Bandsaw Blade Brands, Models, Widths and TPI?

[Dan Clark]

After thinking about it for awhile (10 years), I've decided to buy a Laguna 14|Twelve (http://www.lagunatools.com/bandsaws/1412-Bandsaw) as my first bandsaw. It's the right size and has the right features for my needs - ripping, creating router table templates, some scroll work (nothing tight), and especially resawing.

Now the key question is: Which blades? The Laguna Resaw King looks like a good option for resawing. Past that, I'm not quite sure what to buy for more general use and for scrolling. Laguna is supposed to make good blades (http://www.lagunatools.com/14-Twelve-Blade-Info) and Lennox has a good reputation. Any other brands I should consider? Recommended widths and TPI?  What do you use and for what type of cutting?

Thanks for any feedback.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I keep a 1/2" 3tpi band on all the time.  I used a 1/4" band once.  I used a 3/4" 2tpi as well. 

I still keep the 1/2" on all the time, works for everything I do and I don't really like changing a 19 foot long band all the time.

 

[Dan Clark]

I keep a 1/2" 3tpi band on all the time.  I used a 1/4" band once.  I used a 3/4" 2tpi as well. 

I still keep the 1/2" on all the time, works for everything I do and I don't really like changing a 19 foot long band all the time.

Thanks for the feedback.  It sounds like a 3TPI 1/2" is probably going to be my go-to blade. 

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I agree with 3 tpi 1/2 inch for general work.  It does 95 percent of what I need.  I'll put on a wider blade for resawing tall pieces, but thats about it.  I buy midrange blades from Olson and toss them when they get dull or I start a project with precious wood.

Laguna is a good choice!

 

[Iceclimber]

I'mno help on blades but i can say i love my 3/4 resaw king for resawing.

I also need a general purpose blade but have yet to get one.

THE SAW IS AWESOME!

Wish my electrical service could handles the 16" but the reality is i just wanted it did not need it..

You'll love the saw

 

[Dan Clark]

I agree with 3 tpi 1/2 inch for general work.  It does 95 percent of what I need.  I'll put on a wider blade for resawing tall pieces, but thats about it.  I buy midrange blades from Olson and toss them when they get dull or I start a project with precious wood.

Laguna is a good choice!

Jesse,

Which Olson blades do you use? 

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[Dan Clark]

I'mno help on blades but i can say i love my 3/4 resaw king for resawing.

I also need a general purpose blade but have yet to get one.

THE SAW IS AWESOME!

Wish my electrical service could handles the 16" but the reality is i just wanted it did not need it..

You'll love the saw

Iceclimber,

You have one!  Awesome!!!  Now I know who to bug... uhmmm... courteously ask questions.  [smile]  Speaking of questions...

It looks like you have a 4" to 2-1/2" down converter attached to the dust port.  How well does that work for you?  Do you use a Festool CT?

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[Iceclimber]

Yes i do. So far just my Rigid shop vac has been hooked up to it. It helps and is by far better thAn nothing but it still makes a huge mess. Honestly i kinda gave up and just clean up every 20-30 minutes when using the bansaw so it does not get outa control.

Ill try the CT for you tomorrow and let you know. Tbh i think it will require real dust collection to take care of the dust. I am always working with or resWing 8/4-4/4 hardwoods like teak, mahogany and figured maples so that may also have something to do with my dust mess.

Whats a real mess is when i, using my dewalt planer and the bandsaw at the same time. Is just a loosing battle that ends in a giant mess and a head full of nasty sawdust boogers...

Check out the last pic, lumber heaven!

Got 15bf of some amazing birdseye from them last week. Ill get you pics when the project is done. It will be a while.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I can't tell you who makes my band stock, I just have my saw doctor cut to length and weld them.

I have been using this bimetal blade for a year and cut a lot of 8" thick ipe with it.

 

[Dan Clark]

Yes i do. So far just my Rigid shop vac has been hooked up to it. It helps and is by far better thAn nothing but it still makes a huge mess. Honestly i kinda gave up and just clean up every 20-30 minutes when using the bansaw so it does not get outa control.

Ill try the CT for you tomorrow and let you know. Tbh i think it will require real dust collection to take care of the dust. I am always working with or resWing 8/4-4/4 hardwoods like teak, mahogany and figured maples so that may also have something to do with my dust mess.

Whats a real mess is when i, using my dewalt planer and the bandsaw at the same time. Is just a loosing battle that ends in a giant mess and a head full of nasty sawdust boogers...

Check out the last pic, lumber heaven!

Got 15bf of some amazing birdseye from them last week. Ill get you pics when the project is done. It will be a while.

Iceclimber,

First, that's some serious wood porn you have there - pure XXX stuff! 

