What Impacts the Tooth Life of Bi-Metal Band Saw Blades

A crucial tool in the cutting of a variety of materials including Wood, Metal and Plastic is bi-metal band saw blades. Do you know what cuts the tooth life of these blades? Let's find out

Understanding how a given material affects the life expectancy of bi-metal band saw blades

Higher-end band saw blades have a bi-metal construction meaning two types of metal fused into one. Materials like wood will be rather soft, and those like metal are harder. However, the teeth of the blade can become dull at a more rapid pace when cutting through harder materials. So, yes, the blade will probably need replacing sooner if you cut a lot of tough materials. Be sure to select the proper blade for the material you are cutting or risk a short lifespan

But routine maintenance goes a long way in getting more life out of bi-metal band saw blades

It is very important to keep your bi metal band saw blade clean and sharp. The blade can accumulate sawdust and other debris, making it dull more quickly. This buildup can be avoided by using a brush to clean your blade or compressed air occasionally. Also keep your blade sharp and sharpen it when it becomes dull. Either you can do this at home or take the blade to a specialist for sharpening

Relationship of Cutting Speed and Blade Life in Bi-Metal Band Saw Blades

It is also true that the speed at which you cut materials can influence your bi metal bandsaw blade to live long. Too rapid cut can damage the teeth on the blade sooner. Finding that balance between speed and the life of your blade is key. If your blade is wearing out faster than you would expect, then reduce the pace in cutting speed and see if that helps prolong the life of a blade

For example, how the speed of the material fed into the saw blade will effect on its lifespan

Pushing material into the saw blade too quickly can also stress the teeth, putting extra wear on them. To avoid this, it is important to provide a steady stream of material into the blade. If you push material past it as quick as you can, you could wear the blade out faster and have to replace it more frequently. Just hang on and let that minx of a blade get to work

Why your bi-metal band saw blades tooth life are minimized when blade tension is not correctly set

Proper blade tension helps to keep that bimetal bandsaw blades last as long as it possibly can. When the blade is too baggy, it may get off-track during the cut, causing unnecessary wheel spin and extra force on dental. If the blade is too tight, however, it can lead to early wear of teeth. Proper tension in your blade, of course, is key to achieving its maximum tooth life. Make sure to check the tension periodically and adjust is accordingly

Finally, there are a few things that affect the tooth life of bi-metal band saw blades. Know the Effect of Different Materials, Clean and Sharpen Your Blade More Often, Control Cutting Speed and Feed Rate, Keep Proper Blade Tension: Beyond that understanding what types of materials a blade works best with, more frequent cleaning & sharpening cycles can buy you time in cutting efficiency as well as speed + feed settings — which depends greatly on metal type too. Do not forget to use the appropriate blade for cutting material also and to maintain it well so that it can last longer. So, with these tips in hand, your bimetal bandsaw blade is nearly well-prepared to perform whatever task you might make its way