Blade Selection

**Salted Nuts** · 13th July 2008, 11:57 AM

Hi Guys,

I have recently purchased the BP-355 from Hare & Forbes in Brisbane. I have only had the chance to play a couple of times, but all seems to be aligned well and cutting straight. The blade supplied is rubbish (as previous posts indicate).

I went to Peacock Saws the other day and although the person serving behind the counter was friendly and polite, they did not seem to be able to give advice on blade selection. I can only assume my limited knowledge and lack of comunication skills could have been the reason for this response

. After advising that I wanted to use the machine for ripping 200mm White Beech and 75mm recycled hardwood, I was refered to the hobby blade section of their blade book and given blade sizes and TPI, but no indication of the optimum blade for this use.

The BP-355 has a blade tension indicator which covers blades from 1" to 1/4" blades.

Apart from the uses required above, I would also be cutting finer work with cedar and teak ranging from 35mm down to 6mm.

Can you guys give advice on a range of blades to cover my requirements?

Thanks heaps,
Pete

**AlexS** · 13th July 2008, 12:37 PM

I find that 1/2" 3TPI fits most of my ripping needs, including cutting veneers. If the saw's well set up, you shouldn't need a bigger blade. IMHO, sometimes a bigger blade just causes more friction & gets hotter. Get a bimetal blade - twice the price, many times the life.

**Salted Nuts** · 13th July 2008, 05:22 PM

Thanks for the tip on the bi metal blade. Do you know the reason for wider blades?

Pete

**Durdge39** · 13th July 2008, 06:01 PM

A wider blade will allow you to rip at higher feed rates while maintaining a straight cut, they can usually be better for handling harder and nastier timbers as they are stronger and more rigid than a thin blade. However, a wider blade will cost a lot more than a thin one, and you can still cut straight with a thin blade, it just takes a bit longer. I have cut 200mm thick hardwood into perfect 5mm boards for box making using a 6tpi 3/8" blade, albeit slower. Mind you, I didn't have the funds to get a wider blade at the time

**Skew ChiDAMN!!** · 13th July 2008, 07:03 PM

Another "rule of thumb" is that, ideally, the TPI of the blade should be matched to the thickness of what you're cutting so that at least 4 teeth are cutting at any one time. eg. for 12mm boards an 8+tpi blade is best.

(Not that I slavishly follow this idea, as all too often my supplier only has one TPI to choose from for any give blade width.

)

**Salted Nuts** · 14th July 2008, 03:25 PM

Thanks again guys, I am off to Peacock tomorrow to place my order. I have decided to just get 2 blades for the moment as I work in West End so it is not a big deal to drop in. I am going for a 6mmX8tpi for my finer work, I will just have to take it nice and steady, but it will allow for tighter curves. My ripping blade will be 12mmX3tpi, both bi metal. Hopefully all goes well.

Pete

**AlexS** · 14th July 2008, 05:48 PM

Good choices

**Wizened of Oz** · 15th July 2008, 02:00 PM

Agree with AlexS completely.
You will find the 12mm 3tpi does almost everything and you will only need another blade for cutting tight curves or for non-ferrous metal, if you cut any of that.
I have 2 of 25mm 1.6tpi blades gathering rust on the wall after finding the 12mm blade does much better at resawing (and saves a lot of blade changing)

**Salted Nuts** · 15th July 2008, 06:14 PM

I placed my order today. FYI, I was informed that the Bi Metal blades do not come any smaller than 12mm (1/2") so the 6mm x 8tpi I am getting in the carbon blade, which I was informed was a little thicker than the hobby blades. They also indicated that the hobby blades were more only suited to bandsaws with blades under 1200mm long.
Pete

**Salted Nuts** · 21st July 2008, 12:25 PM

FYI, I collected my blades today.
Prices: 2750mm x 6mm x 10TPI (Carbon)= $16.17 inc gst
2750mm x 12mm x 3TPI (Bi Metal) = $41.90 inc gst
I also had a fine tooth tenon saw reset and sharpened for $14.99 inc gst.
Just thought it was worth sharing the prices for you guys to compare.
Pete

**AlexS** · 21st July 2008, 02:19 PM

Pretty reasonable prices.

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