Band Saw Question

Just a courious question on blades:

Has anyone found a good size blade for cutting out patterns? I have a 14" Delta Band saw and for reasons unknown to me, only have ever bought the heavier size blades, thinking about buying some smaller blades feel they would work better on my patterns? any thoughts?

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I just use the 1/4 in blades.....I tried a 1/8 one time on a shopsmith bandsaw and the blade lasted maybe ten minutes! was not hogging it either! I should maybe try a wolf brand blade on this Ridgid and see what happens, the 1/8 would be much more convenient for cutouts.....I also have a 1/2 for resaw....that I always fail to put on ha ha.

[Mark N. Akers]

The best blades I have found for cuting out patterns is a 1/4" 4tpi skip-tooth blade,it seems to be able to turn very easy at sharp angles.

[dart]

I was resawing with a 3/8" skip tooth. Popped the circuit breaker twice. Now I am thinking of putting a 1/2" general blade on. I looked at the 1/8" blades but I think I'll stick with 1/4" and larger. Probably a lot of truth in that it does matter what brand it is.

[Greyhair]

I have a 14" Delta Bandsaw as well. I tried the 1/8" blade but had a very hard time keeping it on the wheel. It is so narrow it has a tendancy to travel back and forth on the wheel. What is good about this 1/8" blade is the tight turns you can make and the ability to cut out an entire side or front view in one piece so that you can tape it back in place to do the opposite cut.

The 1/4" works much better, stays truer and lasts longer. This requires more cuts and more pieces because it does not allow as fast a turn but it is actually faster because of the amount of wood it can take off in a pass.

[Bob_in_TN]

I have the 14" Delta and don't use anything but the 1/8" Timberwolf blade for cutting out. I've cut out many blanks and I'm still using my first blade. I took a lot of time to set my saw up right the first time, (upper and lower wheels on same plane and parallel to each other), and don't force the cut. When I put my 3/4" skip tooth on for resawing, I push it thru. :>)

Bob

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I ended up buying a 1/4" skipped tooth blade, and its cuts through like melted butter. I had never given a skipped tooth blade a chance b4, what a difference. Again thanks

[Nancy-G]

Ditto Bob in TN.

I didn't know/understand the difference a Timberwolf blade made so wouldn't pay the extra for one. Finally Al Longo gave me one - even put it on my saw to prove his point. Now I'm a believer.

[arbarnhart]

The skip tooth or other rough cut blades make sense as you are cutting thick wood and are going to carve, so why bother with a 15TPI (which a lot of stock 1/8" blades are)? The TW is another animal and you can get aggressive 1/8" blades. I have bee using a 1/4" lately.

[Goody]

Originally Posted by Bob_in_TN

I have the 14" Delta and don't use anything but the 1/8" Timberwolf blade for cutting out. I've cut out many blanks and I'm still using my first blade. I took a lot of time to set my saw up right the first time, (upper and lower wheels on same plane and parallel to each other), and don't force the cut. When I put my 3/4" skip tooth on for resawing, I push it thru. :>)

Bob

Probably the most important thread here. Take a saturday and tune up your band saws it makes all the difference in the world. I run a 1/8 sometimes and when I do I run it at a higher speed than the other blades. The workhorse of my shop is 1/4" blade. With everything tuned in, your guides set right, and some good tires the band saw will cut most patterns with a 1/4 inch blade. My Jet is 14 years old and has the riser block in it to use 105" blades in it and I can still cut a staight line thru 4" stock with no cupping and can slice off a piece that you can see thru. I have two timberwolf blades and they are great but I do just as well with a regular blade if I round the back of the blade with an old sharpening stone. Fine tooth blades aren't all that good for wood. The trick is for your blade to remove the proper amount of sawdust from the kerf. Once you figure out the right tpi and rather to use a raker or hook tooth blade and figure out speed and tension the saw becomes part of the creative procces.
Goody