Bandsaw Blade Guide: Suppliers Offer Tips for Selecting, Running, Maintaining Resaw Blades

Many pallet manufacturers and mills that produce cut stock for the pallet industry are equipped with horizontal bandsaws. This equipment typically is used for resawing blocks cut from cants and low-grade lumber into pallet deck boards and stringers.

Horizontal bandsaws may be set up as a single machine or in a series, and they may be equipped with a run-around system to automate feeding or they may be fed manually.

Keeping horizontal bandsaws cutting properly is important in order to maximize a company’s production and output of pallet parts.

Leading manufacturers and suppliers of bandsaw blades for resawing advertise in Pallet Enterprise, and we have asked them to provide some tips and advice for choosing blades, and operating them and maintaining them.

Blade Value, Selection

Blade value is determined by the amount of lumber cut compared to blade cost, noted James Osmond, vice president of sales for Cooks Saw. “This needs to be calculated rather than simply guessing,” he said. “We’ve recently seen a major pallet company increase tremendously in production and profits by switching from a cheap, inferior blade to a more expensive, better performing blade.

Blade cost is only a fraction of the total cost of production, noted Ray Eluskie, product manager for Simonds International. “For the best return on your investment, the bandsaw blade needs to maximize production and produce the best quality boards. The blade should have optimum cutting-edge geometry to reduce saw dust spillage and produce a smooth surface finish.” He added, “Using a razor-sharp blade with a ‘square’ face grind and extremely consistent tooth set will be the first step in better controlling sawdust and improving productivity.”

There are many factors to be considered in blade selection, noted Michael Masters, chief technology officer for Wikus Saw Technology Corp. “Blade life and consistency in the number of board feet produced, as well as how fast those board feet can be produced are probably the two considerations I hear most often.”

Other factors include desired finish, flatness of cut or material loss, the amount of sawdust left between boards, and whether the blade can be re-sharpened for longer life.

For operations that use single-head bandsaws and shorter blade lengths, Randy Panko, blade specialist for Wood-Mizer Blades, recommends a 1x.035 blade for single use applications. For companies that want to run reusable blades that can be sharpened again to reduce overall blade cost, he recommends a 1¼-inch or 1-½-inch x .042/.045 blade for best performance.

“If you’re running high horsepower in a high feed rate operation, 2-inch by .045 or .055 will provide maximum production,” added Panko.

“The blades you purchase should be capable of handling your feed rates and should be consistently manufactured,” said Mark Younker, president of Kenne-SAW & Supply Co. “Consistently made blades track the same, fit the same, cut straight, and last longer. Greatly enhancing your sawing process starts with the most consistently made tool, your blade.”

Production is critical when a company is running multi-head bandsaws, observed Kyle Kilgore, owner of Kilgore Saw Co. “You want to avoid downtime at all cost, so quality is important. If you choose to change the blades at predetermined intervals, you might can use a more economical blade, but if you want to get maximum life from blades, then quality and consistency are important.”

It is important to purchase the right blade for the application — hard back, flex back — and the correct tooth pitch, noted Joan Bennett, industrial product manager for MK Morse, whose blades are distributed by Saw Service & Supply. “Buying the right tool to perform the job will be instrumental to your success,” she said.

There are blade sizes that are specific to machines, noted Bennett. “Be sure to have the right length, and exercise care when handling the blade during installation. Damage to the teeth during installation can negatively impact the life of the blade and the finish of the work piece.”

Kilgore also suggested experimenting with blade selection. “Different blades may work better on some saws and not on others,” he said. “Often it is best to try different types of blades to determine which one works best for you depending on the wood and the saw being used.”

How to Measure for Right Blade Size

Samuel Lacey, national account manager for HUB Industrial Supply, offered several tips for selecting the correct size blade — length, thickness, and blade width.

“Often a pallet company won’t know the size of the blade they are currently using,” he noted.

To determine the length of the blade, find a clear space on the plant floor and stretch out a tape measure at least 25 feet along the space. Take the blade and locate the welded joint, laying the joint on the end of the tape measure. Carefully walk the blade along the tape measure, allowing it to roll as if it were on the saw, until the welded joint comes around again. Where the joint crosses the tape measure is the length of the blade. Alternatively, make a mark on the floor at the beginning of rolling the blade from the joint and at the end when the joint comes around again, and then measure the distance between the two marks.

To determine blade thickness, use a micrometer; measure anywhere except the teeth. To determine blade width, measure with a tape measure or ruler across the width to the tip of a tooth. “We can weld blades to any size,” said Lacey, “and we also work hard to match the blades to best suit your situation.”

Machine Performance and Maintenance

The performance of the bandsaw machine is critical to good blade performance, some advertisers pointed out. “It doesn’t matter how good a blade it is,” said Osmond. “If the machine is not kept in top shape then you’re losing production and destroying blades. Even a great blade will perform poorly on a neglected machine.” The wheels need to have proper crown, blade guides and lubrication system need to be functioning properly, and the machine must run at proper blade speed.

Kilgore also noted the importance of proper machine maintenance. “Having clean, smooth wheels is important. Often it is best to resurface on a regular basis. Keeping the machine aligned and the guides in the correct position can increase the life of a blade dramatically.”

Blade Maintenance

If you are running reusable blades and sharpening them, the blades should be changed out before they begin cutting poorly, said Osmond. “This keeps the body from stretching too much from stress and makes maintenance quick since only a light sharpening and set is required.”

Randy Panko of Wood-Mizer made a similar point. Changing or sharpening blades often — and not waiting until they break while in operation — will increase cut quality and reduce downtime. Panko stated, “Profile ground teeth provide consistent sharpness for highest quality performance.”

Blade and machine maintenance are important to prolong blade life and maximize performance, added Panko. “Make sure to keep your blades clean, keep proper blade strain, check blade guide alignment regularly, and change or sharpen blades at consistent intervals to lower overall costs.”

Factors to Consider in Blade Selection Correct Blade and Tooth Pitch for Application

• Speed of Production

• Sawdust and Quality of Board Finish

• Consistency of Performance

• Blade Life

• Blade Value — Amount of Lumber Cut Compared to Overall Blade Cost

Bandsaw Blade Suppliers

Bernie’s Saw & Supply

Peg Curran

(888) 249-1646

Cook’s Saw Mfg.

James Osmond