Bandsaw blade

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Bandsaw blade

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Stu

Posts: 2521
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

Bandsaw blade

Hello all.

So I bought a fairly cheap bandsaw and it's pretty good. In fact I bloody love using it. never had one. Such a cool saw!

I've still got the stock blade in. I wanna get a better quality one.

Any thing specific for the kind of cuts I'll need to do making a geetar?

Thanks

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 11 2020 11:48:35

RobF

Posts: 1611
Joined: Aug. 24 2017

RE: Bandsaw blade (in reply to Stu)

Congrats on the new toy!

I have a 15” bandsaw and a 10”. I use a 4TPI 3/8” blade on the larger saw, mainly for cutting bigger pieces of timber or thicker ply. The 10” saw sports a 10TPI 1/4” blade and is used for most guitar building tasks.

I use the 10” saw a lot more often than the larger saw. If only one saw were the option I could easily get away with only having it, although a 14” would probably be more versatile. If I only used one saw, I would put a 6TPI 1/4” blade in it.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 11 2020 14:38:43

Stu

Posts: 2521
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: Bandsaw blade (in reply to RobF)

Thanks Rob!

good info. Ill have a look for a 6tpi 1/4''

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 11 2020 16:58:58

Stephen Eden

Posts: 914
Joined: Apr. 12 2008
From: UK

RE: Bandsaw blade (in reply to Stu)

I don't know how big my saw is but it's not huge. It takes 90 1/2 inch blades. I use 6tpi 3/8. I've tried many different blades in the past and this one did everything well enough that I've only used this type for over 10 years.

_____________________________

Classical and Flamenco Guitars www.EdenGuitars.co.uk

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 11 2020 19:09:08

ernandez R

Posts: 737
Joined: Mar. 25 2019
From: Alaska USA

RE: Bandsaw blade (in reply to Stu)

Stu,
Goes without saying that there is hardly another tool that smoothly and painlessly will remove a digit so use caution.

In the US there is a brand called Grizzly that makes superior band saw blades in a verity of sizes.

Always order two cause if you snap one you don't have to wait two weeks to finish a process.

I lube the blade with candle wax but big resaw cuts I'll use a mix of chainsaw bar oil cause it's sticky and two stroke oil cause it's thin. 50/50.

Spend some time becoming familiar with the blade guides and rollers etc and replace it worn or wobbly.

Always unplug the unit before fingering around the blade of course.

HR

_____________________________

I prefer my flamenco guitar spicy,
doesn't have to be fast,
should have some meat on the bones,
can be raw or well done,
as long as it doesn't sound like it's turning green on an elevator floor.

www.instagram.com/threeriversguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 11 2020 21:56:18

Stu

Posts: 2521
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: Bandsaw blade (in reply to ernandez R)

Thanks guys,

Yeah I imagine the bandsaw would make light work of me. 😂

Easy to get complacent I would think too as theres something charming about cutting thin line curves with minimal noise....As, for example, compared to a table saw (pretty menacing)

Anyway just cutting rough stuff for the moment as I make jigs etc

Will purchase a nicer blade when I start building

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 12 2020 16:42:11

Flamingrae

Posts: 220
Joined: May 19 2009

RE: Bandsaw blade (in reply to Stu)

Nice one Stu - you will not regret this and will help so much for prep, roughing all sorts. A healthy respect for H+S is one thing to bear in mind. I have to give myself a little shake every now and then and just remind myself how accidents can happen - all to easily and we become blasé as we become confident.
That aside, my "go to" blades that seem to get most use are 4 or 6 tpi. However, I've got a blade 20mm x 3 tip that is about as big as the machine will cope with. I use this for ripping slabs on the quarter cut. It's a bit nerve racking and I have lots of supports and jigs to help, but it goes through an 8" section of wood straight with little wobble.
Get some extraction, and clean out regularly. The stand alone units are not expensive but they loose their efficiency quickly. If you have space, you might want to get something you can use with a few different machines eg. drum sander??

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 30 2020 11:46:45

Stu

Posts: 2521
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: Bandsaw blade (in reply to Flamingrae)

Flamingrae? Is that you Rae? me ol' mate Rae Duncan?

Nice one!

Yeah doing my best to remind myself of H+S on all my machines, but as you say we get comfortable/blase. urgh

Yeah my bandsaw has decided to no longer let me cut curves. Even the tiniest curve starts to twist the blade. I didnt actually get a new blade yet after the advice on this thread. So I'm gonna order asap. Cos the setup on the saw hasnt changed... so can only be a dull blade right?? (Stock blade - been used but haven't really cut that much on it)

What are you refering to at the end there Rae?

quote:

If you have space, you might want to get something you can use with a few different machines

Extraction unit?

I need one for sure.

I've been carting my vacuum back and forth to each machine..but invariably get lazy and end up not doing that and spreading dust all over. its an issue. Just did a clean up session now actually. Befor ethe Mrs summoned me back inside

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 30 2020 13:33:21

ernandez R

Posts: 737
Joined: Mar. 25 2019
From: Alaska USA

RE: Bandsaw blade (in reply to Stu)

Stu,

What I've done to various degrees over the years is build a box outside of the shop to house the "shop Vac" as we call them in the states. Then just start buying sections of hose until you can reach everything in your shop. It might be time invest in the most powerful one you can afford.

Cut a suitable hole in the wall for the hose and the power cord. I run the cord inside the shop to a small suitably rated heavy duty power strip that has a switch. I plug a light into the power strip so I don't forget to turn off the vacuum.

