W1770 21" Bandsaw w/Foot Brake
Blade Length
Measured by the circumference, blade lengths are usually unique to the brand of your bandsaw and the distance between wheels. This saw uses 165" long blades.
Blade Width
Measured from the back of the blade to the tip of the blade tooth (the widest point), blade width is often the first consideration given to blade selection. Blade width dictates the largest and smallest curve that can be cut, as well as how accurately it can cut a straight line.
This saw uses blades from 1⁄4" to 13⁄8" in width. Always pick the size of blade that best suits your application.
•Curve Cutting: Use the chart in Figure 60 to deter- mine the correct blade for curve cutting. Determine the smallest radius curve that will be cut on your workpiece and use the corresponding blade width.
•Straight Cutting: Use the largest width blade that you own. Large blades excel at cutting straight lines and are less prone to wander.
1/2"
Width | / | 21/2" |
| 3 8" | |
Blade |
| |
1/4" | 11/4" | |
| 3/16" | 5/8" |
| 1/8" | 3/8" |
| 1/8" | |
|
|
Cutting Radius
Figure 60. Blade width cutting radii.
Tooth Style
Figure 61 illustrates the three main tooth styles:
•Raker: Considered to be the standard because the tooth size and shape are the same as the tooth gullet. The teeth on raker blades usually are very numerous, have no angle, and produce cuts by scrap- ing the material; these characteristics result in very smooth cuts, but do not cut fast and generate more heat than other types while cutting.
•Skip: Similar to a raker blade that is missing every other tooth. Because of the design, skip toothed blades have a much larger gullet than raker blades, and therefore, cut faster and generate less heat. However, these blades also leave a rougher cut than raker blades.
•Hook: The teeth have a positive angle (downward) which makes them dig into the material, and the gullets are usually rounded for easier waste removal. These blades are excellent for the tough demands of resawing and ripping thick material.
Raker Skip Hook
Figure 61. Raker, Skip & Hook tooth
styles.
OPERATIONS
