Advice on bandsaw blade

[dieselsamurai]

Hi managed to snap my bandsaw blade yesterday i think downfeed was too fast anyway managed to weld it back together its not pretty but did lots of cuts today fine. Trouble is I really need to replace it asap but was just wondering what the best TPI is for general cutting is ? the current blade came with machine is 16 but I think its too fine as I have to have a really slow downfeed.

this is the beast it takes up a fair bit of space in the workshop but is so handy

 

[Welderpaul]

It really depends on what you are cutting.

A varipitch blade allows you to use one blade for a wide range of section type and thickness.

 

[Hood]

Get a vari pitch.
What pitch depends on what you cut but I find, for my saw, a 5/8 vari works well.

 

[dieselsamurai]

thats the problem I guess , I cut all sorts 6"x6" rsj the other day but mostly 2x2 angle and box plus round bar. I probably should get a few but rather just fit and forget

 

[Hood]

What wall thickness though? I cut all sorts but usually 3mm wall thickness upwards on sections. For thinner wall thickness I just lower the feed rate unless I have a lot to do as that is quicker than changing a blade.

 

[dieselsamurai]

4 to 10mm mainly, blade in it has been fine for last 3 years but im not confident weld will hold so rather have a standby ready. Its still pretty accurate i cut some 40mm bar today and 10thou off on the lathe was all that was needed

 

[Hood]

5/8 vari M42 from TuffSaws is what I would go for, seems to work well for me on almost everything.

 

[dieselsamurai]

yeah i think the blade in it is way too fine

 

[frank horton]

get the cobalt version...last very well.....
on my bandsaw have found it willdig in and stop theblade on 3mm tube...
so have to hand fed it down....
haveset the blade tension so it just grips....better to stop the blade than snap it...
postingis not easy to get here....have one spare tho.....
only slightlydearer than the likes of machine mart etc...
well worth it...also have em (Tuffsaw) on my wood bandsaw....

 

[Munkul]

5/8 blade, M42 steel, lasts a long long time in my saw and i use it for all sorts, from thick section down to thin wall tube. Key is a good steady downfeed, you can leave it on a very slow downfeed and it will just nip away at tubes rather than wrecking things.