Just getting rid of the noise of the vacuum will improve the mental quality of working in the shop as well as protect your lungs from the small particles that bypass the filter.

On my band saw I have taped some bits of cardboard around the open parts under the cutting table to improve dust extraction, the same for my table saw, Nothing fancy mind you but it makes a big difference.

When I need maximum extraction I pull the filters and run my shop vac commando, it's messy but outside in the box instead of in the shop is worth it when compared with the long term damage ones lungs are exposed to.

I use the paper bags in the shop vac but not the ones rated for high filtration as they plug up faster. Not using the bags tends to FOD* out the filter on the motor

* foreign object damage , aviation term

About the band saw blades: the ones that come with the saw are dodgy at best. Buy a few better quality ones and don't forget to get a fine tooth blade for steel or thin materials.

Rule of thumb: blade tooth count, when cutting thinner material is a tooth count that allowed two teeth to contact the material while cutting.

Spend some time watching setup videos online with a mind to filter out the rubbish and bookmark the ones that help the most.

Been dealing with a F'load of pain as my foot heals but wanted to pop in and share this with you. Back to lurk mode...

HR

_____________________________

I prefer my flamenco guitar spicy,
doesn't have to be fast,
should have some meat on the bones,
can be raw or well done,
as long as it doesn't sound like it's turning green on an elevator floor.

www.instagram.com/threeriversguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 30 2020 15:59:04

Stu

Posts: 2521
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: Bandsaw blade (in reply to ernandez R)

Thanks for sharing your setup there!
I rent my property so holes in workshop wall (and the many other adaptations I've conjured up in my minds eye) aren't really possible.

Definitely gonna work something more substantial out for dust collection as I plod along.

Thanks for the added bandsaw blade/general bandsaw hints too. Much appreciated!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 30 2020 19:59:53

RobF

Posts: 1611
Joined: Aug. 24 2017

RE: Bandsaw blade (in reply to ernandez R)

quote:

Been dealing with a F'load of pain as my foot heals but wanted to pop in and share this with you. Back to lurk mode...

While on the subject, I’ve been reading that there’s been a rash of Bigfoot print sightings reported in your neck of the woods. Speculation is that fear of the novel virus has driven the legendary beast far north from his native habitat in the wilds of British Columbia and it is thought that he may now be lurking about in the foothills of Alaska.

You wouldn’t happen to know anything about this, would you?....

*Kidding aside, I’ve been laid up with foot problems before, and I know it’s no fun. Probably shouldn’t joke about it.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 30 2020 22:41:12

Stu

Posts: 2521
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: Bandsaw blade (in reply to RobF)

quote:

While on the subject, I’ve been reading that there’s been a rash of Bigfoot print sightings reported in your neck of the woods. Speculation is that fear of the novel virus has driven the legendary beast far north from his native habitat in the wilds of British Columbia and it is thought that he may now be lurking about in the foothills of Alaska.

You wouldn’t happen to know anything about this, would you?....

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2020 10:42:35

Flamingrae

Posts: 220
Joined: May 19 2009

RE: Bandsaw blade (in reply to Stu)

quote:

Yeah my bandsaw has decided to no longer let me cut curves. Even the tiniest curve starts to twist the blade. I didnt actually get a new blade yet after the advice on this thread. So I'm gonna order asap. Cos the setup on the saw hasnt changed... so can only be a dull blade right?? (Stock blade - been used but haven't really cut that much on it)

What are you refering to at the end there Rae?
quote:

If you have space, you might want to get something you can use with a few different machines

Yes, it me!! Ha!
If you are after curves, a thin blade ie. width is what you need to reduce. Don't know where you are ordering up from in the UK but Tilgear has a good selection of widths/TPI - you can order and customise the blades to suit and they make up to order.
At the end - the bigger the extraction unit, the more machinery you can connect to. It just saves hassle. It might be worth a bit of research so you can get something with a twin pipe or that you can disconnect/connect easily between machines. The efficiency on most smaller machines is greatly reduced by the time it is 1/4 to 1/3 full so empty regularly even though it's not full.
I'm in a bit a hiatus at the mo. I have my latest build back from the studio but there were a few cases of CV19 there so not been back for a while. The garden is keeping me sane right now.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2020 15:18:19

Stu

Posts: 2521
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: Bandsaw blade (in reply to Flamingrae)

finally got my new blades! cuts like a dream. That old stock blade must've been absolute garbage!!!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 13 2020 21:20:54

Stu

Posts: 2521
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: Bandsaw blade (in reply to Stu)

I know it's maybe a tricky tHing to measure due to what kind of usage etc... But how long before bandsaw blades go blunt.

Feel like one of my new ones is starting to dull. Haven't used it that much....I don't think.

Although I did cut a few deep chunks when making a mold

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 27 2020 18:38:11

Stephen Eden

Posts: 914
Joined: Apr. 12 2008
From: UK

RE: Bandsaw blade (in reply to Stu)

Mould making will definitely reduce it's life quickly. The glues used in Ply and to a lesser extent MDF will dull a blade quite quickly.

If I put a new blade on I can make the moulds and then make 4 guitars. Making sure to cut as much of the soft woods as I can first then do the rosewoods ebony and binding. A blade for my band saw is only £15 so it doesn't make sense to struggle.

I've also find that a well tuned bandsaw will keep it's blade in better condition for longer.

_____________________________

Classical and Flamenco Guitars www.EdenGuitars.co.uk

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 27 2020 22:12:34