Band Saw Blade Selection for Metal Cutting
Blade selection affects cut quality, blade life, speed, noise, vibration, and machine performance. The right blade depends on material type, wall thickness, solid vs tube cutting, bundle cutting, and production volume.
Blade factors to compare
- Tooth pitch / TPI
- Variable pitch vs constant pitch
- Bi-metal vs carbide-tipped blades
- Blade width and thickness
- Material hardness and alloy type
- Cutting fluid and chip evacuation
Common mistakes
- Using too coarse a blade on thin-wall tube
- Using too fine a blade on large solids
- Running blade speed too fast for hard material
- Poor break-in procedure
- Insufficient coolant or chip brush contact
- Incorrect downfeed pressure
What to send for help
Send material type, shape, size, wall thickness, current blade spec, cut quality issue, and machine model.
Related: Metal Band Saws & Band Cutting Machines.