school Me on portaband blades

[lmalcomb]

What tpi do I use for different materials and different thicknesses of this those materials ?

 

[littletoes]

What are you going to be cutting???

Unistrut/Superstrut etc. seem to be the hardest on saw blades. Material is hard and thin....the old rule of two-teeth on the work is hard to do once you cut through the wall.

I think it was Lenox that came out with a blade that had two different sized teeth, and it cut like a razor!

Lots of choices out there!

 

[Zeke]

I don't think there's that big of range. From 10 to 18 TPI every even number, IIRC. With the smooth action of a band saw I'd use the coarsest one that will do the work. Obviously that would not be a 10 on thick bar stock. But then again, some soft alloys and the right cutting fluid and that might be the best combo.

I have some wood cutting as well, maybe they are 8 TPI?

 

[Grigg]

I've used Starrett blades I think and they work well and last and last.
The variable pitch blades are nice, I always buy them over the constant pitch.
14-18 is what I usually use for generally light stuff.

I'll now NEVER use cutting fluid on my portaband, and I never have... I loaned it to a friend and it came back an oily gritty sticky mess. Apparently they thought oil was necessary.

For wood I've just used the coarsest metal blade I could buy and it does a nice job.

 

[Zeke]

There are light cutting fluids. I agree, a pipe threading oil would be a mess.

 

[JayL]

I'm thinking to try this lubricant below. However I'm not sure if it's even a good idea to do so.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121260432361?_trksid=p2055120.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I purchased a Milwaukee Portaband saw but am still waiting for it . These are the blades I initially bought to try with the saw when it arrives.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/141158923033?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[paranoid56]

I can say the ones you pick up at harbor freight (the made in the USA ones in the red box) are ok at best. i find that the teeth start to break off around the weld joint. leaving a spot of a 1/2 - 3/4" of no teeth. causing issues with cutting.

 

[fhemm20]

+1 for the vari pitch blades lennox and starrett

 

[Seiler]

I have a Milwaukee Portaband and I use their blades. When deciding which blade TPI count to use on which application I follow this chart:


DSC_3842 by The Color Orange, on Flickr

You can find this chart on the back of the product box when purchasing new blades.

For my particular saw lubricating fluid is not recommended. User ChuckE2009 did a review on the saw (Milwaukee 6232-21) on YouTube, used cutting fluid and had the blade slip off the tracks while in use.

I'll pass on experiencing that first hand. Always check the manufacturers recommendation on stuff like that.

Scott

 

[lmalcomb]

Thanks to All, just like I expected a wealth of information !