What's your 'general purpose' bandsaw blade?

[Mr Ed]

Now I've got my lovely new bandsaw I'm experimenting with blades and wonder what people use as their general day to day blade. I know we want narrow blades for curves, wide ones for resawing etc. this is about what blade you leave in the saw for the majority of jobs.

I bought a selection of blades from Ian at Dragon, amongst which is a 3/4" 8tpi M42 blade which I intend to be my 'go to' blade. So far it seems to fit the bill, but interested what other people use.

NB - I'm not really wanting to start another 'what bandsaw blade supplier' thread here, I'm talking width, tpi, tooth style etc.

Cheers, Ed

 

[paulm]

Guess it depends what you find yourself doing most of Ed ?

Bieng primarily a turner, I have the bigger Startrite fitted generally with a 3/4" x 3tpi for resawing, or occasionally a 1" x 1.3tpi ripper for bigger jobs, and the small Rexon fitted with a 1/4" or 3/8ths x 6tpi for cutting the round blanks.

The combination caters for most things I do, and saves a lot of blade swapping, but others will have different needs I guess.......

Cheers, Paul

 

[johnjin]

Hi Ed
3/4 x 3tpi M42 from Dragon.

John

 

[JonnyD]

Usually a 1/2 inch 3tpi skip tooth blade for general work. I usually buy 10 at a time to keep costs down and either use starett or Dakin Flathers Blades.

Jon

 

[paulm]

Hi Ed
3/4 x 3tpi M42 from Dragon.

John

Interesting, didn't realise they did them in M42, will have to try that next time......


I know it's difficult to tell for sure, but do you find the increased life more than outweighs the increased cost with the M42 ?

Cheers, Paul

 

[LarryS.]

anyone know of a quick guide to what blade works best for what ? when ian sent me my blade selection have to admit to wacking the biggest one in and using it ever since :roll:

 

[johnf]

Hi Ed
3/4 x 3tpi M42 from Dragon.

John

Same here

 

[maltrout512]

I bought a 5/8 4tpi but not the m42 yet. I re-sharpen my own blades and find that with a 5/8 blade I get about 4 to 6 re-sharpens per blade so I get some good use for my money. The 1/4 blade I have not had the need to use yet. Will at some point order a 1" 3tpi and another 5/8 when required.

 

[Waka]

Hi Ed
3/4 x 3tpi M42 from Dragon.

John

Same here

Same here.

 

[johnjin]

Hi Chisel

I couldn't say for sure but it definitely seems like it to me

John

 

[Anonymous]

Dragon variable tooth M42 3/4" blade.

Never swap it and it has lasted for ages

 

[Mr Ed]

Dragon variable tooth M42 3/4" blade.

Never swap it and it has lasted for ages

Tony- forgive my ignorance, but whats a variable tooth blade?

Cheers, Ed

 

[Shultzy]

I use the Dragon variable tooth M42 3/4" blade as well. Ed, I think there are between 6 and 10 teeth per inch instead of a fixed number.

 

[Mr Ed]

Well that might be the one I have...I recall Ian saying something about 6/10 tpi but it didn't really stick in my mind.

That said, wherever I measure on the blade there are 8 tpi , which admittedly is between 6 and 10, but not sure if thats what it means.....

Cheers, Ed

EDIT - just found the invoice and it is a 6/10 M42 I have. So what does the variable bit mean as it looks the same all over to me?

 

[WellsWood]

Hi Ed

Like a few others here it seems, my M42 3/4" x 3tpi from Ian pretty much lives in the bandsaw (the little brother to yours - Axy4300). I don't cut many curves and use the machine almost exclusively for ripping, the M42 will cheerfully cut right up to the saws maximum depth of 300mm in Oak and just seems to go on and on, just like Ian said it would :lol:

 

[Boz62]

I'm now using a Dragon M42 6/10 1/2" x 0.032ish" blade on Ed's old Basato 3 (thanks Ed!). Great for general soft and hardwood, up to 60mm deep so far. The thicker blade tensions well and is accurate with zero drift. BTW, the 6/10 tooth variation is visible over a couple of inches or so

 

[Mr Ed]

Hi Boz,

Welcome to the forum. Glad to hear you're getting on OK with the Basato.

Ed

 

[woodbloke]

For general day to day use I use a 12mm, 6tpi skip tooth blade - Rob

 

[Derek Willis.]

Always for general use, a 3 tooth 5/8" hook or skip tooth blade. lasts forever.
Derek.

 

[9fingers]

General 'rules' I try to stick to (apart from when I'm in a hurry - naturally!!)

Use as coarse a blade as possible for faster cutting and a finer one for a better finish but always have at least 3 teeth in contact with the material being cut.

Use as wide a blade as your machine can take (and sensibly tension) for straight cuts. Reduce the with for curved cutting and don't use a blade for straight cutting once you have done curved work with it cos it will be unlikely to cut straight again.

I think there might be a table of minimum cut radius Vs blade width in the Axy catalogue but I have not got one here at work to check.

HTH

Bob