Resaw Blade Guide: What Is the Best Blade for Your Resaws?

Horizontal bandsaws are used widely in the pallet and sawmill industry to resaw material from cants as well as low-grade lumber into pallet deck boards and stringers. They may be used as a single machine or multiple machines in a series, fed manually or with an automated return system.

It’s important to keep the saws cutting properly in order to maximize production and efficiency.

What is the best bandsaw blade for you to use?

We contacted suppliers of bandsaw blades and asked them for tips and recommendations to pass onto pallet companies and sawmills.

Tyler Rusomaroff, director of sales for Fuelbox Industrial, noted that in addition to any discussion of blade selection, machine performance is a critical factor in resaw operations.

“Even the best blade on the market won’t deliver its full potential if the saw isn’t properly tuned,” said Tyler. “Machine setup and maintenance are critical to achieving optimal performance no matter what type of blade you’re running.”

Of course, one of the most basic considerations for selecting the type of blade is the kind of wood you are cutting and the condition: hardwood or softwood, green or dry, frozen, etc.

“If you’re cutting hardwood or frozen wood, we recommend our Butter Blade® Resaw Elite,” said Tyler. “Its aggressive tooth profile is specifically engineered to power through tough or frozen lumber faster than a standard resaw blade.”

For cutting softwood, Fuelbox Industrial recommends their standard Butter Blade® Resaw. “After extensive testing against every major blade on the market, it consistently comes out on top in head-to-head comparisons,” said Tyler.

The Fuelbox Industrial Butter Blade is available in 15 profiles for unique resawing applications. All bandsaw blades in the company’s resaw line can be customized for any length.

WIKUS Saw Technology Corp. recommends one blade designed for cutting both hardwood and softwood: the WIKUS GENERO® bandsaw blade. “It is designed to deliver exceptional performance across various species,” the company said in information provided to Pallet Enterprise. “Its innovative tooth geometry ensures smooth, precise cuts and maximizes blade life, offering versatility for a range of wood types.”

WIKUS demonstrated the GENERO® bimetal bandsaw blade at the LIGNA trade show in Germany earlier this year. The blades were used on portable sawmills to cut both hardwood and softwood.

Another question for a company to consider may be production goals for cutting deck boards or stringers – how many it can produce per hour, etc.

“When customers share with us their production goals, it helps us tailor the blade to the job,” said Mike Hall, product specialist for HUB Industrial Supply. “Some customers genuinely want speed regardless of finish quality, and we have super aggressive blades that will do just that.” Feed speed has to do with a number of different factors, he added.

“If you’re setting production goals for board feet, deck boards, or stringers,” said WIKUS, “the GENERO® bandsaw blade is designed to enhance efficiency and precision, helping you meet your targets effectively. Its advanced technology ensures optimal cutting performance, making it a reliable choice for pallet manufacturing or sawmill operations regardless of your specific output rate.”

Another consideration is blade life: how long will it last? Or more to the point: how long will the blade cut effectively before it needs to be changed out?

Blade life is not dependent on only the type and quality of the blade itself, noted Tyler. “Blade life depends on several factors: the type of wood you’re cutting, the speed of your machine, how well your saw is tuned, and whether the material is green, frozen, or recycled.”

The staff of Fuelbox Industrial can provide expertise in evaluating these factors and selecting a blade. “We’ve committed ourselves to becoming resaw experts for the pallet industry,” said Tyler. “Our sales team can help evaluate all of these variables and get you set up with the exact blade profile to maximize both performance and longevity.”

“This question is all about what’s trying to be done with the blade,” said Mike. “If you need throughput and speed, changing a blade more frequently is more feasible than running it to the end of its life. We hear customers that change blades multiple times a day and we hear others that try to get exactly one full shift per blade. We have others that run the blade till it’s exceeded its service life. It’s all about what’s most important to the customer.”

Lumber quality is another consideration in selecting a blade. WIKUS recommends its GENERO® blade for clean, straight cuts that will produce high-quality pallet lumber. “Its advanced design minimizes tear-out and ensures a superior surface finish, making it ideal for producing top-grade deck boards or stringers for pallets. This consistency reduces waste and enhances the value of your finished product.”

Pallet manufacturers that supply food grade pallets or pallets for the pharmaceutical industry or similar applications may have another unique consideration: especially clean pallet components, free of sawdust.

Fuelbox Industrial offers a blade that enhances sawdust removal, said Tyler. “If sawdust removal is a priority our Turbo Dust line is a leader for the industry. These blades feature a slightly deeper notch than other designs, allowing them to carry out more sawdust.”

Improved sawdust removal has other benefits, noted Tyler. “This reduces heat, minimizes friction, and ultimately extends blade life. We also offer multiple profile sizes to fit a variety of resaw applications.”

Still another consideration is: how much do you want to spend?

“Blades range in price from economy to top of the line,” noted Mike, “and you can get what you pay for, for the most part. The center of the range has the most competition, and I believe that’s where most people get the most bang for their buck. Carbon resaw blades are the most common, and we provide them in many styles, sizes, tooth count, and set styles. Carbon resaw blades will never compete with carbide on price or performance.”

Reusable blades should be changed out before they begin cutting poorly to reduce blade maintenance. Also, changing blades before they break maintains cut quality and reduces downtime. Blades must be kept clean, properly aligned, and run at the proper strain.

Some suppliers recommend trying several types of blades to determine which one is best for your application. Also, look for consistency in the blade manufacturing process.

Resaw Blade Buying Checklist

Here is a checklist of questions to consider selecting the right bandsaw blade for your resawing operations.

1.) What kind of wood are you cutting – softwood or hardwood, and what species?

2.) What is the condition of the wood – green, air-dried, kiln-dried, frozen?

3.) What kind of raw material is the wood – blocks from cants, low-grade lumber?

4.) What are your production goals – how many board feet, deck boards or stringers do you need to produce and how fast, such as per hour or per shift?

5.) What is the blade value – how much does the blade cost, and how much lumber can you cut with it?

6.) What is your budget?

7.) How long will the blade cut effectively before it needs to be changed?

8.) How good is the lumber quality from the blade?

9.) Is removing sawdust from the cut a factor?

10.) Which type of blade is going to be better and more cost-effective for your application: single-use blades or blades that can be resharpened?

11.) If you are going to select blades that can be resharpened, do you have the equipment and employee skill set to service the blades, or are you going to send them out for service?

Resaw Blade Suppliers

Bernie’s Saw & Supply Inc.

Contact: Peg Curran, (708) 209-1656

peg@berniesaw.com

www.berniesaw.com

Burton Mill Solutions/Simonds International

Contact: Ray Eluskie

Phone: (978) 424-0586

ray.eluskie@burtonmill.com

www.burtonmill.com

Country Saw & Knife

Contact: Eric Glista, (888) 639-7297