It’s really something that takes a little time to get a feel for. At some point, you will realize you have to push much harder than you used to for something as simple as a ripping operation.

You will also notice more burning on woods that didn’t burn before. In addition, you should notice more tearout on your cuts. If you don’t notice any of these changes, or they just aren’t that severe yet, then the blade is still sharp. The first time you notice these things, clean the blade. After 2-3 cleanings it’s time for a resharpening.

Generally, the higher the amount of saw blade teeth, the better the quality of cut and finishing. If you’re looking for a faster and rougher cut, then a blade with fewer teeth will be more suitable.

For example, if you are cutting aluminium or a high quality finish when cutting laminate, you will want a higher number of teeth compared to blades for soft wood.

When blades have fewer teeth, they have deeper gullets (space in between teeth) which creates a more aggressive chiselling action.

A band saw can be used to cut curves, even in thick lumber, such as in creating cabriole legs, to rip lumber and to crosscut short pieces. The most common use for the band saw, however, is in cutting irregular shapes.

The second most common use is in resawing or ripping lumber into thinner slabs.14 Apr 2009

Carbon steel is the most common cost effective metal used to manufacture sawmill blades and performs well for high production.

Bi-Metal steel has been gaining popularity due to its durability and heat resistance, which keeps the blades sharp longer. They typically last 10x longer than carbon steel ones but come at a higher price.

When it comes to ripping – the coarser the better . a range between 1 to 2 TPI is recommended.