Bandsaw Blade Question

**Hotfoot** · 08-09-2007, 05:25 PM

Well, I'm about to order a Bi Metal Blade for my Kalamazoo saw. It takes a 7'5" , 1/2" wide blade .025" thick. I go to ENCO, where I have been buying Morse Bi Metals for my HF saw, but they do not have a Morse in that size. The "Aggressor" Matrix II Bi Metal they list for mine only comes in a 10/14 variable tooth in .025 thick. I can go .020 10 tooth, or .035 10 or 14 tooth. I have never run a vari- tooth blade.
Should I go for a different blade thickness to stay with a 10 tooth (my usual)? Go with the Vari-ttoth and stay with my .025 thickness? Or...go up in thickness to a .035, or down to .025.
They did not have Starrett Bi Metal in my size, either...

**LarryL** · 08-09-2007, 08:27 PM

Go with the variable-tooth blade. The alternating numbers of teeth reduce the blade's vibration and you get a smoother cut. It must have something to do with minimizing the blade's tendency to vibrate at its harmonic frequency. I've used variable-tooth blades on my 20" vertical metalcutting bandsaw for years, with good results.
LarryL

**chevyman_de** · 08-10-2007, 03:28 AM

I second that.
I always use vari-tooth blades on my bandsaw and they work great. they also allow for less blade changes due to different stock gauges. With a 10/14 you'll cover the range from 10 to 14 tooth blades. I've also used 8/12 blades on my small benchtop bandsaw with great success and even have a 6/10 at hand in case I have to cut bigger solid bar stock.

I'm not sure about them cutting smoother, but they do put less stress on the machine.
Btw, there are also vari-tooth blades for recipro saws.

**tommyj3** · 08-10-2007, 07:11 AM

Buy the 10/14 X .025 variable blade. You won't be disapointed. Less stress on blade went cutting and a wider range of materials can be cut.

**dda52** · 08-10-2007, 10:24 AM

Evapfoot, why not just go to AIW next time you are in town? They will have it in stock now I believe.

**dda52** · 08-10-2007, 10:35 AM

Hmmm....I just checked online...they have lots of 7'9" , but no 7'5".

May be a hard to find size? Time for a blade welder!

**Zrexxer** · 08-10-2007, 10:39 AM

And for the dissenting opinion, I despise variable tooth pitch. If I need a 14, I'll run a 14, and if I need a 10, I'll run a 10. It's been my experience that 10/14 variables just end up stripping teeth.

**tooldude56** · 08-10-2007, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by Hotfoot

Well, I'm about to order a Bi Metal Blade for my Kalamazoo saw. It takes a 7'5" , 1/2" wide blade .025" thick. I go to ENCO, where I have been buying Morse Bi Metals for my HF saw, but they do not have a Morse in that size. The "Aggressor" Matrix II Bi Metal they list for mine only comes in a 10/14 variable tooth in .025 thick. I can go .020 10 tooth, or .035 10 or 14 tooth. I have never run a vari- tooth blade.
Should I go for a different blade thickness to stay with a 10 tooth (my usual)? Go with the Vari-ttoth and stay with my .025 thickness? Or...go up in thickness to a .035, or down to .025.
They did not have Starrett Bi Metal in my size, either...

Hands down...vari-tooth... IMHO

When I had small saws like years,years ago,the 10/14 vari-tooth is all that I used and they were great.Now I have a large Kalamazoo H9AW that use a 1" wide x .035" thick x 130 1/2" blade and switch back and forth between a 5-8 blade or a 6-10 blade for heavy solids,depending on thickness and an 8-12 for thin stuff,with no problems at all.I would never stray from the thickness that is reccomended by the saw manufacturer,because in my experience,you would just be asking for trouble.In the plant,we used a 1-1/4" wide blade in our big fully automatic marvel saws and used a 4-6 blade for the bulk of our sawing,with no problems.You will find that the larger the mass of the blade,the less problems you will have with it,even when sawing thin matereals.The larger blades will track better,keep cool better and are just generaly more durable and with the price tag on these larger blade,you will tend to be much more carefull with it.I have just purchased a cold saw,but plan on going to a 1-1/4" blade in a semi-automatic version,for my next band saw purchase.

tooldude56

**Hotfoot** · 08-10-2007, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by dda52

Evapfoot, why not just go to AIW next time you are in town? They will have it in stock now I believe.

Where is that located, Don??

**rtz** · 08-10-2007, 05:54 PM

Using the green HF 64.5" machine, what is the ideal blade TPI for cutting 3" dia., 16 gauge exhaust pipe and also at what speed/pulley setup?

tigman · 08-10-2007, 07:08 PM

hotfoot,

find yourself a local industrial supply dealer and ask about ordering blades made to size.

I have 172" x 1" blades made to order for under $40 tax in from my local supplier, some are starrett and the last ones have been from Kennametal industries, cheap and easy.