It is important to use the best saw blade for the job you are doing, and step one is to look at the material you need to cut. Let’s take a look at the best bandsaw blade for wood.

Next step is to consider the type of cut you need to make – straight cuts or radius cuts. The usual rule of thumb is to use the widest bandsaw blade that your saw can take for straight cutting. The result achieved here is two fold – good, straight cuts, and good feed rate that doesn’t break your blades.

For curved or radius cutting, you need to use a 3/4 inch (or less) blade, depending on the contour and resulting radius you want to achieve.

When looking at bandsaw blades for wood work, your next step will be to decide on tooth style – regular, skip tooth, or hook.

Bandsaw blades with regular teeth – meaning evenly spaced – are great for both general cuts and also radius cuts. Skip tooth blades are great especially for soft wood – the gaps between teeth are bigger and help to prevent build up and clogging of excess material. Finally the hook tooth blades allow for fast cutting. They have “larger teeth”, or in other words, a deeper gullet. These bandsaw blades are more aggressive and usually used for longer cutting of hard or thick wood.

When using bandsaw blades for wood work like curve cutting or joinery, you may want to investigate the option of variable pitch blades. The idea behind these types of blades is to get a superior, smooth finish, usually with fast cutting too. Variable pitch means there are sets of teeth of different sizes, in an alternating pattern.

Preventative and corrective maintenance of band saw blades is very important for the prolonged life and cost effectiveness of any band saw machine. The blade life and continuous smooth cuts you want are directly related to the maintenance routine of the blades.

One first tip to help you prolong band saw blade life is to store blades away from moisture or humidity as much as possible. The aim here is to prevent rust or pitting of your blades.

Next, is to not ignore daily maintenance tasks. You need to ensure your band saw blades are free of sawdust, sap and general dirt and debris. In addition, check for any wear to the band saw blades, and to your chip brush and guides. Your chip brush should be made of nylon or brass; wire brushes are to be avoided due to the damage they can cause to your band saw blades.

Other daily tasks should include checking the lubricants and fluids, and check worn or older parts. The band saw blade guide should also be checked and adjusted if necessary.

Lastly some general tips to keep your band saw blades in top condition include not keeping your blades on hard surfaces like concrete or steel. The blades will dull with movement on these surfaces.

If you transport your blades at all, ensure they do not rub against each other as this may cause chips. Pad the band saw blades with cardboard or ply.

Ensure the belts on your band saw machine are correctly tightened, especially with new belts which will require more frequent checks.

It is important for maintenance to be regularly attended to, to ensure best productivity and band saw blade life.