Bandsaw Blades

ToolInfoBox Bandsaw Blades
Synonyms:	band saw blades, saw bands, band blades; DE: Bandsägeblätter, Sägebänder
Material:	various (see list)
Used with:	bandsaws
Location:	wood workshop (above bandsaw)
Access Requirements:	bandsaw introduction
Tutors:	same as for bandsaws
Similar (More or Less):	circular saw blades

A bandsaw's capabilities heavily depend on which blade you choose. This page should let you see what we have in the Space and help you select the proper blade for each project.

Parameters to consider for each use:

• tooth pitch (Zahnteilung): spacing of teeth
  • usually expressed as teeth per inch (TPI) or Zähne pro Zoll (ZpZ)
  • for wood, 3-5 teeth should be in the cut (thicker workpiece: fewer teeth per inch!) ^[1]
  • alternative notation: Zahnweite, expressed as mm between teeth (e.g. "Z5" = 5 mm from tip to tip)
• width
  • determines the minimum radius you can cut (the narrower the blade, the smaller the achievable curves)
• kerf (Schnittbreite): a bit higher than the blade's back thickness because of the teeth's set (Schränkung)
• tooth shape
  • greatly influences which materials that can be cut
  • carbide tipped blades with a longer lifespan are become more widespread, but are still very expensive ^{[citation needed]}

...and to consider when buying blades:

• length: found in the manual
• thickness: should usually not be more than 1 ‰ of the guide wheel diameter or the blade might break ^[2]
  • different for three-wheel saws?

2225 mm Blades

These blades are compatible with our Metabo BS 1638 W. Here's what we have:

ID	Status	Width	Tooth Pitch (Zahnteilung)	Zahnweite	Kerf	Min. Radius [3]	Tooth Shape	Materials	Comments
	OK	13 mm	6 TPI	Z4		approx. 100 mm	hook	wood, acrylic glass	Metabo original
		8 mm	6 TPI	Z4			hook	wood, acrylic glass
	broken, re-ordered	10 mm	4 TPI	Z6		40 mm	hook	wood	steel type "GBLADEunicut41C", from Maschinenhandel Meyer: "Bandsägeblatt 10 x 0,5 mm - für kleine Bandsägen"
	broken, re-ordered	15 mm	3 TPI	Z9 ("Z9+")		95 mm	hook	wood	suitable for up to 350 mm high pieces (resawing!), steel type "GBLADEwoodcutUHB15+", from Maschinenhandel Meyer: "Bandsägeblatt 15 x 0,5 mm"
	gone	16 mm	3 TPI	"3Z"		95 mm(?)	hook	wood	source unclear, did not perform as well as the 15 mm, 3 TPI blade
	uncertain	13 mm	6 TPI	Z4			hook	wood, acrylic glass	duplicate entry?
More	needs	documented!	to	be	Any	help	would be most welcome :-)

1400 mm Blades

These blades are compatible with our CMI C-S-BS 250. Here's what we have so far:

Tooth Pitch (Zahnteilung)	Width	Kerf	Min. Radius	Tooth Shape	Materials	Comments
14 TPI	6 mm				soft non-ferrous metals (e.g. aluminum, copper, bronze)
6 TPI	6 mm			hook	wood	may not cut too well - the set (Schränkung) of the teeth seems to have suffered

Further Reading

• short explanation of the three tooth angles
• "Grundlagen: Bandsägeblätter die richtige Verwendung" (DE) by Maschinenhandel Meyer (shop)
• "Bandsägeblatt - Wissen" (DE) by Reinhard Eck (for a shop)