Dake Model Zip 28 - Manual (Page 12)

12
8. Blades:
8.1 Simplified selection chart at right.
1. Rules of thumb for blade selection
Four important numbers to keep in mind are the
Rule of thumb numbers. These numbers are
3, 6, 12 and 24:
Number 3: Represents the minimum
Number of teeth you want working at one
time. If the blade is too coarse for the work,
The teeth can straddle the work; this will strip
Teeth from the blade.
Number 24: The maximum number of teeth you would want in the cut at one time. Too fine a
tooth blade will clog with chips again resulting in stripped teeth.
Number 6 to 12: The ideal number of teeth working at one time.
8.2 Blade breaks in:
1. It is recommended that the blade manufactures break procedure is followed.
Proper blade break-in is as important to good blade life as choosing the right blade. The best
analogy I have heard for blade break-in is the pencil story. If you sharpen a pencil to a nice
sharp point and attempt to write with it, the lead breaks off because it is too sharp to glide
over the paper. If you take the same pencil with the same sharp point and lightly rub it over
the paper you hone or soften the point, resulting in a pencil that can be used for a long period
of time.
The same is true with a bandsaw blade.
When it is new it has very sharp point over
the length of the blade that will tear the
material, chatter and chip or round off the
teeth in a hurry. Breaking in the blade
allows for tips of the teeth to be honed into
a usable tooth that produces good cuts and
longevity.
Blade break-in will vary depending on the
type of material you are cutting. Softer
materials such as carbon steel or aluminum
will require a longer break-in cycle than that of harder materials. Structurals and pipe will
require a longer break-in period because the actual square inches are reduced due to the
interruptions of the material. From the charts listed earlier you can determine if the break-in
will be for softer or harder material
A simplified rule of thumb break-in procedure that applies to most applications:
1. Set blade speed to normal cutting fpm.