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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: don s on January 22, 2011, 05:44:00 PM

Title: what size blade?
Post by: don s on January 22, 2011, 05:44:00 PM
i recently bought a 12" bandsaw off craigs list. it will take 1/8, 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 blades. which blade is best. i know it's a matter of opinion and purpose so, for purpose, it will be used for cutting the outlines of board bows and maybe some hickory backings from boards. things of this nature. i do not do glass bows and the risers that are used for glass bows where different radius' are used to glue up different woods for making some of the awesome risers i see here. in a nut shell which blade for hogging wood?
    don
Title: Re: what size blade?
Post by: bigcountry on January 22, 2011, 05:48:00 PM
1/2" is the way to go for straighter cuts.  I like 3-4tpi.  They don't last long.  Best I can get is to cut out 3-5 staves.  Hickory is hardest on it.
Title: Re: what size blade?
Post by: Ricky Wallace on January 22, 2011, 05:58:00 PM
I had the same question a couple weeks back,every body agreed on a 3/8,so thats what I orderd,,it aint here yet,,ill post how it does when I get it going
Title: Re: what size blade?
Post by: don s on January 22, 2011, 06:05:00 PM
thanks guys. i thought it would be either 3/8 or 1/2.
   don
Title: Re: what size blade?
Post by: scrub-buster on January 22, 2011, 06:46:00 PM
Thicker with fewer teeth for cutting bows from staves.  I also picked up a 12" Craigslist bandsaw and I use a 1/2" blade.
Title: Re: what size blade?
Post by: vanillabear? on January 22, 2011, 09:34:00 PM
1/2 inch, 3 TPI for me.
Title: Re: what size blade?
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 22, 2011, 09:41:00 PM
1/2" @ 4 tpi will do anything you want or need.
Title: Re: what size blade?
Post by: don s on January 23, 2011, 12:47:00 AM
1/2 seems to be the way to go for what i want/need. thanks all.
                     don
Title: Re: what size blade?
Post by: eflanders on February 19, 2011, 05:28:00 PM
I have the same saw and just got some 80" Timberwolf 4TPI x 1/2" blades.  WOW are these blades great!  Much better than anything else I have ever tried.
Title: Re: what size blade?
Post by: John Scifres on February 19, 2011, 06:03:00 PM
Get the 1/2", 4tpi PC, from suffolkmachinery.com.