Best bandsaw blade size for cutting patterns?

[ghaugen]

Hello everyone! I was wondering what is your preferred bandsaw blade size for cutting out patterns on blocks?

Thanks in advance.

[JIM QUILICI]

depends........

How thick of block you cut....If it is more that 6-7 inches a thin blade will wander from top to bottom....for blocks from around 1-5 inches I like 3/16 skip tooth...or hook tooth....that what I like.....that what works for me.

Jim

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I like to have a 1/2 inch blade around for resaw...been using 1/4 4 tpi, but next order will probably go to the 3/16" ...you should gets lots of different opinions on this one!

[BobT]

A 3/16 Skip tooth, 4 teeth to the inch. Dress the back of the blade. Darn near like a scroll saw.

I just bought a new blade yesterday. I have been a fan of Timberwolf blades for a long time. They didn't have the one I needed at Woodcraft so I bought the Olsen brand. It cuts real nice. I expect it will give good life.

Stay away from the 10 teeth per inch. It does not cut as smooth. That may seem counter-intuitive. But, the softer the wood, the fewer teeth per inch, to clear out all the sawdust.

Bob

[Mitchell]

I have an 1/2" Timberwolf on right now.....it's a little too wide to make any sharp turns, but I'm too lazy to change it... Besides, I like to remove more wood with a knife or gouge than with a saw.

To cut out deeper on the blank instead of trying to make sharp turns, I just back it out and make another cut.

[Ron T]

What would you guys recommend for really hardwood like Purpleheart. I want to get a blade that will rip as well as crosscut on 3/4" to 1" thick pieces.

[Claude]

Ron:
I use the 3/16 4TPI Timberwolf blade when cutting anything from 1/4 inch basswood to 3.5 inch black walnut. The thicker wood just goes a little slower. I've cut olive, purpleheart, padauk, walnut, maple, basswood, oak, pine, plus others, and never had a problem as long as I didn't try to push the wood too fast... and all this has been done on my little 9 inch (under-powered) Craftsman. The Timberwolf blades also track straight, unlike the Sears blades.

Claude

[Ron T]

Originally Posted by Claude

Ron:
I use the 3/16 4TPI Timberwolf blade when cutting anything from 1/4 inch basswood to 3.5 inch black walnut. The thicker wood just goes a little slower. I've cut olive, purpleheart, padauk, walnut, maple, basswood, oak, pine, plus others, and never had a problem as long as I didn't try to push the wood too fast... and all this has been done on my little 9 inch (under-powered) Craftsman. The Timberwolf blades also track straight, unlike the Sears blades.

Claude

Claude,

Thank you for the information. I, too, am running a small 9" Craftsman and you're absolutely right on about the Sears blade not tracking. I'll order a new Timberwolf blade.