One of the first things I'm going to try it hooking up my Festool DC setup.  My setup is:

• Festool tools - 27 or 36mm hose to the CT.
  
• Dewalt DW735 thickness planer - 50mm hose from planer to mini-cyclone, and 50mm from cyclone to CT
  
• Dewalt DW7480 table saw - 36mm hose to CT
  
• Triton router in router table - 50 mm hose from fence to one side of CT "Y" adapter plus 36 MM  with 27 mm adapter from Triton router dust port to other side of CT "Y". 

Overall this has worked well for me.  The thickness planer drops some chips on the bed and floor, and generates some fine dust in the air.  For the rest, it's almost completely dust free.  I'm hoping that the mini-cyclone plus CT will work well with the bandsaw.  I definitely want to see how your CT works with the bandsaw.

On another forum, one fellow said that he cut out the bars in the dust port.  Apparently the collection still wasn't perfect, but it was better than when the bars were blocking airflow.  I would be hesitant to butcher my new bandsaw, but it's something to think about.

I suspect using the bandsaw and the planer at the same time would tax any DC system, especially if you're resawing.  If you're getting some nastys up the nose after you change to a Festool vac, you might want to consider something like a Trend Airshield Pro (http://www.amazon.com/Trend-Q4-Airshield-Clip-On-Defenders/dp/B002Q0Y5A8/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1416358721&sr=1-1&keywords=trend+airshield). Peter Parfitt did a review on them here: http://festoolownersgroup.com/other-tool-reviews/trend-airshield-pro-video-review/.  I'm looking at them because I have some dust allergies.  They are pricey, but still...

I'm looking forward to seeing your pics.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Tinker]

I use 1/2" 3tpi Timberwolf.  I tried using 1/4" once but it is a PITA changing back and forth.  If I need to cut a curve any tighter than possible with the 1/2" blade, i just nibble close and then go to work with rasps and/or sand paper.  I have a very cheap out of production Reliant 16" BS that is somewhat underpowered for resawing.  It is supposed to be able to do 12" for resaw, but in hardwoods, with extreme care, a fresh band and lots of time to spare, i can do a reasonable job up to 8".  I have done 10" resaw, but it takes forever.

If I am doing a lot of cutting with the BS, i have a squre fitting that in magnetic that i mount under the table an my CT 33 will capture much of the dust.  The saw was not designed for DC, but I can capture most of the dust.  There is a lot of very fine airborne dust that I don't seem to capture no matter how i try.  For that, i do have an old Delta air cleaner that I run whenever I am using the BS.  I leave that running for at least a half hour after I am finished using the BS.

I agonized for a long time over getting a BS, much as you, Dan.  You did it right by getting a good one.  I did not think I wood use it very much, so I just grabbed the cheapest I could get. Once it found its way into my shop, I have found many uses.  I am sorry i did not get a better one.  Of course, at the time, one feature that was not available on almost any BS is DC.  Now, many have at least one point for DC.  some, even have two locations for DC.

You will find a lot more uses than you have thought about, I am sure.  If you ever want to throw yours out, I wood be real happy to take it off your hands.  :
Tinker

 

[Tinker]

I keep a 1/2" 3tpi band on all the time.  I used a 1/4" band once.  I used a 3/4" 2tpi as well. 

I still keep the 1/2" on all the time, works for everything I do and I don't really like changing a 19 foot long band all the time.

Darcey, If it's big, you are sure tot have it.  [wink]
How many FPM does that band move.  I am sure that one revolution would go thru a few feet of oak in any thickness.  [blink]
Tinker

 

[Tinker]

Yes i do. So far just my Rigid shop vac has been hooked up to it. It helps and is by far better thAn nothing but it still makes a huge mess. Honestly i kinda gave up and just clean up every 20-30 minutes when using the bansaw so it does not get outa control.

Ill try the CT for you tomorrow and let you know. Tbh i think it will require real dust collection to take care of the dust. I am always working with or resWing 8/4-4/4 hardwoods like teak, mahogany and figured maples so that may also have something to do with my dust mess.

Whats a real mess is when i, using my dewalt planer and the bandsaw at the same time. Is just a loosing battle that ends in a giant mess and a head full of nasty sawdust boogers...

Check out the last pic, lumber heaven!

Got 15bf of some amazing birdseye from them last week. Ill get you pics when the project is done. It will be a while.

Iceclimber, Read my reply to Dan. I don't use my BS as much as you probably do, but that square getting with the magnet located under the table and as close to the blade as possible does handle quite a bit of dust before it gets inside of the saw or out into the air.  I use the CT 33.  The newer CT's have a lot greater airflow so i am sure they could do a lot towards eliminating cleanup time for you.

