I just ordered a Rikon 10-325 bandsaw from Woodcraft. It comes with a 1
1/2hp motor. I would like to do some resawing on small logs. I have
read many articles on band saw blades and most agree on a hook blade
with 3 TPI, but some say 1/2" width and the others say 3/4" width. Does
any one have first hand knowledge of which would be a better blade? I
want to purchase few blades, but I don't want to waste money either. So
many other toys to buy!
--
silver_18038
On May 19, 9:21 am, "Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "silver_18038" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:[email protected]...
>
>
>
> > I just ordered a Rikon 10-325 bandsaw from Woodcraft. It comes with a 1
> > 1/2hp motor. I would like to do some resawing on small logs. I have
> > read many articles on band saw blades and most agree on a hook blade
> > with 3 TPI, but some say 1/2" width and the others say 3/4" width. Does
> > any one have first hand knowledge of which would be a better blade? I
> > want to purchase few blades, but I don't want to waste money either. So
> > many other toys to buy!
>
> While the saw may be capable of taking a 3/4" blade, it does not mean you
> need one. I've only ever used a 1/2" blade on my 14" saw and it works well.
> As long as the blade is tracking properly, the fence is aligned properly,
> the teeth are doing the cutting so adding more material on the back end does
> very little.
How about 5/8ths? Tom
On May 19, 12:08 pm, Andy <[email protected]> wrote:
> > How about 5/8ths? Tom
>
> Actually, I have a 5/8" blade on my saw right now - 3/4 tpi variable,
> from Iturra Designs. I've only resawed up to about 4 or 5 inches, but
> it hasn't complained a bit at that height. Highly recommended. (My
> saw is a 16" Grizzly).
> Andy
My 5/8ths (4 tpi?) Olson lives on my Delta fourteener. It's about as
big as I'll ever need, and resaws well up to 10+ inches of cherry.
Gotta get a bigger motor, though, as the 1 horse that it came with
complains sometimes. Tom
Leon wrote:
> The wider the blade, generally the tighter you can crank up the tensi=
on and
> the taller the cut you can make=A0=A0with=A0out=A0deflection.
Actually, a 14" bandsaw can tension a 1/2" blade better than it can a 3=
/4"
blade. It takes more "oomph" to tension the 3/4" blade enough. The sp=
rings
on most 14" will bottom out before reaching 150000 or more on a 3/4" bl=
ade,
but many can reach it on a 1/2" blade.
--=20
It's turtles, all the way down
"silver_18038" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I just ordered a Rikon 10-325 bandsaw from Woodcraft. It comes with a 1
> 1/2hp motor. I would like to do some resawing on small logs. I have
> read many articles on band saw blades and most agree on a hook blade
> with 3 TPI, but some say 1/2" width and the others say 3/4" width. Does
> any one have first hand knowledge of which would be a better blade? I
> want to purchase few blades, but I don't want to waste money either. So
> many other toys to buy!
The wider the blade, generally the tighter you can crank up the tension and
the taller the cut you can make with out deflection.
IIWY I would get and or start with a 1/2" blade and move up if you find that
you have problems with tracking on larger resaw jobs. A 1/2" blade is a
good size to have a round in general. I can resaw 4 to 6 inches thick with
a 1/2" blade with 3 tpi and get veneer 1/256" thick.
A 1/4" would be handy for tighter radius cuts.
"silver_18038" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I just ordered a Rikon 10-325 bandsaw from Woodcraft. It comes with a 1
> 1/2hp motor. I would like to do some resawing on small logs. I have
> read many articles on band saw blades and most agree on a hook blade
> with 3 TPI, but some say 1/2" width and the others say 3/4" width. Does
> any one have first hand knowledge of which would be a better blade? I
> want to purchase few blades, but I don't want to waste money either. So
> many other toys to buy!
While the saw may be capable of taking a 3/4" blade, it does not mean you
need one. I've only ever used a 1/2" blade on my 14" saw and it works well.
As long as the blade is tracking properly, the fence is aligned properly,
the teeth are doing the cutting so adding more material on the back end does
very little.