FAQ

While it may seem that the teeth are on the wrong way, it is simply the band is inside out and needs to be flipped. We weld pre-formed coils of material manufactured in Europe or the USA, we can not put the teeth on the wrong way

to flip the blade follow the instructions here How to flip my bandsaw blade

Nearly all the meat processors, supermarkets and butchers we supply use a 3 tpi blade to cut frozen meat and a 4 tpi blade to cut soft or fresh meat, some use a 6 tpi very occasionally for delicate things like Frenching chops. As the number of teeth increases, the cut becomes finer with less score marks on the meat.  However, more teeth means slower cutting.

Our meat cutting blades are here Meat Cutting Bandsaw Blades

When cutting wood there are a few basics to understand

• • The thickness of the material this will influence the Tpi

As the material get thicker the teeth need to become coarser as the gullet (the gap between the teeth) needs to be wider to be able to take the swarth (sawdust) away. If you think of each tooth as a chisel the longer distance the tooth has to cut though, the more material it will peel off, and this has to go into the gullet, to be carried of the cut, if it cant fit into the gullet because it is too small ( ie. the teeth too fine) it compacts and clogs and holds the tooth tips away from the cutting surface.

At the other extreme if the teeth are too coarse and the material too thin too few teeth are in the material at one time and the load is on a very few teeth, this leads to rough cuts premature tooth wear and possibly teeth stripping off

• • The nature of the cut straight or curved – this will influence the blade width

Below is a simple wood tpi chart and a radius chart

To cut straight you should always fit the widest blade your saw will take
To cut curves the blade will only turn based on the difference between the cut width.
Governed by the blade set ( the teeth bending left and right) to create a cut wider than the band width to stop binding, but as an added bonus allows some twist.
The narrower the blade the more it can twist in the cut width.

TPI and Radius Chart for Wood

There are three different ways to measure the length of a bandsaw blade.

• If you do not have a bandsaw blade to look at.
• If you have a broken bandsaw blade that you believe is not missing any of its length
• If you have a bandsaw blade that is still intact but is just dull or missing teeth

instructions here How to measure your bandsaw blade length

Cutting metal is a much more complicated scenario than cutting wood.
Generally home users on vertical Bandsaw designed for wood will have only average success due to 3 main areas of concern

• • The machine will run too fast as cutting wood requires higher speeds, just like on the battery drill you use high speed to drill in to wood and slow it down to drill into steel. The teeth of the saw blade need time to bite into the steel or they will just skid across the top and blunting themselves. Horizontal saws designed for steel will have greater speed ad feed control to ensure optimum cutting

• • Heat the high speed will generate heat that will quickly damage the blade

• • Being vertical it is difficult to use coolant without creating a mess, a horizontal metal cutting saw has a spray for coolant and a drip tray to catch filter and recycle it. – Spraying your vertical blade with CRC or WD40 can help but is no solution for heavy cutting

These problems aside weather or not you have a horizontal metal cutting bandsaw the tpi selection is much more important

here is a link to a chart to help with TPI selection

the easiest way is to use a chart or google “Thou to millimeters converter” and you will get a converter.
Here is a link to a Thou to millimeters converter chart

For those into Math’s 1 inch = 25.4mm so 0.020 ( twenty thou) = 0.02 x 25.4 = 0.5mm and conversely .63mm = 0.63/25.4 = 0.0248″ ( or 25 thou)

Bi-metal blades are generally used for cutting steel, bimetal bandsaw blades offer enhanced durability, longer lifespan, better cutting performance, and versatility compared to carbon steel blades. These advantages make them a preferred choice for many cutting applications, particularly in industrial settings where efficiency and precision are crucial.

See “What are the advantages of using a bimetal bandsaw blade compared to a carbon steel blade?” for a more detailed explanation

If you have specific cutting needs or scenarios in mind, feel free to ask for further information!

When it comes to choosing the right bandsaw blade, selecting the correct Teeth Per Inch (TPI) is crucial for achieving the best cutting performance.
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you make the right choice:
Selecting the right TPI for your bandsaw blade is essential for achieving optimal cutting results.
By considering the material type, thickness, cutting technique, and desired finish, you’ll be able to make an informed decision that enhances your overall cutting experience.