The machining industry uses four different types of bandsaw blade and each bandsaw blade tooth design is unique. Each set is made to correspond with a specific cut and material. The most commonly used tooth styles are the regular (or standard) tooth design and the variable (skip) tooth design.
Each has its own specific purpose, with the definitions and usage being described as follows:
Standard or Regular Tooth
- -Rake angle of Zero °
- -For cutoff and contour cutting, or general purpose use
Variable (Skip) Tooth Style
- -Same as Standard Tooth Style but with less teeth (every other tooth being removed)
- -Increased gullet capacity
- -Good for cutting non-ferrous metals, soft materials, wood, plywood, and plastics
Sabre Tooth (Hook) Style
- -Similar to Skip Tooth, but with the face of the cutting edge having a hook of Ten °
- -Prevents soft, gummy materials from sticking in the gullets
- -Recommended for the same materials as skip tooth, and when a faster cutting rate is desired
- – Also used for production sawing of large cross-sections, and with ample power available for a heavy chip load
Si-Pitch (Variable) Style
- -Also known as vari-tooth or broach tooth, these teeth have set angles that vary, and gullet depth
- -The variable tooth cutting edge reduces vibration
- -The back helps to absorb the impact of cutting in and out of holes, slots, and narrow webs
- -The best all-purpose blade for production work and for general shop cut-off and contouring
- -The tooth design combines more than one tooth pitch
- -Allows for a broader range of material size variation and for a variety of cutting applications
