running the wrong direction.
Be sure
teeth are pointing in proper direction.
•
Incorrect saw guide insert size for the band, allowing them to
strike teeth
2. Blade
Vibration
6. Blade Making Belly-Shaped
Cuts
•
Increase
tension.
•
Adjust guides closer to workpiece.
•
Teeth too fine – use a coarse
pitch.
12. Premature Loss of
Set
•
Improper width selection - check chart for correct width for radius
cutting.
•
Reduce band
velocity.
13. Band Develops Positive
Camber
•
Decrease
force.
•
Use a coarser pitch to increase
tooth penetration.
•
Adjust saw guides closer
to work.
14. Band Develops
Twist
•
Wrong width for radius being cut – choose a narrower blade.
•
Binding in cut – decrease feed pressure
.
•
Decrease
band tension.
•
Adjust saw guides further from workpiece.
15. Finished Cut Surface Too
Rough
•
Improper tooth selection – choose a
finer pitch.
•
Increase band
velocity.
•
Decreasefeed
rate.
16. Band Scoring
(side
wear or grooving)
•
Check for wear on saw guide
inserts.
•
Too much pressure on saw guide
inserts.
•
Check alignment of saw guides –
be sure they are
square to front vise. Replace or clean
guides.
17. Burring or Mushrooming of Blade Back
Edge
•
Increase tension and adjust
guides.
•
Check contact between blade and back edge
rollers.
•
Reduce feed pressure
.
•
Use coarser pitch
blade.
•
Usefinishing
stone.
•
Decreasefeed
force.
•
Teeth
dull.
7. Tooth
Strippage
•
Teeth too coarse for
workpiece.
•
Material not securelyheld.
•
Too much feed pressure –reduce
for good chip curl.
•
Band velocity too low – increase speed.
8. Band Develops
a
Negative
Camber
•
Band is riding on saw guide backup bearing
too
heavily.Adjust band for alignment on
top
and bottom wheels.
•
Check
band wheel alignment.
9. Blade Not Running True
Against
Saw Guide Backup Bearing
•
If clicking noise against saw guide backup bearing,
remove burr on band.
•
Check
band wheel alignment.
•
Check saw guide backup bearing for wear, replace if necessary
•
Weld not in proper alignment. Reweld blade straight and
true
.
10. Cutting Rate Too
Slow
•
Increase band velocity.
•
Increase
feed
pressure
.
•
Use a coarser
pitch.
11. Blade Leading In
Cut
•
Reduce feed pressure or
rate.
•
Check adjustments and wear of saw guides or
rollers.
•
Lack
of band tension.
•
Tooth set damage.
•
Increase or decrease band
velocity.
•
Teeth too coarse for
workpiece.
•
Material not securelyheld.
•
Increase
tension of band.
•
Increase
feed
pressure
.
3. Gullets
Loading
•
Teeth too fine for workpiece - use a coarser
pitch.
•
Decrease band
velocity.
4. Band Stalls in
Work
•
Feed pressure too great - decrease
feed.
•
Teeth too coarse, use
finer tooth blade
5. Premature Blade
Breakage
•
T
h
i
c
k
n
e
ss
of blade too heavy for d
i
am
e
t
e
r
of wheels and speed of
ma
c
h
i
n
e
•
Increase or decrease
v
e
l
o
c
i
t
y
•
Check wheels for
d
e
f
e
c
t
s
•
T
ee
t
h
too
coarse for workpiece –use a finer
p
i
t
c
h
•
Decrease
blade
t
e
n
s
i
on
•
De
c
r
e
a
s
e
feeding
f
o
r
c
e
•
Brittle weld –
increase annealing period, decreasing
h
e
a
t
g
r
adua
ll
y
•
Check for proper
ad
j
u
s
t
m
e
n
t
of band guides, saw guides, saw guide
i
n
s
e
r
t
s
.
and back-up b
e
a
r
i
ng
s
.
Reprinted with permission from The Olson Saw Company, Bethel, CT C 2001