There are factors to consider when deciding on the right bandsaw blade for the job. Things like the material to be cut, its thickness, bandsaw type, and how it will be used to cut a specific type of material.
It is important to consider correct width, pitch, and TPI when purchasing any bandsaw blade. Rake angle, tooth style and set, blade type, and kerf are factors as well.
Kerf is the slot made by a cutting tool when parting material — or the amount of material removed by the cut of the blade. The term kerf is mistakenly used to refer to saw blade width — set width. It is misleading in that a blade of the same thickness and set will still create kerf variations.
Kerf width is important, and there are bandsaw blades available in both full and thin kerf varieties.
Thin kerf blades are normally used to re-saw or in portable sawmills and are most common on carbon steel bandsaw blades. In metal cutting, the benefit of thin kerf blades is that it generates fewer, thinner chips while also reducing cut resistance. They offer a superior finish with less vibration, and a faster cut with less feed.
Full kerf (wide) creates more cut clearance. When cutting stacked, bundled, or tube materials, a wider kerf will help to prevent blade damage from binding. It will effectively reduce cutting resistance and offer prolonged blade life. A stable cut is achieved using a wider kerf blade on hard-to-cut materials while providing a more accurate cut. More chips are produced using a wide kerf blade, but the clearance allowance will enable plunge cutting.
Reduced kerf size improves accuracy and is more stable when used on smaller bandsaws. Using a larger bandsaw means faster cut, ease of operation, and reduced cut size and power.
Here at sawblade.com, we offer the 501 IC Bi-Metal bandsaw blade which features a custom, high-speed steel bi-metal blade design. It maximizes cutting performance while minimizing kerf loss, offering quick and accurate cuts with minimal blade damage.
The 501 IC Bi-Metal is a custom-welded bandsaw blade with a 20% longer lifespan than the older, matrix band design.
