How To Measure Band Saw Blades? Comprehensive guide

A band Saw has a long, sharp blade consisting of bands of metal teeth. It is used for woodworking, metalworking, and lumber. With your basic knowledge, a band saw allows you to cut surfaces into curved shapes.

You must understand the importance of proper blade size for accurate cuts for better results. Some blades performing well in one case may not be suitable for another. Several Band Saw blade sizes are available, so you must select the best one according to your need and working position. This article will cover how to measure Band Saw Blades for your upcoming work and select the best one.

Why Measure the Band Saw Blades?

When installing a new blade to the Bandsaw, it is essential to know the two widths of the center hub of the blade. It will guarantee you do not start your cut too far or close to the center hub of the blade and put pressure on it. If you start too close to the center hub, it may bind or throw your working material. If the teeth are not grabbing, there should be a kickback.

What You’ll Need While Measuring Blades:

Measuring blades is a straightforward process, and you need some knowledge about the tools. For measuring blades, it would be best if you have elementary and some safety tools like:

• Protective gloves 
• Eye goggles
• A tape measure/ ruler
• A Band saw 
• A band saw blade
• A piece of wood
• Marking chalk

How to Measure Band Saw Blades:

Consider the following formula to measure the distance between the blades accurately:

Determine the width of the Band Saw Blade:

The width is the first thing you must know about your Band Saw blade. After that, you can measure the inside throat of the Bandsaw. To get the exact result, measure a measuring tape from the tip of the tape at one blade tooth to the center of the tape at the tip of the other side tooth.

Determine the Thickness of your Band Saw Blade:

You know the width of the bandsaw blade. Now you have to determine the thickness of the bandsaw blade. You can measure the thickness of the blade by determining the blade’s Kerf. To find the Kerf, place the saw blade on the plain surface and measure the width of the cut. 

Determine the blade depth of your Band Saw Blade:

Knowing the depth of the blade is so important to know the correct length. To measure the depth, place the blade on a flat surface and measure the length of the blade from top to bottom. Ensure you also measure the entire blade with measurements of the upper two teeth. When the blade is installed on the Saw, the upper two teeth should protect from the blade’s bottom.

How to determine the Bandsaw blade length:

To determine the Bandsaw blade length for your Saw. Please refer to your manufacturer page for different sizes and determine Bandsaw saw blade length and lengths. But if you are still looking to determine bandsaw blade length for your saw model or need help locating the manual. You need just five steps to find the Bandsaw saw blade length here.

• Make a mark on the table.
• Place the paper on the floor and make a mark to determine your starting point.
• Roll the blade in a straight line until the mark you previously made comes back and hits the floor.
• Make a second mark on the piece of a tape measure.
• Measure the distance between your two marks on the floor with the tape. Now you know the bandsaw blade length.

Most Bandsaws will accept a range of blade lengths, so knowing the Bandsaw model and blade length is essential to determine the long-range a machine can mount. Use the above steps to find the correct machine and blade length measurement.

Identify the blade type Bandsaw Blade: 

Now you know all the measurements of the thicknesses and lengths of your Bandsaw Blade. You have three main types of Band Saw Blades, regular, hook tooth, and skip tooth.

• Regular Blades have teeth of the same shape and size. It is the standard type of Band Saw.
• Hook Blades have more prominent teeth at the center and minor at the edges. These are used for curved and irregular cuts. 
• Skip tooth blades have teeth spaced further than the regular or hook blades. These are used for quick, significant, and good rough cuts.

Count the teeth per inch (TPI):

While working with the Bandsaw blade, you should remember one more critical term: TPI (teeth per inch). TPI solely depends on the material thicknesses you want to cut. You must pick the right bandsaw blade length with a fair number of teeth per inch. Otherwise, your determined bandsaw blade length will only last for a while.

 In addition, the cut you get will not be acceptable and reasonable. You need at least 3-6 teeth per inch for wood or soft material. Some thicker and harder metals will need 6-24 teeth per inch for a good and acceptable cut. More teeth, cut the smoother. However, the cut will take longer if the TPI is less.

Some Pro Tips:

Here are some pro tips for safety, accuracy, and professional work.

• Always wear protective glasses while working with Saw.
• Use a piece of wood while measuring the blade kerf.
• While removing the blade, ensure you don’t touch the sharp side of the teeth.
• Add one entire wheel circumference to the measurement to ensure the blade fits around the entire wheel diameter.
• Make sure the blade you select is the correct type of material you will be cutting.
• If you don’t have a tape measure, use a ruler for the measurement. Be sure you mark the start and stop your measurement.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, how to measure the Band saw blades? You can use these approaches to measure the blades accurately. Ensure you have the right saw blade length, wheel diameter, saw blade length, and size. Carefully change the blades and remember to follow the safety tools.

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