Best bandsaw blade for bowl blanks

[Eugene Wigley]

Hello everyone, I have a Jet bandsaw that uses 133" blades. The min. width is 1/8" and max is 1-1/2". I am having a little trouble sawing bowl blanks with the same blades I used to resaw hardwood. I think I may need a blade with fewer teeth. My question is what blades do you use for this purpose? Thanks in advance.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Eugene I use a 3/8" or 1/2" 3 tpi blade from Timberwolf. I have had great luck with their blades.

[Mark Norman]

I just got this one and must say it does the job! and the price is right too!

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=6944

[Narayan Nayar]

I'm new at this so don't count my opinion as an experienced one, but after breaking 2 blades cutting green blanks, I went with the Highland Woodworking blade in 3/8". Night and day. Cuts green wood very easily and the price, as Mark points out, is great. I've since ordered 2 more to have around.

[Mark Norman]

I cut this sopping wet buckeye I harvested just a few hours earlier and it cut as fast as I dare spin the wood.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t116/triangle5/wood/100_1994.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t116/triangle5/wood/100_1995.jpg

Watch yer finners:eek:

[Pat Keefe]

1/4" 6 tpi for cutting rounds out of everything from Radiata Pine to Ironbark. Rate of feed is the most important consideration.

[cliff smith]

got to agree and reccomend the woodturners blade from highland breezes right through green wood

[Burt Alcantara]

I've used Timberwolf in the past but felt they dulled too quickly. I'm currently using a Lenox Diemaster 2 with 3 tpi. So far so good. I'll see how this holds up into the future. Personally, I prefer very aggressive blades with 2 tpi or less. My Woodmaster has .75 tpi but it is 1". Difficult for making round blanks, but very aggressive.

[Wally Dickerman]

Timberwolf 1/4 inch, 4-skip tooth. The 1/4 inch allows me to cut a blank of any size that'll fit the BS, including very small ones. 4 TPI is better than 3 IMO because it will handle thin material better. 1/4 in. thick ebony for a collar for instance. Skip tooth clears wet or dry sawdust better.

Wally

[Mike Minto]

i have used, and broken, both Timberwolf and Olson blades (my ineptitude, i'm sure) when cutting green wood for turning blanks. T-wolf blades are expensive, and recommended over Olson by most folks i talk to...so i typed 'bandsawblades.com' in my address bar - lo and behold, there is a company by that name, it was a lark on my part to try that. i called their 800 number, talked to a very helpful gentleman, and bought 10 blades of various widths and tooth configurations - plain carbon steel - for an average of about $12 each - with free shipping and 1 blade free. they were shipped that same day. i have to say they have been, bar none, the BEST bandsaw blades i've used on my Rikon 14" deluxe in the 2 years i've had it. sharp, smooth cutting - haven't broken one yet. i'm not associated with them, but will be a return customer. try them out! i'll bet you like them.

[Jim Kountz]

+1 for the 3/8" from highland. I was amazed at the difference it made.

[Eugene Wigley]

Thanks for the info. folks. I will get a 1/4" and a 3/8" with as few teeth as possible. That should help a bunch.

[Steve Frederick]

Ditto on the Highland Blade!

[Ed Sandle]

I have a Jet 20" and have also used Timberwolf & Olson blades. Olson was the worst by far, and Timberwolf not much better. I now use a 1/2 in by 3 tpi blade from Menominee Saw. They are fantastic, and seem to last forever. They cost apx $15 for 150" and the shipping was cheap as I ordered six at once. You will not regret buying these blades.

[Dan Forman]

I bought a 2 tpi AS (alternate set) 1/2" blade from my local saw sharpening service which seems to work just fine for bowl blanks. This saved me shipping charges and wait time, something to consider for those who are in a hurry. Cost was around $15 for 149" blade. It was made to order, just took a few minutes.

Dan

[David Hostetler]

I use a 3/8 x 3TPI Timberwolf blade for cutting a lot of the curves on my band saw. Including bowl blanks. Haven't had any issues yet. Honestly haven't spun any of the bowl blanks yet, so hard to say... The Timberwolf blades slice through no problem though... FWIW I am using a HF 14" band saw, not exactly known for its grunt power...