Let your bandsaw do all the work for you, by equipping it with the perfect blade for the job.

A quality bandsaw is able to make innumerable cuts with a high degree of precision and speed. Its full potential is only realised, however, when it is fitted with the right blade for the task at hand. The question is: how do we know which task requires which blade?

The first thing you need to consider is length of blade for your particular saw. This will be in the specifications for your saw. Generally speaking you should always opt for the widest blade possible as wide blades are stronger, more durable and can withstand higher pressures without flexing and therefore potentially deviating from the cut’s path.

You should also keep blades consistently used for cutting curves separate from those used to cut straight lines. After cutting multiple curves a blade’s teeth will become accustomed to this path and be rendered useless for cutting straight.

The four principal blade types are:

• Standard-tooth
• Hook-tooth
• Skip-tooth
• Variable-tooth

When you need to cut curves over 5/8” radius or need to prioritise the quality of the cut over speed a 1/4” 6-tpi standard or skip-tooth blade will be the most appropriate. For general ripping and crosscutting a 1/2” 3-tpi standard or hook-tooth blade will be your friend.

Morse Premium Cutting Solutions

In terms of matching them to specific applications – for tight curves and delicate, thinner materials you want to use a 1/8” or 3/16” 10-14tpi (teeth per inch) standard-tooth blade (looking like the first blade above). 10-tpi standard blades are also ideal for plywood and MDF in addition to non-ferrous metals and plastics.  Blades with more than 14 teeth per inch (up to 32) are extremely clean cutting blades principally for MDF, plywood and plastics as well as non-ferrous metals when used at slow speeds.

As the wider the blade the straighter it will cut holds true, for re-sawing you should use the widest 3-tpi skip or variable-tooth blade that can fit in your saw.

The type of wood you will be cutting will also have a bearing on the width of the saw required. Green (wet) wood necessitates the widest 2-3-tpi skip-tooth blade available for your saw, while denser more abrasive wood should be addressed with a carbide-tooth blade as this will remain sharper for far longer than its steel or bi-metal counterparts.

Finally let’s take a look at some of the best blades on the market and their attributes.

Morse HEF Wood Blades

Perfect for wood production cutting. Benefit from hard edge flexible back carbon steel. Individually hardened tooth tips. Fatigue resistant. Great value and excellent running speed. Great for multiple materials including carbon steels, graphite, cork, non-ferrous, bronze, furniture, plastic.

Morse M42 Bi-Metal Blades

A premium, specialist blade with 8% cobalt designed for cutting heavy walled structures and can deal with the likes of stainless steel!

Morse Portable Bi-Metal bandsaw blades

Morse Portable bandsaw blades are tough, heat-treated, and precision welded to the required length in our manufacturing facility. They are quick to install, deliver long-lasting performance, and provide smooth cuts across a wide range of materials.

Custom Blades

If you cannot find the perfect blade for the job, you can always jot down your exact requirements and specifications and request your own custom blades.