Blades for 4 1/2" bandsaw (As manufacured, or labeled as, Sealey, Clarke, SIP, etc!!)

[gatesy]

I have a 4 1/2" bandsaw, same as a Clarke CBS45MD and Sealey SM5, etc bandsaws. I had some screwfix I think they were blades, but these were only available in one pitch, on buying some Starrett blades for the machine I have had nothing but problems with the back edge of the blade rolling over where it is against the guide. It has one ball bearing either side of the blade, and one on the top. I believe the screwfix blades are a carbon blade of some sort, the Starrett's are Duratec SFB. At the moment I'm going through blades at an alarming rate, is it that the SFB has a soft back, that is soft enough to be rolled over, or is it something wrong with the machine??? I have fitted new bearing guides but this has made no difference.

Can anyone recommend what blades to get for these machines??? And should they be all hard???

 

[Paul G]

Search eBay for "m42 bimetal" or "m42 bi metal" or "m42".

I buy mine from saw_blade_supplies.
3 times the price (of carbon blades) but last ten times longer.


I use 18 or 24 tpi and these even cope with thin wall stainless tube.
I do run a home made coolant system though.

HTH
Paul G

 

[cumbriasteve]

I will be shot down in flames for this but... I buy a pack of 5 cheap blades from machine mart and they last well, cutting small section mild steel flat bar and box section.

I did once buy a more expensive bimetal blade from a reputable dealer and it was no better than the cheapo's.

Perhaps for some reason their blades are one item that is better than the usual cheap stuff they sell.

 

[mike os]

so far I am with the above....cumbria steve... my experience too

may change when i get round to fitting coolant tho....