Tag Archives: advice
Preventing Weld Breaks
There are ways to prolong bandsaw blade life and avoid weld breakage. All bandsaw blades are welded or soldered. A strip of teeth are cut to length and welded to make a loop. Sometimes, the saw blade will break at this weld. A break is the result of an improper weld, or that there is too much tension on the bandsaw wheel, or even that a bad quality blade predisposed to such a break was purchased. Weld breakage is common, and questions a vendor may ask include whether or not proper blade tension was applied, what size and type of material was being cut, and had …
Bandsaw Vibration
Bandsaw vibration is counterproductive to a smooth cut, and having material wriggle right off the machine makes for a time-consuming effort. Solving the issue of bandsaw vibration is often as simple as maintenance, with the option to upgrade having an even greater impact on quality of cut and overall performance. With all of the moving parts on a bandsaw, possible sources of excess vibration are varied, but it would be best to start with worn or inferior drive belts. Old, well-worn belts or the purchase of a cheap belt with lumps or inconsistencies will indicate just cause for unnecessary vibration. Blade check comes next. Loosen and …
Saw Blade Stripping and Breakage
Stripped bandsaw blade teeth is a common problem, and there are several causes to consider. A big factor includes use of the incorrect tooth pitch. Too small teeth for the size of the material fills gullets halfway through the cut. Pressure builds on a single tooth until it breaks and becomes lodged in the cut. Now the other teeth come in contact with the broken tooth, resulting in more broken teeth. Follow the m.o.m. rule: Minimum, Optimum, Maximum, which requires a minimum of 3- and a maximum of 24 teeth engaged in a cut in order to achieve the best …
Maintaining Bandsaw Blade Teeth
This is an economical and likely well-known bit of helpful advice for maintaining bandsaw blade teeth. Save the plastic cap strips that arrive with your brand new bandsaw blade. Bandsaw blade teeth are designed to cut specific materials. The teeth are critical in providing high production rates and an overall positive output. This reason and for safety purposes is why the teeth are often protected by capping prior to shipping. Contact with bandsaw blade teeth that aren’t capped is one of the most common causes of injury and why caution is necessary when handling any bandsaw blade. Bandsaw blade manufacturers and distributors …
Improper Use of Bandsaw Blades
Bandsaw blades are manufactured through a special process that depends on the type of bandsaw machine it is specially designed to be used with, and each blade must pass several observation points before it can be labeled a high-quality blade. Improper use of bandsaw blades will lead to breaks. A lot of factors will actually lead to blade breakage, such as too much tension, high feed or speed rates, use of the improper blade type, inaccurately sized blade guides, and improper operating procedure. Some can blame it on blade quality without considering the other factors mentioned above, which will all adversely affect the blade’s proper …
Purchasing a Used Bandsaw Machine
When purchasing a used bandsaw machine, there are a few things to realize and check thoroughly in order to make an informed decision and a satisfactory purchase. Things that will assure full functioning — as would be expected in any machine purchase, new or used. Here are some of the important considerations and what to check for when purchasing a used bandsaw machine. Band wheels should be in good shape and not wobble. Grab each wheel with both hands and push with one hand while pulling with the other. Check to see that the wheels are fairly balanced. Check the bearings by spinning …
Bandsaw Blade Twist
Bandsaw blade twist occurs when the saw blade suddenly changes direction — left or right — while making a cut. The term might not be familiar to some but this is actually a common problem that can crop up during the cutting process. Some common causes of bandsaw blade twist include the saw blade binding in the cut. This occurs when the amount of feed force applied exceeds the required rate. Reduce the feed rate or follow the saw blade manufacturer’s recommended feed rates The wrong blade width is used on radius cuts. Use a narrower blade or refer to the bandsaw’s owner’s manual for recommended blade …
Variable Pitch Bandsaw Blades
The variable pitch bandsaw blades, their unique qualities and applications, are designed for a particular reason. In this case, it is pitch. Saw blade pitch is defined as the number of teeth per inch — TPI — the number of teeth that come in contact with the material being worked. TPI has the ability to affect both the bandsaw blade’s performance and it durability. Too few teeth in the cut can lead to early stripping of the teeth. Conversely, too many teeth in a cut will greatly reduce the cutting rate and ultimately make the material impossible to cut. The choice of correct …
