Getting Long Life from a New Band Saw Blade
WHAT IS BLADE BREAK-IN?
A new band saw blade has razor sharp tooth tips.
In order to withstand the cutting pressures used in band sawing, tooth tips should be honed to form a micro-fine radius. Failure to perform this honing will cause microscopic damage to the tips of the teeth, resulting in reduced
blade life.
Why Break-In a Band Saw Blade?
Completing a proper break-in on a new band saw blade will dramatically increase its life
HOW TO BREAK IN A BLADE
Select the proper band speed for the material to be cut. Reduce the feed force/rate to achieve a cutting rate 20% to 50% of normal (soft materials require a larger feed rate reduction than harder materials)
Begin the first cut at the reduced rate. Make sure the teeth are forming a chip. Small adjustments to the band speed may be made in the event of excessive noise/vibration. During the first cut, increase feed rate/force slightly once the blade fully enters the workpiece. With each following cut, gradually increase feed rate/force until normal cutting rate is reached