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Selecting the right blade for the cutting task requires
knowledge about blade characteristics and cutting
priorities (i.e. speed, finish, etc.).
A. Kerf: The amount of material removed by the blade
during cutting.
B. Tooth Set: The amount each tooth is bent left or
right along the blade.
C. Gauge: The thickness of the blade.
D. Blade Width: The widest point of the blade
measured from the tip of the tooth to the back edge
of the blade.
E. Tooth Rake: The angle of the tooth face from a line
perpendicular to the length of the blade.
F.
Gullet Depth: The distance from the tooth tip to the
bottom of the curved area (gullet).
G. Tooth Pitch: The distance between tooth tips.
H. Blade Back: The distance between the bottom of the
gullet and the back edge of the blade.
I.
TPI: The number of teeth per inch measured from
gullet to gullet.
Blade Length
Measured by the blade circumference, blade lengths are
specific to each bandsaw. They are determined by the
wheel diameter and distance between the wheels.
Blade Width
Measured from the back of the blade to the tip of the
blade tooth (the widest point), blade width is often the
first consideration given to blade selection. Blade width
determines the largest and smallest curve that can be
cut, and contributes to the accuracy of cutting straight—
generally the wider the blade, the straighter it will cut.
Every bandsaw will have a range of blade widths
determined by its manufacturing specifications (i.e.
wheel size, horsepower, etc.). Use the table in
to determine the best blade width for an operation by
finding the smallest radius curve that will be cut on your
workpiece
E
D
Blade
(Width x TPI)
1
⁄
" x 14 Raker .........................
8
3
⁄
" x 4 Skip .............................
16
3
⁄
" x 10 Raker .........................
16
3
⁄
" x 8 Hook ..........................
16
1
⁄
" x 6 Hook Carbon & Bimetal ......
4
1
⁄
" x 6 Hook ..........................
4
1
⁄
" x 6 Hook .......................... 1
4
3
⁄
" x 4 Hook Carbon & Bimetal .... 1
8
3
⁄
" x 4 Hook .......................... 2
8
3
⁄
" x 6 Hook .......................... 2
8
1
⁄
" x 3 Hook ........................... 3
2
1
⁄
" x 3 Hook Carbon & Bimetal ... 6
2
3
⁄
" x 3 Hook Carbon ................. 9
4
-37-
A
B
C
H
F
I
G
Bandsaw blade components.
Minimum
Circle Diam.
Table of curve cutting
capabilities.
3
⁄
"
16
3
⁄
"
8
7
⁄
"
16
9
⁄
"
16
3
⁄
"
4
13
⁄
"
16
1
⁄
"
2
3
⁄
"
4
1
⁄
"
4
5
⁄
"
8
5
⁄
"
8
1
⁄
"
2
1
⁄
"
4
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