A properly used and maintained bandsaw is a great addition to any workshop. A bandsaw does many of the tasks that your other power tools will do. Being able to recognize and understand the various types of bandsaw blades is as important to your workshop as a good bandsaw itself.

With a proper bandsaw blade you get a better cleaner cut. The job is done safer and in a healthier environment. Having the proper bandsaw blades makes the cut much more easier to execute.

Types of Blades

There are three major types of blades. Each blade offers a cut that is best for the different materials being cut. Using the proper type of bandsaw blade is an essential part of any bandsaw project.

Regular Tooth – These are the perfect bandsaw blades for those finer cuts you need to make in the material. The teeth are extremely fine and make for an extremely smooth cut. It is not suggested that you do a resawing project with a regular tooth blade. Instead, use one of the other blades mentioned below.

Hook Tooth – These are the perfect blades for difficult and hard materials. This is an extremely aggressive blade and should not be used by novices to the bandsaw. The hook tooth blade cuts a 10 degree rake angle.

Skip Tooth – These are the perfect blades for softer and easier types of materials. This is considered a perfect all-purpose blade. It is an excellent blade for resawing. This skip tooth blade cuts a 0 degree rake angle making it perfect for the average user. These blades are probably the most used by bandsaw users.

The more teeth your blade has per inch, the smoother the cut achieved. However, the smoother the cut, the slower the cutting action. Having at least 3 teeth in your material at every turn of the blade is optimal. This gives added security to your project, keeping you safe from harm. If you want to resaw a piece of material, you need an aggressive blade. The wider a blade width is, the more stability you will get and the more straight the cut will be. A more narrow blade will give a tighter cut that is perfect for a more detailed project. As a rule of thumb, use the widest blade your project can handle. This adds safety to your project.

Safety should always be your first concern. If you are using the correct bandsaw blade for the task at hand, not only will the cut be cleaner, but it will be safer at the same time.