new bandsaw: blade preferences?

[peter havriluk]

I have a NIB Craftsman 10" bandsaw, and before I set it up and use it I'd like to get some advice as to what are appropriate blades to use on it. The giveaway blade that comes with the saw has not gotten much praise from folks who bought the saw, so I am inclined to start with a 'decent' blade from the outset. Any suggestions? I anticipate using the saw to cut/trim tonewoods and bracing, cut necks to shape and to (first project) make a router circle cutter out of UHMW from Sylvan Wells drawings. My initial inclination is to use a 3/8" wide carbon steel blade (wood only), somewhere between 14 and 24 tpi.

Thanks, folks.

[ken cierp]

You may be much happier with a 1/4" blade on that small saw. (you'll not make the heel curve with a 3/8" blade)10 tooth for fine cutting, 6 is a good middle of the road and 3 TPI for re-saw. More than ten teeth and you may fall asleep during the slow cutting. Rest assured you are going to have to plane and sand the boards you cut. Real world -- band saws require different blades for different work. And that versatility really is a good thing -- except for the $$. In the entry level price range I would steer you clear of Olson and Bosch.

[Kevin in California]

Congrates Peter on your new acquisition! I had a 10" craftsman and used it for almost 20 years. I just always bought Craftsman blades for it. Used it for light metal cutting, as well as hard and soft woods. Blades dulled quickly on hard woods

Kevin

[peter havriluk]

Thanks very much for the experienced advice. Well timed, too, as I was drifting toward Olson blades. At least now I have a few parameters to keep in mind - - 1/4" wide, 10 tpi or so, stay away from Olson and Bosch blades. I am familiar with the idea that I'm going to be matching blades to tasks. Sounds like a good start. This saw replaces a 30-year-old Black and Decker 3-wheeled saw that has decided to throw every blade I put on it. I think I wasn't going to live long enough to get it to reliably work. And the Craftsman saw sounded like the least expensive half-decent saw I could find, out of the toy category anyway.

[peter havriluk]

Ordered a 10 tpi Lenox blade (identified as neo-type carbon steel) from a specialty bandsaw blade vendor, made to order (means I get to wait for it to appear). Seems to be one level past entry level. Decent enough?

[peter havriluk]

I used the giveaway Craftsman blade until yesterday, when I noticed that the blade was not welded together true; the blade would make an audible 'bump' when it passed through the blade guides, and I noticed that it would run out of the guide rollers as the welded joint passed through, and back on track a foot later. Besides, it didn't cut all that well.

I installed the Lenox blade I mentioned above. Spectacular improvement in running smoothness and blade tracking. And it cuts beautifully.

Thanks very much for the advice.

[Kevin in California]

Super! I've had those "bad seam" blades before, what a nuisance.

Kevin