Bandsaw Blade Types

[Harbo]

There's been a lot in the mags. recently about bandsaws and types of blades.
Even one by our DavidC who recommends a "meat & fish" blade with a very narrow kerf, but he sources his from the USA.

Lonnie Bird in The Bandsaw Book uses a variable tooth carbide tip blade for his resawing - expensive? but lasts 25 times longer than ordinary carbon steel.
He also reckons skip blades are now deemed old fashioned and hook types are preferable.
I know people recommend Dragon and Dure Edge and I have used Trucut with good results but are these types available in the UK and are we missing out on something?

Rod

 

[OPJ]

I've been trying out a 5/8"x4tpi from Dragon the past few days which has an extra thin .020" thin kerf (standard is .025"). Until I tried this blade, I found my 12" SIP machine was incapable of tensioning a standard 5/8" blade - I am very impressed with the results indeed.

Ian also sent me a standard-thickness blade in the same (although it was hook pattern, not skip) from a new potential supplier and, while that runs fine on my saw without wobbling all over the place, it does seem to give off an excessive amount of vibration.

Unfortunately though, Ian says he is struggling to find a decent supplier of these thin-kerf blades, but he will keep me informed.

As for tooth pitches, a lot of people seem to make the mistake of assuming that both skip and hook-tooth patterns are the same thing. Skip-tooth blades seem best-suited to deep-ripping quickly, especially in softwoods. Hook-tooth blades, on the other hand, will do much of the same work but will definitely leave a much finer finish. There's probably a bit more to it than that as well... :wink:

I'd have thought that any specialists - such as the ones you have mentioned - would be able to supply blades in either tooth form... Dragon generally do. I have noticed that in the catalogues (Axminster, Screwfix, etc.) they generally seem to offer only skip-tooth patterns without mention of the word hook. Apparently, skips are more popular over here - but it's the complete opposite story in America. :wink:

I'm finding I prefer hook-tooth blades simply for the cleaner finish they leave. But, if it's going through a planer-thicknesser anyway, does it really matter? They seem to cut much quieter than skip-tooth blades also.

Someone else told me they have had success with those meat and fish blades and I think... he got his from Isaac Lord?

I think the main problem with a TCT bandsaw blade is that not only will it cost more than standard throw-away ones, but it will need specialist re-sharpening every now and again.

 

[markymark12]

I bit the bullet and have started using lennox trimaster tct tipped bands for cutting some exotics.

You can get them here in the uk at last and once it is on the machine it stays on for a very long time. No more changing the blades for a very long time.

They have a triple grind to the tooth and are varied pitch so the finish is second to none.

If you want details where to buy them send me a message.

 

[leptus]

hi mark is it possible to give me the address for the tct band saw blades , i tried to find out for ages with no sucsess. how are the prices compared with usual ones. egards

 

[bob_c]

Ive been using Starrett bimetal blades i bought off ebay (5 for 99pence),they are bearcat tooth and vari-pitch.The bearcat rips through anything without a problem and leaves a reasonable finish.The vari-pitch leaves a nice finish and seems to be able to rip well.Both types have remained razor sharp despite cutting 5 " ironwood,which is incredibly hard and full of mineral deposits.

 

[George_N]

I just ordered a couple of blades today from Dragon Saws, via Ebay. Really good and quick advice from Ian at Dragon. I also just got Mark Duginske's "The New Complete Guide to the Bandsaw" from Amazon. Should keep me occuoied for a while.

 

[Jake]

If you do a web-search for Lennox, you'll find the number of the UK distributor - call them and they'll put you in touch with a retailer (engineering suppliers). About £100 or so, but they seem to last and last (ripping only, too good for curves).