You have the same planer that I have.  There is no way my CT 33 will even begin to handle the dust and chips from that.  the hose wood be clogged in a minute.  I do have a larger PennState model with four inch dust hose tat does handle the dust.  I run thru a larger trash can with a DC top that is supposedly acting like a cyclone top.  There is still about 15 -20% of the solids that find their way into the DC, but the trash can does save a lot of struggle. 

I don't know, right off hand, what model DC I have, but at the time I got it, it was PennState's smallest.

I have run the planer for much of a day while doing the milling of rought lumber while keeping up with three carpenters.  There was very little cleanup at the end of the day.  When working alone, there is almost no cleanup needed at end of a project. I little on the platforms, both indeed and out feed tables. 

The four inch hose is the difference maker.
Tinker

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I keep a 1/2" 3tpi band on all the time.  I used a 1/4" band once.  I used a 3/4" 2tpi as well. 

I still keep the 1/2" on all the time, works for everything I do and I don't really like changing a 19 foot long band all the time.

Darcey, If it's big, you are sure tot have it.  [wink]
How many FPM does that band move.  I am sure that one revolution would go thru a few feet of oak in any thickness.  [blink]
Tinker

It is direct drive, 600 rpm motor. 

That puts the tip speed of the band at 65 mph.

 

[Wooden Skye]

I have a 14" Grizzly with riser block.  I use the Woodslicer blades from Highland Woodworking.  They come in different lengths, TPI and thicknesses.  I have had no problem resawing oak and maple, however with the power of the saw, the feed rate is slower.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I agree with 3 tpi 1/2 inch for general work.  It does 95 percent of what I need.  I'll put on a wider blade for resawing tall pieces, but thats about it.  I buy midrange blades from Olson and toss them when they get dull or I start a project with precious wood.

Laguna is a good choice!

Jesse,

Which Olson blades do you use? 

Thanks,

Dan.

I use Olson HEFB blades.  Nothing special, but they do a decent job, last a good while, and don't cost much.  Like most folks, I treat bandsaw blades as consumables, not really economical to resharpen.

BTW, Darcy has the right idea.  If you will be using the bandsaw a lot, a coil of blade material and a cutter/welder saves $$ in the long run.

 

[Dan Clark]

Folks,

Thanks for the help and advice.  Since this is my first bandsaw, I decided to go conservative and get Laguna blades to start out:

Pro King Carbide - 3/4", 2.3 - 2.5 TPI Variable
Pro Force - 1/2", 3 TPI
Pro Force - 1/4", 6 TPI

Once the 14|Twelve is in place and I get some experience with it, I'll experiment with other blades.

FYI... Rockler is having a sale on the 14|Twelve now.  The work light is free.  That's the good news.  The bad news is that they are sold out.  Apparently they are selling like hotcakes.  I placed a deposit on the saw, blades, and wheel kit to lock in the price, but it will be at least a week before it will be available.  Oh well.

Again, thanks!

Dan.

 

[grbmds]

Just something to consider. If this is a 14" machine (and I thought it was), most material I've read and others that I would consider expert woodworkers, generally don't believe that a 3/4" blade is needed or adds anything in the way of stability. In fact, some have said that a 3/4" blade may even reduce the power from the motor which is being directed at the actual resawing to drive the extra weight of the blade. At any rate, I've found that a 1/2" blade works just fine for resawing if the saw and guides are set right. I understand that it is common in Canada to use a 3/8" blade which works just fine (but I don't have any hard evidence of that).

 

[Dan Clark]

grbmds,

Thanks for the feedback.  Unfortunately, I've already ordered the blade.  Fortunately, the 14-12 has a fairly hefty 1-3/4hp motor and the blade has a fairly thin kerf (.024").  It's actually thinner than the 1/2" blade (.025")  So I think I'll go ahead with the Pro King.

If anyone is interested, I can run a resaw test comparing the Pro King 3/4" to the Proforce 1/2" blade.  I have some 8/4 X 12" Oak (white I think) that might be a good test board.  Could be interesting.

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[JeromeM]

Now the key question is: Which blades?

There is a very interesting video dealing with bandsaw blades the maker of the video sharpens all his blades before using them and resharpens them up to 4 time AFIR. The process starts at about 11 mins in. With a new blade his cut time goes from 25.6 sec. To the same new blade sharpened time of 6.9 sec.


Also if you want an expert then Ian of Tuff Saws who is a bandsaw blade specialist will give very good advice. He is happy to ship overseas if you want to buy from him.

http://www.tuffsaws.co.uk/blade-buying-guide

Disclaimer.  [wink]
I have no relationship with him other than as a satisfied customer