TUTORIAL: Are you using the wrong band saw blades? (The best setup for woodworking) 

Just exactly what I need: Clear, boiled down information not biased towards any brands. Just telling me what there is and what is best for what.

2 years after this first posted and I still come back to it for info whenever I need to buy a new blade.

You set me right with my table saw blade, Stump. Now you're gonna help me with my band saw blade. EDIT Your presentation on this important subject is excellent. You gave me the answer I was looking for. These bandsaws are tricky devils to set up. You've helped me put the last piece of the puzzle in place. "Dish" is a good choice of words. I've been fighting that dish. After seeing your presentation I ordered 2 new blades. :-)

I know this is 5 years old. What is great about this content, it's ageless. Remains just as true today as it was 5, 10, 15, 40 years ago. I do have one question (hopefully you see this), you didn't say which tooth gemotery to use. Unless it's implied and I missed the reference. My dad left me a ton of blades, and I don't know what is what. Based on this vlog, I should be able to figure out some of them. As he was a machinist, I would be willing to bet that some of them are bi-metal. Though he did buy an enormous band saw for metal cutting.

James, thank you so much for making this. I'm always left scratching my head when it comes time to choose a new bandsaw blade. Now, I just need to figure out how to afford one bandsaw for each type of blade so I never have to deal with the hassle of changing them out!

Stumpy, I appreciate the writing on the blackboard it helps reinforce what you were saying and made everything easier to understand.

Possibly the best explanation & demistification of bandsaw blade selection. Thanks Stumpy!

Stumpy, once again you've provided STELLAR advice! Sharing that graph which shows the relationship between radius and blade thickness was hugely helpful! By the way, kudos for drawing all of those near-perfectly curved lines! I always watch your videos and feel like I'm attending a woodworking class. Well done.

Just bought my first 9” bandsaw second hand, this explained a lot! Thanks, James!

I feel incredibly well informed now. Saving this to my favorites

Great info and diagram! And perfect timing as I just purchased my first bandsaw a few weeks ago! Thanks for your videos! They’re all great!

Thanks Stumpy,you are the best teacher, great at explaining and easy to understand!!

WOW! Maybe the most informational video yet. I've never understood all the types. Thanks James!

I look for your videos when I want not only good information, but really effective instruction! Thank you.

Truly a superior video. I've owned a 14" bandsaw for years and today I learned several things from you. Keep up the excellent work!

This is the clearest explanation of band saw blade selection I've seen.

packed with great info, thanks James!

A lot of information here! I'll be saving this and watching it numerous times!

I just upgraded my generic China 10" to a Jet 14" specifically for resawing wider boards and tutorial this was exactly what I needed. Thanks James!

Totally what I needed! Agree with other comments - your penmanship under pressure is stellar! I screenshotted that graph, printed it and put in the top wheel cover.

Thanks Stumpy, that was really useful. I am in the middle of setting up my band saw and beginning the learning curve. Now I am far less clue challenged.

Very comprehensive, very informative. Thanks, James.

Making the family adirondack chairs out of PT lumber, it is Florida after all. Have never used a band saw before, bought an old craftsman and refurbished it. Fought the lumber every step of the way. Watched your tutorial, clicked on sawblade.com ordered a 3 TPI blade and I am a happy boy. knocked out ten chairs, and had fun doing it. Thank you.

GREAT info. I'll be watching this a few more times. Thanks, Stumpy.

Great info. Helped a bunch

Thank you Stumpy, I'm inspired to build. Theres a 12in bansaw/sander sitting in my garage. My Dad left it to me along with many, many other tools. I wasn't quite sure what to do with all of it. Now, thanks to your enlightenment, I have a new passion. I can't wait to learn about all the great things I'll be able to do with my Dads power tools. I'd love to show him a British Telephone booth. That I made. Thanks again, Great information .

Amazing video, thank you for your effort! Writing on the blackboard definitely helped visualizing what you were saying.

Ok, this is probably the 10th (no exaggeration) time I've watched this vid. ... Pretty much every time I get a new/different type project that I need to use a different blade. Wish I could print this info out! "Have a cool one my friend! You've earned it!"

A great explanation to the mystery of band saw blades. Thanks. Now if I can only master changing them easily and folding them. 😁 Yes, I know you have a video for that.

Thanks for the info, Stumpy. I just bought a new Grizzly 17" and if I ever get time to use it, I want to start off with the right blades for my most common projects. There are tons of videos on tuning a bandsaw and changing the blade, but not much on the blade itself. So this is really helpful.

Great video Stumpy ! I just bought a bandsaw and trying to learn about them. This is a perfect video explaining the blades. Keep up the great work.

You are an excellent instructor with a great presentation. One of the very best RU-vidrs! Very informative. I learn something relevant and cool every time I see one of your videos!

Great material with impressive artistic skills. You are a true Renaissance Man.

Invaluable advice upon which i purchased 2 new blades from sawblade.com as per recommendation and couldn't be happier. Great product! Thanks again Stumpy

Very much obliged to you for the excellent and informative tutorial! I recently added a band saw to my wee workshop, and in common with many fellow woodworkers, don't really understand the uses of the various blades. What I did know, was that the cheap blade that came with it - 6tpi 1/4 inch - was probably less than optimal. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge with us!

Well done James. Thank you!

Such amazing hand writing. Very Soothing

Thanks James. Have an old Rockwell and needed some blades. I went with your recommendation(s).

I really needed this to understand the blades. Thank you so much. Been trying to cut out knife scale blanks and it's not been going well. But I was using the default blade that came with my bandsaw. I know what to look for now!

