Determining Your Blade
Sometimes it’s hard to choose the right blade for your cutting needs. Whether you are a hobbyist, manufacturer or just need a blade for your machine in the garage, DeWALT BAND SAW BLADES has the best blade available for whatever application you are looking for.
1. Find your blade size. You will need to know the thickness of the blade your machine uses (.025” or .035”), along with the length of blade your machine uses (for example, 7’-9 1/2” or 93.5″). You can usually find your blade specs on the data plate of your machine. Below is a PDF file that can be used to find your blade specs based on machine makes and models.
1/2" Blades
Small Materials: 1/2″ – 3/4″ = 8/12
Larger Materials: 3/4″ – 1″ = 6/10
Tubing: Up To 1/4″ Wall = 8/12
3/4" Blades
Small Materials: 1/2″ – 3/4″ = 8/12
Large Materials: 1″ and Up = 4/6
1" Blades
Small Materials: 1/2″ – 3/4″ = 8/12
Large Materials: 1″ and Up = 4/6
3. Find the cutting speed and feed for the material you are cutting.This speed is known as Surface Feet Per Minute (SFPM). You can find the minimum and maximum speeds of your machine in your user manual or on the data plate of your machine. Also, there are various types of machines and it is very important to determine which type of machine you have for the correct blade.
Caution: Wood cutting machines will run speeds around 1200-3000 SFPM; whereas metal cutting machines run at speeds of 50-400 SFPM. Therefore, when using a wood cutting machine to cut metal, can result in blade breakage, stripped teeth and/or rapidly dulling teeth.
For your sawing rate, start out with the down feed lightly, as the shape and color of the chips offers data as to the cutting pressure and thermal load on the saw blade.
If you see very fine or pulverized chips, this indicates the blade feed rate should be increased.
If you see thick, heavy or blue-colored chips, your blade is being overloaded.
Loosely coiled chips indicates ideal cutting conditions.
