Thread: recommended bandsaw blade for a hammer n4400

Congratulations on your new band saw! You must be really excited. Post pic soon.

For resawing you want a wide(ish) blade, say 3/4" - 1" or larger @ 2 to 4 tpi. ie. go with the largest size your BS will fit. (2tpi will safely handle 2" & thicker boards, 3tpi >1.25", 4tpi >1" ...see comment below about rule of thumb for tpi selection. )

While this generally leaves a rough cut (most resawn timber has further processing so smooth faces aren't a necessity) you can effectively improve the surface quality by reducing the feed rate. Halving the feed rate is effectively doubling the tpi.

When it comes to cutting curves, the width of the blade dictates the radius of the arc you're cutting... so the finer the blade, the tighter the curve you can cut.

Somewhere around here I have a table recommending what size blade is best suited to what size radius however I can't find it at the mo. If/when I do I'll post it here, but a quick google brought up these figures on a US site:

1/8-inch blade = 3/16-inch minimum radius cut
3/16-inch blade = 5/16-inch minimum radius cut
1/4-inch blade = 5/8-inch minimum radius cut
3/8-inch blade = 1-1/2 inch minimum radius cut
1/2-inch blade = 2-1/2 inch minimum radius cut
5/8-inch blade = 4 inch minimum radius cut
3/4-inch blade = 5-1/2 inch minimum radius cut
1-inch blade = 7 inch minimum radius cut

The rule of thumb to select the 'correct' tpi for whatever blade size you select is "thickness of the thinnest piece you'll cut (in inches) X 3 (or 4)"

This tpi gives you the fastest safe cut; higher tpi = better quality cut, but slower feed rate.

Be aware that the other way doesn't work: a lower tpi means less than 3 or 4 teeth are in the cut at any given time and equates to a dramatically increased risk of jamming/breakage/owies.

Hopefully this should give you enough info to go ahead on...

... and don't be surprised if, after a few years, you end up with a couple of dozen different blade sizes & TPI.

thanks much appreciated

any particular brand of blade that you recommend?

also should i go carbon, bi-metal or tungsten? (for resawing)

Hi Andrew,
Over many years I have used 3/8 x 6TPI . Blades a I get them from McDivens Saws in Kororoit Creek Rd. in Williamstown, Vic.
They have a few different blade makes, & offer great advise.
They don't or didn't use Bank Card.
The best idea is to ring them & order your blade, & maybe, by the time you get there, they have them made.
In the past, they don't make them on the spot for you.
If you go back through the Forums, there are some pointers on how to Sharpen your Blades when they get a bit dull.
There is a place in Moolap, Geelong that Sharpen Blades as well.