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advantage if you are cutting a job that has a tendency to nip the blade. The smaller the set,
the smaller the saw cut and the larger the radius that can be cut; the wood waste is less. On
tipped blades (Resaw King) there is no set, as the tip is wider than the backing material.
Thickness.
The thicker the blade, the stiffer the blade and the straighter the cut. The thicker the
band, the greater the tendency for the blade to break.
Pitch.
The size of the teeth. This is usually quoted in teeth per inch (TPI). The larger the tooth, the
faster the cut because the tooth has a large gullet and has a greater capacity to transport
large amounts of sawdust through the job. The larger the tooth, the coarser the cut and the
poorer the surface finish of the cut. The smaller the tooth, the slower the cut as the tooth has
a small gullet and cannot transport large amounts of sawdust through the job. The smaller the
tooth, the finer the cut and the better the surface finish of the cut
Material Hardness.
When choosing the blade with the proper pitch, one factor you should consider is the
hardness of the material that is being cut: the harder the material, the finer the pitch that is
required. For example, exotic hardwoods such as ebony and rosewood require blades with a
finer pitch than American hardwoods such as oak or maple. Soft wood such as pine will
quickly clog the blade, decreasing its ability to cut. Having a variety of tooth configurations in
the same width will most likely give you an acceptable choice for a particular job.
There are
certain things that indicate if a blade has a proper pitch, too fine a pitch or too coarse a pitch.
Some are listed below:
Proper Pitch.
Blades cut quickly
.
A minimum amount of heat is created when the blade cuts
.
Minimum feeding pressure is required
.
Minimum horsepower is required
.
The blade makes quality cuts for a long period
.
Pitch Is Too Fine.
The blade cuts slowly.
There is excessive heat, which causes premature breakage or rapid dulling.
Unnecessarily high feeding pressure is required.
Unnecessarily high horsepower is required.
The blade wears excessively.
Pitch Is Too Coarse.
The blade has a short cutting life.
The teeth wear excessively.
The bandsaw vibrates.