Thanks James for the great information. I really enjoy your videos!

Thanks for the clear, concise information. Very helpful.

This is a great video on bandsaw blades. Excellent tutorial James!!

I finally added a 'classic, read that elderly; Craftsman 12" bandsaw to my small shop. Did the usual, new tires, bearings, Cool guides, etc. Then ordered my spanky new 3/8, 3tpi, flexback blade from sawblades using your link. I like to help out and hey, same day or next day shipping, according to their vid! Or not. I ordered last Thurs, six business days later...shipping pending. No blame on you, of course, but something to consider when recommending them. I'm new to woodworking and your vids are as informative as they are humorous. Keep em coming.

This video was mentioned on the AAW site, and as a long time bowl turner, I had to check it out. 99% of my bandsaw use has been for roughing out bowl blanks. I am lucky to have a local bandsaw shop where I buy my blades. When I first started, a friend told me to check them out. When I told them what I was doing with my bandsaws, I told them bowls. They suggested the bimetal blades, specifically Lennox. I have found out that while they do cost several times more than cheaper blades, they cut far longer that other cheaper blades, and they can be resharpened a number of times. If I hit a nail with one, it doesn't bother the blade much. Note, metal cutting blades have a much different tooth shape than wood cutting blades. When I asked about the carbide blades, they told me that those blades are for cutting veneers. The teeth on the one I tried were too small to resharpen.

I'm a meat cutter so I use a waterproof bandsaw daily. I'm just getting into wood working. These wood bandsaws are a lot different...great tutorial video Stumpy!!

As always, you're videos are great, to-the-point and very informative. Thank you! I just acquired a broken-down JET 14" bandsaw, for free. I've found all the repair parts for less than $100, minus the blades that I'm shopping for now.

Great presentation and Information. I agree changing the blade is a pain. I keep two blades (with spare). 1/2 3tpi for resaw, and 1/4 6tpi for fine radius cuts. Thanks James, you give us great info. Give my regards to Mo Mike (we are of a similar age). I do miss his little segments

Wish I could give you a standing ovation for this one. I have been struggling with my bandsaw. This helped clarify things a lot!

Great information. I learned a lot. Thanks!

Stumpy consulted this video many times. Love the info and just ordered a 3 TPI 3/8" Flex Back blade for my Grizzly band saw! Appreciate your knowledge and instruction! Merry Christmas my friend!

Succinct and very informative. I wish all videos were like yours.

Excellent, all the way around. Thank you.

Wow! I learned a lot. Thanks for the video.

Very informative. Thank you.

This should be required viewing for all woodworkers.

best video I have seen on this

Great lesson, good explanation.

Thanks Stumpy, very helpful information 😀

Buying my first bandsaw this weekend. Labor day sales coming soon! Thanks for this. Who else screenshot the blade width/radius drawing?

Wonderful tutorial ❤ thanks

Outstanding! Thanks!

Great tips! Thank You!

this was a great episode, I went to buy at sawblade.com and was overwhelmed and had no idea what to get. Now I'm ready to shop. Thanks again

Excellent work mate. You're a clever bugger. 👍🏽

I solved the problem of changing blades. I bought a second bandsaw.

First class video - thank you

Excellent explanation!

Thanks Stumpy!

Wow . . . look at that vintage tool collection. I miss this old backdrop.

Great info!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

Awesome video thanks for the great info!

Great video! Really liked the blackboard style. :)

Great tutorial!

this was very helpful

Really good info James. Cheers! Chris.

Excellent work. TU

Great Video thanks

Helpful. Thanks.

Very helpful as always and as always I used the link!

Great info. Thanks

Excellent video, professional and very well presented,. HEY, I wanna be like you when I grow up!!!

AWESOME! THANKS SO MUCH 😘

Love this information! Thank you. :))

thanks, this was helpful

Good information my friend 😊

good info - thanks!

Thank You!! I have been burning blades for awhile and have not been able to get a clear answer on how to prevent it.

Cool thanks!

Very helpful

James' meditation on cutting wood, 'Keeps It Simpler than Simple '. What James doesn't know about all things 'wood', doesn't appear to be worth knowing. Again... Thank you, Sir!!

Zexcellent. Really helpful.

great video

Interesting, thanks

Thank you thank you my brother

All good points and generally I agree with you. In practice though a vital factor is the tuning of the bandsaw itself. Is there a decent crown on the rubber, are the guides well adjusted and squared to support the blade, and is the blade positioned and tracking correctly ? If you have a really good well maintained saw you can cut curves on 12” thick blocks with just a 1/2” lennox HSS blade. Well worth the extra cost. I have resawn boards that wide too with the same blade. A tad slow but it will get you there. Having said that I do use a 1 and 1/4” carbide Lennox to resaw these days. Expensive but lasts a long long time. Its actually a metal cutting blade so if you do hit the odd staple or nail it wont kill the blade. Another big factor is motor power. Most standard electric motors supplied are wimpy. Get a bigger one if you can. 3hp minimum. To many 30” saws only have a 3hp motor ! It should have 5 really. 36” ? 10 hp really rocks the casbah. Make it delta wound if you can.

THANK YOU!

Really informative video. I have been struggling with my bandsaw cuts for a long time. What would you say recommend I use to cut 2 inch thick treated lumber for a 48 mm radius curves please? It just won't do it. Thx

Thank you

Sawblade.com has great prices! I hope the quality is good too... this could be a real good find! I just ordered 3 blades with your link. Thanks!

thank you