All Replies on bandsaw blade question

1/2” 3 tpi is a good general purpose blade. Biggest blade that I use on my Grizz G0555LX. Then 3/8” 6 tpi, and 1/4” 8 tpi. Those 3 will do most of what I need.
Bill

-- bill@magraphics.us

ok ,thanks, what tooth style positive claw or alternate set

I got a carbide tipped blade for my wife, (I don’t get any benefit from it,

-- I always suspected many gun nuts were afraid of something, just never thought popcorn was on the list.

Carbon steel flex back 3TPI hook set blade pretty common for woodturners.
If want less expensive blades check these folks out.

http://www.woodcraftbands.com/Pricing%20page.htm

Lot of woodworkers prefer these blades over Timber Wolf for longevity.

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/123tpibandsawblades.aspx

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/woodturners-bandsawblade.aspx

If hung up on Timber Wolf they recomment raker set blades for cutting green wood.

JMHO, carbide tip blades on a 14” bandsaw not worth the money, if have a larger saw they are great.

-- Bill

JMHO, carbide tip blades on a 14” bandsaw not worth the money, if have a larger saw they are great.

- Wildwood

What is the size reasoning behind your opinion?

I got a carbide tipped blade for my wife, (I don t get any benefit from it,

- RobS888

Not sure if that was a good trade or not, how was her cooking? ;-)

Jeez, I had to pay to get rid of my first Wife…

-- John

thanks for your input, I had another thought, the stock blade is still good, I replaced it because its not up to ripping green hard wood, its a fine tooth, so I was thinking a 2 tooth blade for cutting up my turning blanks and the stock blade for my other. just a thought

I got a carbide tipped blade for my wife, (I don t get any benefit from it,

- RobS888

Not sure if that was a good trade or not, how was her cooking? ;-)

- papadan

There was more to the comment…must have been a PEBCAK error.
I had put a grinning emoji there where it cut off the text, oh well.

-- I always suspected many gun nuts were afraid of something, just never thought popcorn was on the list.

Carbon steel flex back 3TPI hook set blade pretty common for woodturners.
If want less expensive blades check these folks out.

http://www.woodcraftbands.com/Pricing%20page.htm

Lot of woodworkers prefer these blades over Timber Wolf for longevity.

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/123tpibandsawblades.aspx

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/woodturners-bandsawblade.aspx

If hung up on Timber Wolf they recomment raker set blades for cutting green wood.

JMHO, carbide tip blades on a 14” bandsaw not worth the money, if have a larger saw they are great.

- Wildwood

I’m curious why it is a waste of money to put a carbide blade on a 14 inch saw? It works well, doesn’t seem to drift and for my wife’s turnings she gets almost a perfectly circular cut for blanks. My wife went through a couple blades a year, so if it lasts 2 years it is worth it in my opinion. The cuts look like they were jointed they are so smooth. We do have the riser, so we can use the full capacity of the saw.

-- I always suspected many gun nuts were afraid of something, just never thought popcorn was on the list.

thanks for your input, I had another thought, the stock blade is still good, I replaced it because its not up to ripping green hard wood, its a fine tooth, so I was thinking a 2 tooth blade for cutting up my turning blanks and the stock blade for my other. just a thought

- Karda

There aren’t too many woodworking tools that scare me, but after using a 2 tpi bandsaw blade once, I’ll never use one again. Of course, if I was cutting flat stuff, then there isn’t a problem, but cutting uneven stuff is downright spooky. ........... Jerry (in Tucson)

-- Jerry (in Tucson) www.woodturnerstools.com

Wisdom once was carbide BS blades to stiff to run on 14” saw due to (0.35) thickness of blades. Well that has change with just carbide tip blades like Lenox 0.025 thick blades. Only down side to new 0.025 thick carbide tip blades are their price. If do a lot of re-sawing and have the money buy one and don’t look back. On the other hand flex back blades with any alternite, hook, or raker set will serve you well for the price.

For re-sawing logs for turning blanks helps to have a BS sled. I found free hand or circle jig for getting blanks round a breeze. Never went smaller than 3 TPI blades though.

-- Bill

Wisdom once was carbide BS blades to stiff to run on 14” saw due to (0.35) thickness of blades. Well that has change with just carbide tip blades like Lenox 0.025 thick blades. Only down side to new 0.025 thick carbide tip blades are their price. If do a lot of re-sawing and have the money buy one and don’t look back. On the other hand flex back blades with any alternite, hook, or raker set will serve you well for the price.

