subject: What To Know When Buying A Band Saw Blade [print this page] When you start looking to purchase a band saw it is important to follow some guidelines. There are six major guidelines that you should especially take into consideration.
First, you need to have a clear understanding of how you will most likely be using your band saw.
If you will be doing lots of re-sawing you will need to ensure that the machine has a higher horsepower and a wider blade width capacity.
If your focus is more on scroll work, than the horsepower doesn't matter quite as much here. That is unless you're working with thick stock. This is because the allowance for a narrower blade is greater.
If you are planning on using the band saw twice a week compared to five times an hour, this may also change the type of band saw blade you purchase. It will modify the type of motor you will want to buy. On top of this, it will determine whether you need a bench top or floor model.
Once you have determined your basic needs for a new band saw you can begin to dig a little deeper into other aspects of a band saw.
You can determine whether a bench top design or a floor model design is better for you.
As a very general rule, bench top models usually are found in non-professional wood shops.
Although power hobbyists, woodworkers who spend every waking minute in the wood shop, will point to the floor model band saw in their shop and disagree heartily.
Your bench top band saws are made to literally sit on your bench top or to be bolted onto a stand. They are compact and portable and ideal for light scroll cutting.
Floor models are more stable and more powerful and ideal for heavy rip sawing and decorative work on thick stock wood. Their higher horsepower typically keeps the blade from getting stuck and burning the wood you're cutting.
Third, you may want to consider throat capacity. Throat capacity is the distance between the blade and the frame and it determines the maximum width of the saw's ability to cut.
The throat capacity widens your cuts and larger pieces for scrolling, so depending on your needs you need to consider what throat capacity is right for you.
Fourth, you need to consider what type of blades will complement your machine the best.
Blades are a very important part of the band saw. They really affect how the blade cuts and the quality of cut that is achieved.
It's typical that band saws accept the narrower 1/8" blades for creating scroll work. If re-sawing is important to you then you've got to make sure you're getting a saw that accepts wider blades.
This is because if the blades flex less it enables more accurate fast cuts through thicker stock. If you're buying your band saw to make scroll cuts only then the acceptance of a wider blade should not be a consideration.
When purchasing blades it is important to consider TPI. TPI stands for, teeth per inch.
A higher teeth per inch ratio means that blades will cut more slowly, but more cleanly. This makes a higher teeth ratio ideal for scroll work.
A lower TPI means that blades will cut more quickly but leave more of a mark, increasing the risk of ripping.
Fifth, you should consider the possibility for expansion through accessories.
There are a number of potential accessories for every band saw. When you know your applications you'll have a better idea of which accessories you're going to need and which you don't need to allow for in your model of choice.
Keep in mind that it is generally better to have more accessories than too few.
Some accessories include circle cutting attachments for cutting perfect circles, tilting tables for beveled cuts, miter gauges, rip fences, and even height extenders for cutting thicker wood.
As with any woodworking tool purchase you're more likely to make a sound decision if you know exactly how you'll be using it ahead of time. Having a good idea of how your projects for the next several months will help ensure that you're getting the right tool for the job.
As you search for your new band saw use the information learned here and apply it to your purchasing experience. If you are able to properly determine what will work best for your needs you will be able to find a band saw that will suit your requirements.
