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**harrysin** · 03-09-2008, 04:23 AM

A friend has asked me to make a number of parts on my bandsaw, a machine that I have little experience with. The material will be MDF or Pine, anywhere from 3/4" up and the smallest radius will be 3/4", because the items will be glued together, the thicker the material, the smaller the number to be cut.
What type of blade would be best, width and TPI. Your help will be appreciated.

kp91 · 03-09-2008, 09:14 AM

Harry,

While no means a bandsaw expert myself, here's my two cents.

If your're doing a lot of MDF, a Bi-metal blade may hold up to the heat better than the cheap steel ones. You probably want 6 TPI so the blade doesn't clog with the fine MDF dust. The radius probably puts you in a 1/4 inch blade.

On MDF, make sure you let the blade cut, don't overfeed the stock. The blades can get hot very quickly.

Hope this helps,

**bobj3** · 03-09-2008, 10:20 AM

I would agree with Doug but to add just a note,,, buy 2 or more blades the MDF/Pine stock will dull the blades quick and the pine will fill up the blade with pine pitch quick.

You may also want to pickup a 1/8" blade for the small cuts (small radius parts) and hone the back side of the blade b/4 you use them...a small diamond hone board works well for this job, this will let the blade run smooth and turn easy...by putting on a round back edge on the blades...a round over if you like on the blade...
Then once you have it rounded over hold a wax candle to the blade on the back side of the blade..this will put a thin coat of wax on the blade and help let it cut cleaner,they make blade lub but candle wax works just as well...then after some cutting put just a bit more on...one of the real keys is to keep the saw dust off the band saw wheels with the Vac. pickup...if not the wheels will get bigger in diam.and put on a extra load on the blade...not to say anything about the blade wants to off track on the wheels...and walk away from the rub guides or bearing...

========

jerrymayfield · 03-09-2008, 10:41 AM

One more thing wear some sort of breathing protection the dust from mdf is horrible and it is very fine and goes everywhere. Not as bad on a bandsaw as a tablesaw but still BAD.

Regards

Jerry

**harrysin** · 03-10-2008, 08:33 AM

Thanks for your help guys, I should receive the blade tomorrow.

curiousgeorge · 03-10-2008, 01:04 PM

Harry, maybe this will help on future blade selections.

03-09-2008, 04:23 AM	#1
harrysin Forum Contributer Supreme Forum King Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Western Australia Posts: 3,333 View harrysin's Gallery	Report This Post! Bandsaw information needed A friend has asked me to make a number of parts on my bandsaw, a machine that I have little experience with. The material will be MDF or Pine, anywhere from 3/4" up and the smallest radius will be 3/4", because the items will be glued together, the thicker the material, the smaller the number to be cut. What type of blade would be best, width and TPI. Your help will be appreciated. __________________ *Harry*
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03-09-2008, 09:14 AM	#2
kp91 Marine Engineer Forum King Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Fredericksburg, VA First Name: Doug Posts: 921 View kp91's Gallery	Report This Post! Harry, While no means a bandsaw expert myself, here's my two cents. If your're doing a lot of MDF, a Bi-metal blade may hold up to the heat better than the cheap steel ones. You probably want 6 TPI so the blade doesn't clog with the fine MDF dust. The radius probably puts you in a 1/4 inch blade. On MDF, make sure you let the blade cut, don't overfeed the stock. The blades can get hot very quickly. Hope this helps, __________________ Doug 1 John 1:9
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03-09-2008, 10:20 AM	#3
bobj3 Forum Contributer Supreme Forum King Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Littleton,Colorado U.S.A. Posts: 8,299 View bobj3's Gallery	Report This Post! I would agree with Doug but to add just a note,,, buy 2 or more blades the MDF/Pine stock will dull the blades quick and the pine will fill up the blade with pine pitch quick. You may also want to pickup a 1/8" blade for the small cuts (small radius parts) and hone the back side of the blade b/4 you use them...a small diamond hone board works well for this job, this will let the blade run smooth and turn easy...by putting on a round back edge on the blades...a round over if you like on the blade... Then once you have it rounded over hold a wax candle to the blade on the back side of the blade..this will put a thin coat of wax on the blade and help let it cut cleaner,they make blade lub but candle wax works just as well...then after some cutting put just a bit more on...one of the real keys is to keep the saw dust off the band saw wheels with the Vac. pickup...if not the wheels will get bigger in diam.and put on a extra load on the blade...not to say anything about the blade wants to off track on the wheels...and walk away from the rub guides or bearing... ======== __________________ PodCast videos RWS on YouTube http://www.routerforums.com/86898-post1.html Besure and click on the Up Arrow key ▲ on the Youtube video, you can select other youtube videos on router tables http://www.woodworkingonline.com/?s=dovetail Machine Cut ▼ http://www.woodworkingonline.com/200...cut-dovetails/ http://www.woodworkingonline.com/woo...podcast-store/ http://www.woodshopdemos.com/menu2.htm Bob J.
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03-09-2008, 10:41 AM	#4
jerrymayfield Registered User Forum Geek Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 467 View jerrymayfield's Gallery	Report This Post! One more thing wear some sort of breathing protection the dust from mdf is horrible and it is very fine and goes everywhere. Not as bad on a bandsaw as a tablesaw but still BAD. Regards Jerry
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03-10-2008, 08:33 AM	#5
harrysin Forum Contributer Supreme Forum King Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Western Australia Posts: 3,333 View harrysin's Gallery	Report This Post! Thanks for your help guys, I should receive the blade tomorrow. __________________ *Harry*
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