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Kram
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It firstly depends on the thickness. Atleast 3 teeth in the metal.
HSS cobalt blades will give the best life.
The smaller bandsaws dont like low TPI blades as the bend radius is too sharp, they can still cut thick stuff with higher TPI blades but its not ideal. Low TPI blades will snap if the bends too sharp.
High carbon generally machines and cuts nicer but is it hardened? Even so, it will likely cut ok.
HSS cobalt blades will give the best life.
The smaller bandsaws dont like low TPI blades as the bend radius is too sharp, they can still cut thick stuff with higher TPI blades but its not ideal. Low TPI blades will snap if the bends too sharp.
High carbon generally machines and cuts nicer but is it hardened? Even so, it will likely cut ok.
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Shedendman
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Handy little printout,cheers fellaIt firstly depends on the thickness. Atleast 3 teeth in the metal.
HSS cobalt blades will give the best life.
The smaller bandsaws dont like low TPI blades as the bend radius is too sharp, they can still cut thick stuff with higher TPI blades but its not ideal. Low TPI blades will snap if the bends too sharp.
High carbon generally machines and cuts nicer but is it hardened? Even so, it will likely cut ok.
What Kram said -----Don't be too thickIt firstly depends on the thickness. Atleast 3 teeth in the metal.
HSS cobalt blades will give the best life.
The smaller bandsaws dont like low TPI blades as the bend radius is too sharp, they can still cut thick stuff with higher TPI blades but its not ideal. Low TPI blades will snap if the bends too sharp.
High carbon generally machines and cuts nicer but is it hardened? Even so, it will likely cut ok.
Kram
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I guess I should have linked the page instead.. different for tube.Handy little printout,cheers fella
Band Saw Blade Teeth Per Inch (TPI) Chart
TPI is arguably the most important decision when selecting a band saw blade. Use Dakin-Flathers bandsaw teeth per inch chart for optimum performance.
www.dakin-flathers.com
I bought a blade made by them off ebay and it came with a useful A3 sized poster which takes up a large amount of my tiny shed wall. However I currently have the choice of a worn 18tpi, or a worn 18tpi, so theres not that much point in it
The blade I'd bought was a 6tpi and it lasted all of 5 minutes before the brazed joint fatigued and snaped, so while they may make good blades, I'd suggest with any brand, not to go below 14tpi on an 1140mm length.
northwest
Searching for the Holy Grail.........
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The absolute best blade to use is the one in the saw. A bit facetious I know but as long as it is cutting I just don't care, I let it do it's thing. Sometimes obsessing over details stops us from just getting on. How much time (and money) do you want to invest in the job, sure a finer tooth blade cuts slower on thicker material, but how much slower? Then take into account the time you are going to spend changing blades oh yes and while you have the blade off let's clean the machine, then I will just make a few small adjustments and ... The whole job can easily run away from you.
Of course if there is no blade in the machine all bets are off.
Of course if there is no blade in the machine all bets are off.
E T
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Not all bandsaw blades are the same. I have a small Güde MBS125 bandsaw. Just a generic Chinese thing from Germany, but the original bi-metal M42 8/12T blade that came with it was bloody good and lasted a very long time and made nice straight cuts.
That blade had no problems cutting hardened LandRover halfshafts.
After that Güde blade kicked the bucket I tried several different brands M42 blades and none of them would cut hard stuff very well, stripping teeth and breaking blades. I even got some Lenox blades the mericans rave about and they were no good at all.
In 2023 I ordered 3 original Güde blades from Amazon, and now I'm still on the first one of those.
That blade had no problems cutting hardened LandRover halfshafts.
After that Güde blade kicked the bucket I tried several different brands M42 blades and none of them would cut hard stuff very well, stripping teeth and breaking blades. I even got some Lenox blades the mericans rave about and they were no good at all.
In 2023 I ordered 3 original Güde blades from Amazon, and now I'm still on the first one of those.
Erie Fred
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If you go extreme with too many teeth, they clog, and the blade wanders.
