Owned a 14″ bandsaw for six years. Bought maybe 20 different blades before figuring out what actually works for what.
Width Matters
Wide blades (1/2″ and up) for straight cuts. They track in a line, resist wandering. Resawing veneer? Wide blade, no question.
Narrow blades (1/4″ and under) for curves. Tighter curves need skinnier blades. 1/8″ blade does maybe 1″ radius turns. Physics doesn’t negotiate.
Tooth Patterns
Skip tooth for thick stuff. Big gullets clear sawdust fast. Hook tooth is aggressive – cuts quick but rougher. Regular tooth for fine work, slower but smoother.
Variable pitch reduces vibration and that annoying harmonic whine. Worth the extra few bucks.
TPI – Teeth Per Inch
More teeth = smoother cut but slower. Fewer teeth = faster but rougher. For general woodworking, 3-4 TPI on thick stock, 6-8 TPI on thinner stuff.
Rule of thumb: at least 3 teeth in the material at all times. Cutting 1″ stock? Need at least 3 TPI.
Tension and Tracking
Loose blades wander. But over-tensioned blades snap. Manufacturer specs are starting points – adjust until the blade tracks straight without excessive tension.
If the blade flutters in the cut, tighten it. If it’s tracking fine and cutting straight, leave it alone.
What I Keep Stocked
1/2″ 3TPI for resawing. 1/4″ 6TPI for general curved work. 1/8″ for really tight curves. That covers 90% of what I do.
