Popular band saw blade widths

[tbox61]

My wife and I will be near the Springfield, MO, Grizzly tools store next month, and I plan on stocking up on band saw blades. I currently have a 3/16", 4 TPI, skip-tooth blade on my 14" Grizzly saw. While I really like the blade, it was a BOOGER to track and get set right.

What are your favorite width's and tooth sizes? My saw is just used for sawing my carving blanks.

[pallin]

There are many adjustments on every bandsaw, so it may be incorrect to blame the blade. Misaligned guides can quickly destroy the tooth set and cause the blade to wander. This is possibly more likely with a 3/16" blade, but knowing our choice of blade may not solve your problem.

[tbox61]

There are many adjustments on every bandsaw, so it may be incorrect to blame the blade. Misaligned guides can quickly destroy the tooth set and cause the blade to wander. This is possibly more likely with a 3/16" blade, but knowing our choice of blade may not solve your problem.

Pallin...sorry for the misunderstanding...it works just fine, but it was easier to set the saw to the 3/8" blade than the thinner blade.

Just wanting to know what width everyone else is using.

[Claude]

I can highly recommend the 3/16" 4TPI Timberwolf blades from http://www.suffolkmachinery.com. I believe Lynn Doughty uses the same blade. I bought a used Craftsman 9 inch saw, put a new Craftsman 1/4 inch blade on it and couldn't cut diddly. The saw wouldn't track straight and trying to cut anything over 1 inch was impossible. I tried the Timberwolf blade and was amazed. It cut straight, made tight curves to either side, and cut 3 inch basswood and 3.5 inch walnut with no problem. The thick wood was a much slower feed than the 1 inch wood, but it still cut it, and I could do curves to either side in the thick wood. A couple times, I forgot to tension the blade before cutting, and didn't even notice until I was done...it still cut the wood just fine. Suffolk's blade tensioning instructions indicate not nearly as much tension is needed on the Silicon Steel blades...

Claude

[woodburner807]

Timberwolf of any size or shape is my suggestion. My Dad did a lot of bandsaw work and used those blades. I had a small 9-inch bandsaw and the only blades I could use were the Timberwolf.

I'm sure there are others that folks like?

[pallin]

I use the same 3/16" Timberwolf blade mentioned by Claude. No problems.

Phil

[Kadiddle]

Agree with the above supplier. They also will give you suggestions for your saw and task at hand. Have your make and model saw info handy when you call.
Carve On,
Kadiddle

[PHolder]

Question.
If you are cutting thinner material such as 3/8, do you use the same 3/16" blade with a higher tooth count?

[joepaulbutler]

I have a 14" Griz and use the 3/19" x 4T blade from Timberwolf, I keep and extra in the cabinet

[pallin]

Question.
If you are cutting thinner material such as 3/8, do you use the same 3/16" blade with a higher tooth count?

When I need a higher tooth count I switch to a scroll saw, but since most of the machine saw marks will be carved away or sanded I don't worry about them.

[PHolder]

When I need a higher tooth count I switch to a scroll saw, but since most of the machine saw marks will be carved away or sanded I don't worry about them.

Thank you!

[Claude]

I agree with Phil - I use the same blade for everything, from 1/4 inch up to 3.5 inch.

Claude

[mobjack68]

I agree with Phil - I use the same blade for everything, from 1/4 inch up to 3.5 inch.

Claude

Hey Claude, next time you put a 3.5" blade on your bandsaw??? PLEEZE post pics??!!

[Claude]

Hey Claude, next time you put a 3.5" blade on your bandsaw??? PLEEZE post pics??!!

Sorry about that - I meant 1/4 inch thick wood, up to 3.5 inch thick wood... My little nine inch bandsaw would have a fit, so to speak, if I tried putting a 3.5 inch blade on it...

[Jamie Sharp]

Try a thicker blade, like 1/2" or 5/8" if your machine supports it for straight cuts. they stay straighter and wander less.

3/16" and 1/4" blades are more for curved cuts.