Tag Archives: woodworking
M42 High Speed Steel
High Speed Steel, categorized as tool steel, is commonly used to cut tool bits, power saw blades, and bandsaw blades. Tougher than its predecessor, carbon steel, HSS is more tolerant of higher temperatures without compromising on hardness. This property allows for faster cutting rates than high carbon steels and why it is named high speed steel. There are three categories of HSS: M2, M35, and M42 steel. Of the three, M42 is widely used in the metal forming industry because its chemical composition is specially engineered for high hardness and superior hot hardness compared to the more conventional high speed steels. Properties that make M42 the better choice …
Blade Guides
Bandsaw blade guides keep the bandsaw blade on track while cutting through materials. Blade guides should be set above and below the saw table to help reduce vibration by holding the bandsaw blade in place while cutting. This assures a precise and quality cut. Carbide blade guides are made of high quality materials but can still wear out due to the amount of friction made by the blade during the cutting process. It is important to determine if the guide’s wear is normal or caused by operator error. Check the worn-out guides for any indication of problems and make the proper adjustments to the bandsaw. Improperly adjusted …
Bundle Cutting
Using a bandsaw for speedy bundle cutting — advice about production speed. Selecting the correct bandsaw for the job and the correct saw blade for the material being cut are critical to production performance. Many machine shop owners are interested in how best to speed up production in order to cut more material using a bandsaw. Sometimes, in the quest for faster production it is thought to be time that is the problem. It actually turns out to be a combination of factors: things that end up being responsible for bottlenecks in the sawing process. A myopic vision leads to thinking that purchasing …
Blade Tension
Blade tension is a term used to describe how tight a bandsaw blade is on a bandsaw and is expressed in Pounds per Square Inch (PSI). In order to consistently produce straight and uniform cuts, bandsaw blades require tension. Before installing a bandsaw blade, the first thing to do is to put tension on the wheel to hold it firmly in place. This should be done each time a saw blade is replaced to insure accurate cuts. Most bandsaws come with a gauge tension meter, which will indicate the amount of tension required based on the width of the blade. This is …
Bandsaw Blade Terminology
More information about bandsaw blade terminology, the industry jargon, and with emphasis on the bandsaw blade. A bandsaw blade is an engineered and banded piece of metal joined together by welding. Saw blades are composed of different parts, and the terminology to describe these parts is an important factor in helping to better understand blade applications. Arbor/Mandrel — the shaft that is saw-motor driven and turns the saw blade Beam Strength — the resistance a saw blade has to back deflection when subjected to the edge thrust of feed pressure Blade Length — the total length of the bandsaw blade Blade Tension — the direct pull (in pounds) on the …
Bandsaw Feed Systems
Bandsaw Feed Systems are the pressures applied to the bandsaw blade by the materials that are being cut. Feed Rate is an important cutting variable that is defined as being the amount of material (in square inches) that the saw is set to cut in one minute, S.I.P.M. (Square Inches Per Minute). The feed system should not be erratic, and the bandsaw movement should be smooth and steady. Different Methods of Feed System Gravity — the bandsaw falls under the head’s weight and has movable weight which allows for adjustment of the feed pressure Gravity/Spring — similar to gravity feed, but with the use …
