band saw blade chojce

[M E Cook]

what blades are you using I just got a northern tool takes a 64.5 x 1/2" wnat a blade for cutting general purpose items for misc projects thank

 

[George2615]

My saw also uses a 64 1/2 x 1/2 blade. Blade is .025 thick. I use the Premium Bimetal blades from HF.
Mine is part#97119, Made in USA, 10-14 Vari tooth pattern, Good for cutting 3/16" to 7/16" thick metal (I've cut thicker with mine). Blades last a long time for me but I only use it maybe 3-4 hours a week. They are also available at my local TSC store.

 

[stuckmotor]

I like the bi-metal blades from Enco. Mine have a varying tooth pattern and last a long time. I think the ones I have are Irwin.

 

[Arc weld]

Big thing with blades is to break them properly. Run at half feed rate for the first several cuts.

 

[PhysAssist]

what blades are you using I just got a northern tool takes a 64.5 x 1/2" wnat a blade for cutting general purpose items for misc projects thank

I just got my new HF Band Saw and bought these because the reviews [that I read on the bandsaw page] on the HF bands were so terrible:
MK Morse ZWEP441014MC Master Cobalt Portable Band Saw, Bi-metal 44-7/8-Inch X 1/2-Inch X .020-Inch TPI 10/14, Pack of 3 - Band Saw Blades - Amazon.com

and

MK Morse ZWEP442024MC Master Cobalt Portable Band Saw, Bi-metal 44-7/8-Inch X 1/2-Inch X .020-Inch TPI 20/24 - Band Saw Blades - Amazon.com

However, in the interests of full disclosure, I have to admit, I really haven't used either of them yet, but the Amazon reviews were great.

 

[Everhard]

M E Cook - I wonder if the bandsaw you got is the same one I have. (Which I got from Princess Auto up this neck of the Canadian woods.) The blades are the same dimensions in any event. My experience so far is I can buy 2 different blades both 14tpi but one is almost half the price of the other. When I was buying a couple spare blades I didn't notice they had 2 versions, I ended up with the cheap ones. And they were cheap and didn't last long at all. I now only get the more expensive ones and they work well.
What ever you get have a spare on hand, nothing worse then having one last cut to go and the blade dies on you...

I can only find 14tpi blades up here btw. If you can find different pitch blades that can be useful depending on the thickness of what you're cutting. More tpi for thin stuff, less for thick in a nut shell.

E.

 

[M E Cook]

M E Cook - I wonder if the bandsaw you got is the same one I have. (Which I got from Princess Auto up this neck of the Canadian woods.) The blades are the same dimensions in any event. My experience so far is I can buy 2 different blades both 14tpi but one is almost half the price of the other. When I was buying a couple spare blades I didn't notice they had 2 versions, I ended up with the cheap ones. And they were cheap and didn't last long at all. I now only get the more expensive ones and they work well.
What ever you get have a spare on hand, nothing worse then having one last cut to go and the blade dies on you...

I can only find 14tpi blades up here btw. If you can find different pitch blades that can be useful depending on the thickness of what you're cutting. More tpi for thin stuff, less for thick in a nut shell.

E.

I ended up buying a couple of blades off of ebay 14tpi wavy just put one on will see how they last if they don't last not out much and will try another brand $12.00 free shipping got them in 2 days

 

[LD1]

I like Lennox and irwin

 

[Stimw]

I gave one of those 4 X 6 saws away to a friend last month that I have had for 30 years.
I bought a 7 X 12 Enco about 10 years ago and haven't used the old one since. Though I did use it quit a lot!
I have found that a 10-14 blade works the best on both saws.
I am using Sterrit (sp?) blades from Granger and getting great service from them.
A problem I did have with the 4 X 6 was I set it up cutting and walked away to do something else.
I had a compressor running too and did not hear the saw jam.
When I looked back at it the cheapo Chinese motor was ON FIRE!! There is no overload breaker on them.

 

[Qapla]

One thing to keep in mind - no matter what brand you decide to use, proper tension is extremely key to getting full life use from any band saw blade. If they are not tight enough they will bind, heat, warp and break. If they are too tight, they will snap when any amount of pressure is applied that is not "straight on" - like when cutting a curve.

Also, second on having a spare at all times. If your blade breaks, put on the spare and make sure to get another spare ASAP - it is a real bummer when one breaks in the middle any cut, especially when it is the last cut.:thumbdown: