A bandsaw is a power tool that is commonly used in woodworking and metalworking. It consists of a long, continuous blade that is stretched between two wheels, with the teeth of the blade facing downward. The blade moves up and down, allowing it to cut through a variety of materials, including wood, metal, and other materials.
One of the most common uses of a bandsaw is for cutting curves and irregular shapes in wood. Because the blade is thin and flexible, it can easily maneuver around corners and tight spaces, allowing for precise cuts. Bandsaw can also be used for re-sawing, which is the process of cutting a thick piece of wood into thinner pieces. This is useful for creating veneers, laminates, and other thin wood products. In addition, bandsaw can be used for cutting metal, plastic, and other materials, making them a versatile tool in any workshop.
Bandsaw are versatile tools that can be used for a variety of applications. They are commonly used in woodworking, metalworking, and other industries that require precise cutting. Below are some of the most common uses for bandsaw:
Woodworking: One of the most popular uses for bandsaw is in woodworking. Bandsaw are ideal for cutting curves and intricate shapes in wood. They can also be used for ripping lumber to size, re-sawing, and cutting joints. With the right blade, a bandsaw can even be used to cut veneer.
Metalworking: Bandsaw are also commonly used in metalworking. They can be used to cut metal stock to size, as well as for cutting curves and intricate shapes. Bandsaw are particularly useful for cutting metal pipes and tubes, as they provide greater control and stability compared to other cutting tools.
Meat & Food: Bandsaw are also used in meat processing. They are ideal for cutting meat into smaller pieces and for trimming meat from bones. Meat bandsaw are designed with special blades that are able to cut through bone and tough meat.
Other Materials: Bandsaw can also be used for cutting a variety of other materials, including foam, rubber, and leather. With the right blade, a bandsaw can even be used to cut bricks.
In conclusion, bandsaw are versatile tools that can be used for a variety of applications. Whether you are working with wood, metal, plastic, or other materials, a bandsaw can help you get the job done quickly and accurately.
Bandsaw Blade Tension: The tension of the blade is crucial for producing accurate cuts. To adjust the tension, turn the tension release lever or knob clockwise, making small adjustments and frequently checking the tension. Aim for a slight deflection of approximately 1/4 inch or less when gently pressing on the blade with your finger.
Bandsaw Blade Width: The width of the blade can also affect the quality of the cut. Thicker blades are better suited for re-sawing, while thinner blades are better for intricate cuts. To change the blade width, loosen the blade tension and remove the blade. Then, replace it with a blade of the desired width and re-tension it.
Bandsaw Blade Angles: Adjusting the blade angle can help produce angled cuts. Most bandsaw have a tilting table that can be adjusted to the desired angle. Make sure to secure the table in place before making any cuts.
Band saw blades are generally divided into two materials: mono-metallic and bimetallic.
Mono-metallic band saw blades generally refer to band saw blades made of carbon steel. The teeth and the band body are made of the same material, but the teeth are specially treated. The saw blades undergo a series of processes such as rolling, tempering, milling, welding, grinding and polishing. Generally, the teeth are not designed with split teeth. Because the hardness of carbon steel is limited, it is widely used in woodworking cutting. It can also saw some low-hardness metals, such as copper, aluminum, iron, zinc, lead, etc. or other non-ferrous metals, as well as some plastic products such as nylon and PVC.
Bimetallic band saw blades are made of two different materials: band body and teeth. The band body is made of low-alloy spring steel, while the teeth are made of higher-hardness high-speed tool steel or other high-performance materials.
Spring steel can ensure the toughness of the band saw, and even at high speeds, it can maintain stable operation and reduce vibration. The high-speed steel between the teeth has strong cutting performance, high hardness, high wear resistance, high heat resistance and many other excellent physical properties, meeting the higher requirements of metal cutting.
Common bimetallic band saw blades are made of two materials: M42 or M51, which represent different ratios of metal elements in the saw teeth. For example, the full name of M42 is W2Mo9Cr4VCo8, with a cobalt content of more than 8% and a hardness of more than 62HRC. The cutting performance of M51 is better than that of M42, but M42 bimetallic band saw blades are still commonly used in the market. This depends on the material being cut and the cost of the saw blade. Generally speaking, M42 is the most cost-effective.
The teeth of a band saw blade can be designed with equal teeth, variable teeth, or split teeth.
Equal teeth means that the teeth are of the same size and have the same pitch.
Variable teeth means that the teeth are arranged in different sizes. Common tooth shapes include 2/3 teeth, 3/4 teeth, 4/6 teeth, etc. Take 3/4 teeth as an example, which means that in a length of 1 inch, which is approximately equal to 2.5 cm, one arrangement is 3 teeth and the other is 4 teeth, arranged alternately. The function of variable teeth is to reduce the vibration and resonance of the saw blade during sawing, which can reduce noise to a certain extent and maintain sawing stability. Another advantage is that variable teeth are more versatile and can be applied to a wider range of material diameters to be cut.
The tooth shape also has different designs. In addition to standard tooth, there are also variant teeth such as round back tooth and impact resistant tooth. For example, the impact resistant tooth, when the band saw blade cuts hollow materials, the feed angle changes constantly, which is easy to cause excessive wear or tooth pulling. The impact resistant tooth adjust the tooth angle and tooth shape to better adapt to hollow materials. The round back tooth are developed for sawing multiple bundles of materials at the same time. They are more wear-resistant and durable than standard tooth, and are less likely to pull or break.
Band saw blades usually have a fixed width and can be customized in length. Common widths (in mm) are 13, 16, 19 (small band saw blades commonly used for food and wood processing) and 27, 34, 41, 54, 67 (medium and large band saw blades commonly used for metal cutting). Since the size of the saw tooth is linked to the thickness of the material being cut, the thicker the material diameter, the larger the matching saw teeth need to be, and the corresponding band saw master belt should also be widened to keep the overall saw blade running stably.
In addition to mono-metallic and bimetallic band saw blades, carbide band saw blades also occupy a place in the band saw blade market. Strictly speaking, the metal materials used for the saw tooth and the bandsaw blade body are different, so it should be a bimetallic band saw blade, but the cutting performance of carbide band saw blades is far better than that of M42 and M51 materials.
Carbide band saw blades have better physical properties than high-speed steel saw teeth, with higher hardness and heat resistance, and can reach 3-5 times the performance of bimetallic saw teeth, but they are not used for cutting metal. The reason is that alloy band saw blades are expensive, and the mother belt is brittle and easy to break. If used for metal sawing, the effect is very good, but if a fault occurs and the teeth are broken, the repair process requires high technology, the maintenance cost is high, and the time cost is also high.
Therefore, carbide band saw blades are now widely used in the field of wood sawing. Compared with metal, wood is like a knife cutting paper for alloy band saw blades, with low loss, strong durability and stability. Although it is expensive, one blade can be used for a long time, which greatly reduces the sawing cost of wood processing.
