WEN 3914 14 inch band saw - Manual (Page 18)

BLADE SELECTION
1. Blades vary depending on type of material, size of workpiece and type of cut that is being
performed.
2. Characteristics which make blades different are width, thickness and pitch.
BLADE WIDTH
1. Width of blade describes distance from tip of a tooth to back of blade.
2. Width of blade affects rigidity of blade. A wider blade wanders less and produces a straighter
cut.
3. Width of blade also limits the smallest radius which can be cut. A 1⁄4″ wide blade can cut
about a 1⁄2″ radius.
BLADE THICKNESS
1. Blade thickness describes the distance between the sides of a blade. A thicker blade has more
rigidity and stronger teeth.
2. A narrow thick blade is used to cut curves while a wide thin blade is used to make long,
straight cuts.
BLADE PITCH
1. Pitch describes number of teeth per inch or tooth size. A blade with more teeth per inch
produces a smoother cut.
2. The type of material being cut determines the number of teeth that should be in contact with
the work piece.
3. For soft materials, the proper blade has between 6 to 8 teeth per inch.
4. When cutting hard materials where shocking is more detrimental, use a blade with 8 to 12
teeth per inch.
5. There should always be at least three teeth in contact with cut to avoid shocking the blade.
6. Blade shocking occurs when pitch is too large and blade tooth encounters too much material.
This can strip teeth from blade.
7. Blade manufacturers are prepared to supply information about blades for specific
applications.
TYPE OF CUT
1. Contour cutting is done by guiding workpiece freehanded to produce curved shapes.
2. Beveled cutting is done by tilting saw table and using proper work guide method.
3. Regardless of which work guiding method is used, a workpiece which overhangs table by
more than 5" needs proper support.
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