We equip a home workshop - we install a band saw on wood

Each wood band saw is distinguished by its alloy, width, as well as the size, shape and frequency of the teeth. Poor cut quality is often not caused by a bad blade, but by the wrong blade selection. At the same time, there are many characteristics that you need to focus on when buying. Therefore, you need to figure out how to choose a band saw.

The most important criteria when choosing a saw are:

• scope of work and frequency of their implementation;
• characteristics of wood (thickness, species, moisture);
• shape, size, frequency of teeth;
• blade width;
• sharpening quality;
• manufacturing firm.

All these parameters affect the main characteristics of the cut:

• its evenness;
• thickness;
• the presence of cracks and chips;
• vibration in the process.

Scope of work

The simplest criterion is the amount of material to be cut. For one-time use, it is better to choose a cheap canvas with a standard hardness. For constant use, you need to purchase the highest quality wood band saw. The durable steel tool will last much longer, so the investment will pay off.

Blade width

The width must be chosen based on the working conditions. First of all, you need to focus on the type of machine, recommendations for choosing a saw should be found in the operating instructions.

The width of the canvases varies in the range of 14-80 mm, 38-41 mm is considered the standard value.

Also, when buying, consider the following nuances:

• thin canvases quickly bend when working with rough wood;
• wide blades give a smoother cut;
• thick saws easily deform thin and plastic bars due to strong heating;
• sometimes it is necessary to make a cut at an angle, and this greatly affects the depth of cut.

What teeth are needed

Before choosing a band saw, you need to decide on the type of teeth that will be optimal for the job.

First you need to decide on the density of the dentition:

• the more often the teeth are, the better the cut, this is especially important when performing decorative work;
• the less frequent they are, the higher the pressure on each individual tine, this is suitable for hardwoods;
• the more often the teeth, the more evenly the stress is distributed on the web, it is less deformed;
• the more frequent the prongs, the lower the pressure on each and the longer they last.

The next parameter is the size of the teeth:

• large sizes are needed for rough cutting, for example, for sawing large logs;
• small dimensions suitable for thin plywood and decorative work.

Be sure to consider the pitch of the teeth, there are 2 recommendations here:

• a wide rhythmic step is needed for thin plywood;
• a narrow pitch is required for thick bars.

To prevent the blade from clogging, blades with a variable pitch are chosen for sawing soft rocks.

A band saw on wood has the teeth not aligned, but at an angle to each other. This design is called wiring, it is needed in order to reduce the vibration level, and this has a beneficial effect on the wear resistance and durability of the tool.

The standard setting is a triplet with teeth alternately leaning to the left and right and one more straight tooth that stands between them. This type is used for most work, can be used for contour sawing.Group wiring differs in that straight lines and teeth inclined to the left or right stand in pairs. This shape makes sawing more efficient, but also the blade is more expensive.

You should also consider the shape of the teeth. It is better to select the profile for the type of wood to be cut:

Sharpening level

A difficult but very important parameter to evaluate. It is necessary to check the sharpness of the teeth; to do this by hand, experience is required. You also need to make sure that the material is homogeneous, this can be assessed by the uniformity of the color and texture of the metal. Whenever possible, buy blades from a blade re-sharpening service. If you want to sharpen a band saw on wood with your own hands, then do not forget to clarify how many cycles are allowed for the blade.

Saw manufacturers

Most of the quality instruments are produced by European and American companies. When choosing a saw, special attention should be paid to the manufacturer:

1. Arntz (Germany). The largest company that supplies saws to all European countries. Differs in high quality, but also at the appropriate price. The range includes high-strength carbide wheels.
2. Lenox (USA). The company is interesting in that it applies a special Armor coating of its own design (aluminum-titanium nitride) to all its cutting wheels. The tool is characterized by high strength and long service life.
3. Wikus (Germany). The assortment of the company is distinguished by a wide variety of tools. In terms of the number of different models, it is the leader among saw manufacturers.
4. Forezienne (France). The company produces high-quality discs that undergo multiple calcination. The tools are distinguished by exceptional cutting performance and high durability.
5. Lennartz (Germany). One of the largest firms, but it concentrates on the production of band saws. The selection of disc tools is sufficient, but not that large.
6. Doall (USA). A small company that produces quality equipment. Saws serve for a long time, have excellent performance indicators. The company has successfully established itself in the market.

DIY saw

If you have the skill and special tools, you can make the blade yourself. The mechanism of the machine itself is extremely simple, it resembles a bicycle with a wheel and pedals, but between them there is not a chain, but a saw blade. The first wheel attaches to any rotary motor (you can use a drill). The second wheel is only needed to fix the saw.

A do-it-yourself band saw on wood is made in accordance with several rules:

1. Particular attention should be paid to the machine frame and wheel mounting. The structure must withstand strong vibration, and the wheels must rotate easily and sit firmly on the machine.
2. The saw must be securely fixed, it must not fly off and injure someone while working. This is the main safety requirement.
3. The blade itself must be purchased at the store, since it is made of special steel, and it is very difficult to make the teeth correctly yourself.

Do-it-yourself band saw - video