bandsaw blade selection

Re: bandsaw blade selection

TD

>Try Timberwolf 3 teeth per inch x 3/8" wide. You can buy at many woodworking stores or order direct from PS Wood at 1 800 939 4414 or www.pswood.com

Re: Timberwolf's AS style of blade is recommended

Al Crandall

>Timberwolf's AS style of blade is recommended for cutting green wood. It has a wider kerf to carry away the gummy wet dust and will be a boon to you if you are cutting the blanks into rounds. Suffolk Machinery is the manufacturer of these blades and when I talked to them they told me that the AS blades were what I needed for green wood.

Re: bandsaw blade selection

Pete L

>Depends on the diameter of your smallest blank. Due to the fact that you will be cutting some heavy thicknesses and do not really need a fine finish, a coarse tooth blade is best. Mine currently is a 1/4" x 4 tooth per inch. Once is craps out, will probably be looking towards maybe a 3/8 inch blade. I'm relatively new to the bowl world, but old to wood working. Have roughed out nearly 3 dozen bowls in the 6-12" diameter & 6" tall range with no ill effects. Have learned to keep a screw driver on hand to tap into the kerf as I proceed cutting, as some pieces of wood want to move as I am cutting an clamp down on the blade & stall the saw. Good luck.

Re: bandsaw blade selection

jared

>remove 1 for email

Hello: Just call timberwolf directly. They have always been very helpful to me. The nice people there will ask you specifically what saw you have and what you want to cut and they will get the right blade for you. Their shipping has always been fast for me too. Jared

Re: bandsaw blade selection

tek

>a 1/2" or 3/8" blade will do. I'm currently using the Timberwolf AS 3tpi inch blade right now and it is fine. I've also used 3 or 4 tpi hook tooth blades. I don't see a dramatic difference between them. Maybe the Timberwolf will outlast the other blades I haven't used it long enough to find out. Dirt and grit dull blades. Clean as much off your wood as practical before cutting and you will extend blade life.

Re: bandsaw blade selection

Rusty

>I use a "furniture" blade 3/8" 3 TPI, 0.032". it has deeper gullets and is recommended for cutting wet blanks. Get mine from R&D BS in Toronto.

Re: bandsaw blade selection

bill Crommett in seneca

>Fine Woodworking did a test on bandsaw blades and came up with two winners: Timberwolf and Woodslicer.

Bill

Re: Timberwolf's AS

Lyn J. Mangiameli

>This is my preference as well, in a 3/8 or 1/2 inch size with 3-4 TPI depending on the blank size you are shooting for (since I usually try to cut arount 16 inches, I generally use the 1/2).

Frankly, I wish these blades had even more set for an even wider kerf for dealing with wet woods that can swell. Still, this is the best deal I've found for cutting rough blanks.

Re: bandsaw blade selection

Jay Dunham

>Actually, FW didn't really like the Timber Wolf blades. The AS got at Very Good for speed but only a Fair for smoothness. I was a bit surprised--always been happy with them myself. They recommended the Wood Slicer, the Delta Platinum Pro, and, for value, the BC Saw blades (at $10 each).

Re: Timberwolf's AS style of blade is recommended

Doug Trembath

>Thought maybe I'd chime in here with a funny story. I was talking to a guy that makes his living selling bowl blanks in California one day about saw bands. I told him it was amazing how some blades would go bad so quickly, and others seemed to last forever, all from the same batch. Keep in mind, I cut a lot of blanks, big and small.

His response was immediate, and delivered with a smile and much gusto. "The ones with a kink in them last the longest, don't they?"

Well, I had to admit he was right. Subsequently, I have determined that a small kink will cause a wider kerf, which although anathema in the woodworking world, makes it much easier to cut irregular wood into blanks, and extending the life of the band.

I tried the Suffolk Timberwolf AS from a supplier here in Pittsburgh, and understandably paid $28 for a 12' band. It cut nicely at first, but one small patch of dirt in some bark and it's benefit was gone. Again, I cut a lot of wood, so this may not apply to all.

I went back to the local saw distributor, who uses Lenox stock, I believe, and get them for 8-9 bucks apiece, and they last quite a bit longer, albeit without the additional set. I have asked them if they could increase the set, without getting a clear answer, so who knows. I know that if I had asked my distributor in LA to increase the set while resharpening, they could have done it by adjusting the machine.

Anyway, the larger the kerf, (within reason), the less heat from friction and sap/resin buildup, and the less wear on the band as well as side wear on the teeth. No reasonable remedy for the dirt, sand, rocks, and metal I keep finding, though. A drywall screw will also very effectively remove any sharpness if you need it to. DAMHIKT

My biggest problem is trying to get it to cut just one more blank before I change it, and then that one is done, and I ask for just one more. It's the bandsaw's fault, I tell ya!!!

Doug Trembath

Studio in the Woods

Re: Timberwolf's AS style of blade is recommended

Ruth Niles

>Doug, after reading your post, I realized I could have written it! : )

The blade with the kink absolutely lasts the longest and "one more cut" is my mantra! Seriously, a slight kink really does offer a wider kerf and isn't any more a grab threat than a new 3 tpi off-set blade.

Thanks for the smile.

PA Ruth

Re: bandsaw blade selection

Mark Kauder. Phenix City, AL

>Jay,

Finish is the last thing you worry about for cutting out bowl blanks. That is why the AS is made - green wood...roughing.

The Woodslicer is fantastic for resawing - almost no set the the kerf - so super thin cuts, tracks straight, and great finish.

Two blades, two different purposes. The AS is equivalent of a 36 tooth ripping blade (just get me though the wood) on a TS, and the Woodslicer is a 80 tooth crosscut (fantactic finish).

Mark

Re: bandsaw blade selection

Heather A

>Thank you all for the suggestions. I will probably call for prices on the timberwolf tomorrow, but might consider the delta platinum because I can get that one locally. I don'tknow what I an doing so I might just end up with a kink pretty soon anyway!

Heather

Re: Timberwolf's AS style of blade is recommended

Doug Trembath

>Aw, Gee, Ruthie....(blush, blush...)

Anything for my favorite woodturness...

Doug Trembath

Studio in the Woods

Re: bandsaw blade selection

Jay Dunham

>Mark,

I agree, of course, that speed is more important than finish on bowl blanks. Being lazy, I try to keep a good all-around blade on the BS to minimize changes, however. At any rate, my initial comment was just clarifying the Fine Woodworking ratings. As it happens, they rate the Woodslicer speed as Excellent and the AS blade as Very Good. Can't prove it by me--I've only got AS blades for my machine.

Jay