Choosing the right bandsaw blade for the job depends on the materials to be cut, and understanding the reasons why one blade is best over another will help to assure prolonged blade life. It will depend on the type of bandsaw, its current condition, the materials to be cut, and how they will be cut. Relying on one blade for every purpose won’t work and isn’t a good idea, especially if cost factors are an issue and quality is a goal.
It is impossible for one blade to serve every purpose, so to assure that the perfect blade is being utilized, and to achieve optimum results, the carbon bandsaw blade comes highly recommended. SawBlade.com offers a wide range of widths, thickness, tooth pitch configurations, and set patterns.
Carbon bandsaw blades are made of high carbon steel. They are best suited for cutting woods, composition board, and non-ferrous metals like brass, copper, or bronze. They can also be used on light-duty ferrous metals.
Ferrous is a term used to indicate materials that have some amount of iron content, and ferrous metals include steel, pig iron, and alloys like stainless-, mild-, and carbon steel, cast- and wrought iron. Atom relationship with iron, carbon, and various alloy elements create the specifications of ferrous metals. With the exceptions of wrought iron and stainless, these materials are rust-prone when exposed.
Non-ferrous metals include aluminum, brass, copper, nickel, tin, lead, zinc, and precious metals like gold and silver.
At SawBlade.com, we classify the carbon blades into two types: Flex Back Carbon Blades and Hard Back Carbon Blades. These two uniquely designed saw blades will offer equally desired cutting performance yet remain significantly different in purpose.
Flex Back saw blades are the best choice for small machines. They are ideal for use in machine shops and maintenance. A budget blade choice for use in light production cutting of soft woods and non-ferrous metals like aluminum, brass, and lead. Flex Back’s will provide efficient cutting of some abrasive and non-metallic materials and can be used to contour and cut-off.
Flex Back carbon saw blades are okay for friction sawing at speeds of 6,000 to 15,000 SFPM with non-ferrous metals. They are made of tool steel with hardened teeth and a flexible back, making it capable of shock absorption if it happens to occur during the cutting process.
Hard Back carbon bandsaw blades are best suited to the occasional use of a bandsaw type atmosphere, where all-day production isn’t as common.
With its spring-tempered backing, a Hard-Back carbon blade achieves increased beam strength for straighter, faster cuts and longer blade life versus the Flex Back. A high-carbon steel band with precisely hardened teeth, coupled with a tough, spring-tempered back result in higher tensile strength. This makes the hard-back ideal for use on hard woods and non-ferrous materials like mild-steel, brass, and plastics. Outstanding rigidity allows for up to a 25% higher cutting pressure performance.
Carbon bandsaw blades are economical and in wide use and tend to be cost-effective in the woodworking industries.
Flex-Back and Hard-Back carbon blades may be designed differently but both can provide satisfactory results. These carbon blades, when used on the appropriate materials and in the right operating environment will offer optimum performance.
