The purpose of this article is to provide insight on the different types of wood bandsaw blades that are available for purchase. Blade choice is typically determined by the type and purpose of cut, the hardness and thickness of wood, and the desired trade-offs between cutting speed vs. cutting quality.
Blade Width
In general, a wider blade is preferred for cutting straight lines because the blade tends to wander less, and a narrower blade is preferred for cutting curves because it has a much tighter minimum cutting radius. The graphic below shows the recommended minimum radius of cut based on the blade width:
Blade Teeth
The two main types of blade teeth are "Hook" and "Raker". Hook teeth tend to cut faster and leave rougher results, while Raker teeth tend to cut slower and leave smoother results. There are additional types of teeth, such as Skip, Positive Claw, or AS-S, that are essentially modified versions of the Hook or Raker tooth shapes, but with slight changes to the cutting angle, gullet-to-tooth ratio, tooth set, etc. to provide unique advantages for special types of cuts. The graphic below shows the difference between tool styles:
Tooth Pitch
Measured as TPI (teeth per inch), tooth pitch determines the number of teeth. More teeth per inch (fine pitch) will cut slower, but smoother; while fewer teeth per inch (coarse pitch) will cut rougher, but faster. As a general rule, choose blades that will have at least three teeth in the material at all times. Use fine-pitched blades on harder woods and coarse-pitched blades on softer woods.
Blade Length
The specific bandsaw blade size that you need depends on the machine that you own. Please check out our Bandsaw Blade Finder for assistance finding a blade to fit your machine.
If your machine is equipped with a riser block, keep in mind that the bandsaw blades shown when searching for your model number will not take the riser block into consideration. In this instance, you will need to search for the blade you need by length or CONTACT US if you're unsure what length you need.
Can't I just measure my blade?
You can measure your bandsaw blade to get a close estimate. We suggest using the bandsaw blade finder tool mentioned above, or you can consult your machine's owner's manual.
To verify the length of your bandsaw blade, follow these simple steps:
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Lay the blade flat on the floor with the teeth facing inward, so it forms a circular shape.
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Position the weld (where the blade is joined) so it is touching the floor.
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Mark the floor directly under the weld using a piece of masking tape or painter’s tape.
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Carefully roll the blade forward along the floor until the weld contacts the floor again.
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Place a second piece of tape at the new weld contact point.
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Measure the distance between the two pieces of tape. This measurement is the approximate blade length.