Selecting the Right Band Saw Blade

Get the best, most efficient performance from your band saw with the proper band saw blade. The information below will give you the best blade recommendation in most cases.

1 - Blade Type

Materials	Starrett Blade Type
Tool Steel and Stainless Steel	Best: Intenss PRO-DIE
Alloy and High Carbon Steel	Best: Intenss PRO-DIE
General Purpose	Best: Intenss PRO-DIE Good: Duratec FB
Carbon Steel	Best: Intenss PRO-DIE Good: Duratec FB
Aluminum	Best:Intenss PRO-DIE Good: Duratec FB
Non Ferrous	Best: Intenss PRO-DIE Good: Duratec FB

2 - Type of Pitch

Constant - All teeth on the blade have uniform spacing, gullet depth, rake angle throughout the full length. Usually general purpose cutting and identified by one pitch number.
Variable - Size of tooth and depth of gullet varies to substantially reduce noise levels and vibration so as to cut all structurals, tubing and solids, smoothly and quickly. Identified by two pitch numbers.

3 - Pitch

Pitch is the number of teeth per inch or 25 mm. Cutting thinner sections requires a finer pitch (more teeth per inch or 25 mm). Thick sections requires coarser pitches (less teeth per inch or 25 mm). The chart is a good guideline.

Because the cross section limits in the chart are broad and overlap, choose a coarser pitch if the speed of cut is most important. Choose a finer pitch if finish is most important.

Constant Pitch Selection

Cross Section Thickness To Be Cut		Use Constant Pitch
Inch	mm	Use Constant Pitch
Up to 5/16"	Up to 8 mm	32*
5/32"-1/2"	4-13 mm	24
7/32"-5/8"	6-16 mm	18
1/4"-7/8"	6.4-22 mm	14
3/8"-1 1/4"	9.5-35 mm	10
1/2"-1 1/2"	13-40 mm	8
1"-2"	25-50 mm	6
1 1/2"-3"	38-75 mm	4
2"-4"	50-100 mm	3
3"-6"	75-150 mm	2
4 1/2"-9"	114-225 mm	1 1/4
8" and Over	200 mm and Over	3/4

*Anything thinner than a 1/8" (3.2 mm) in cross section should be angled to the blade.

Variable Pitch Selection

Cross Section Thickness To Be Cut		Use Variable Pitch
Inch	mm	Use Variable Pitch
7/32"-7/8"	6-22 mm	14-18
1/4"-1 1/4"	6.4-35 mm	10-14
11/32"-1 1/2"	9-40 mm	8-12
3/8"-2"	9.5-50 mm	6-10
1/2"-2 3/8"	13-60 mm	5-8
1"-3"	25-75 mm	4-6
1 1/2"-4"	38-100 mm	3-4
2"-6"	50-150 mm	2-3
3"-12"	75-300 mm	1-2
8" and Over	200 mm and Over	3/4-1 1/4

Band Saw Blade Break-In Procedure

The proper break-in of a bi-metal blade assures longer blade life, faster cuts for a longer period of time and consistent performance.

Run the normal surface feet per minute (SFM). Adjust the feed pressure to about one-half the normal cutting rate for the first few cuts or for 50-100 square inches (323-645 sq. cm). Increase to the normal cutting rate.