For re-sawing logs for turning blanks helps to have a BS sled. I found free hand or circle jig for getting blanks round a breeze. Never went smaller than 3 TPI blades though.

- Wildwood

I’ve only used a carbide tipped blade, didn’t know there was any other kind. I can only say it is worth it to us. If it lasts 2 years it pays for itself. I have carbide on my TS, Jointer, and Planer, so it seems natural. Based on cost the BS blade is second cheapest. Good TS blades blades approach $100 and go way up, the BS blade was $149, Carbide head for 12 inch planer/jointer is very expensive. There are pretty cheap BS blades, but carbide is much better IMHO.

-- I always suspected many gun nuts were afraid of something, just never thought popcorn was on the list.

A blade used to cut green wood, requires a lot of gullet to effectively clear damp sawdust A carbide tipped blade would be great, but any good 1/2”, 3TPI blade will do the job. I personally use Starrett, “Woodpecker” blades; their weld is invisible. Lenox also makes a good blade. I have not tried a Timber wolf, but I hear many are happy with them.

thanks for the suggestion, I guess I,ll stick with the 3 tooth, I had a timberwolf blade for my other saw. It worked great great till it broke. I cut a piece of dowell and it got in the saw and broke the blade

Hi, RobS888 I like the 3/8ths 3tpi blade highland has for wood turners have you used it how does it perform in general shop cutting thanks

Hi, RobS888 I like the 3/8ths 3tpi blade highland has for wood turners have you used it how does it perform in general shop cutting thanks

- Karda

I’m not a turner, I’m an enabler. We purchased a band saw for my wife to trim wood. We tried various sizes up to 3/4 inch. Eventually found the 1/2 was best. Often you need to trim off the end of a log or the end of a large piece. I’m not sure what it is called when you cut a log lenthgwise and use that as the blank. Anyway they are large pieces and the 3/8 blade could be easily disturbed. I stand to the side and support the weight, but it was easy to see the poor cuts and how the blade could wander. I’ve watched the Snodgrass videos, so I think I’m ok at adjusting the saw, not great, but ok. We tried several different blades over the years, timber wolf and Carter come to mind.

3 tpi is good for rough cutting, but the surface will need some work if it is a showside.

Give it a try, perhaps we try to cut too fast. Be careful crosscutting logs, when they start spinning you will need to change your underwear.

-- I always suspected many gun nuts were afraid of something, just never thought popcorn was on the list.

thanks, I was surprized when the recommened blade for turners was a 3/8s makes sense for bowls. i check it out further.

thanks, I was surprized when the recommened blade for turners was a 3/8s makes sense for bowls. i check it out further.

- Karda

That is probably due to the radius limit, I think with a 1/2 inch blade 5 inches is the smallest circle you can cut.

http://ravenview.com/blog/2008/01/23/bandsaw-blade-radius-chart/

We got the carter circle cutter jig and centre finder faceplate thing (it helps you put the faceplate in at the exact centre of the circle). Not at all needed, but they can help get the maximum out of your blanks.

-- I always suspected many gun nuts were afraid of something, just never thought popcorn was on the list.

ok thanks

Not knowing what saw you have, most band saws of the 14” size will take a maximum of 1/2” blade Few saws of that size are able to properly tension the blade. Using a 3/8” blade will allow greater tension for a less drift cut.

my saw is a 10’ WEN variable speed set on hi (2620 RPM )

A lot of comments but how many apply to a 10” bandsaw? IMHO, you can not even start to properly tension a1/2” blade on that saw.

A lot of comments but how many apply to a 10” bandsaw? IMHO, you can not even start to properly tension a1/2” blade on that saw.

- Redoak49

I guess, I don’t think I have seen a 10 inch band saw.

-- I always suspected many gun nuts were afraid of something, just never thought popcorn was on the list.

Not knowing what saw you have, most band saws of the 14” size will take a maximum of 1/2” blade Few saws of that size are able to properly tension the blade. Using a 3/8” blade will allow greater tension for a less drift cut.

- MrRon

I used a 3/4” as that was the largest size recommended by Grizzly. Wore it out. It was pretty good, but not so good on cutting curves in the size we needed.

-- I always suspected many gun nuts were afraid of something, just never thought popcorn was on the list.

I have a 14 ” saw with a 1 TPI which is impressive.

-- Regards Rob

the band that came with it was 1/2”

I use a 9” Ryobi and normally run a 3/8” blade, I think it is 4 tpi. The blade is 59 1/2” diameter.

ok thanks