Bandsaw Blades

[Piddler]

Question Fellas,
What are good dimensions for a bandsaw blade to be used for large and thick staves. For example blade thickness and TPI. Tried a belly split on a stave with wedges (not one of my good staves) and it was wanting to go cross grain. So put it on the bandsaw and can't get it to want to cut straight. The blade is 5/8" about 5 tpi. Thinking a 3/4' blade would cut straighter and not walk as bad. I have the guides right at the blade so it shouldn't pull like that. Saw is pretty new and used little so some pilot error could be involved. To be fair I did knock the blade off pulling a stave back out when the cut wasn't working right. Don't think I hurt it though.
Piddler

[Will B]

I’ve had good luck roughing out bow blanks and staves with 3/4” x .025” x 2-3 TPI. Handles the bigger staves and cuts really well for me.

[Selfbowman]

On my 14” grizzly I use a 7 tpi 5/8  blades if sharp cut 4” thick Osage with ease.    You touch them to metal and they won’t cut balsa wood.

[bownarra]

You are in the right ballpark with blade dimensions anyway.
Chances are your blade has lost its ability to cut straight (assuming your saw is set up correctly). Once this happens to a bandsaw blade its only any good for firewood.

[Del the cat]

I use 3tpi AS 1/2" (alternate set for green logs) 4tpi 1/2" regular for everything else
It's handy to use the same width of blades as it saves adjustment.
Del

[Hamish]

How powerful is your bandsaw? HP makes a lot of difference.

If you are sawing staves, or belly splits then you need to steer the  timber freehand to saw straight. Also you are dealing with no really flat and stable surface that will balance safely on the saw's table, so that makes it much trickier than if using flat, straight lumber. Go slow, don't force it, let the blade cut at its own pace.

A fresh sharp blade makes a lot of difference. If its dull then any sawing will be extremely difficult, and probably inaccurate.

[Dances with squirrels]

My saw is a 14", 1 1/2 hp Craftsman. I use a 3/4", 3 or 4 tpi blade .035" thick. I upgraded from guide blocks to the Carter bearing roller guides. The thicker blade and bearing guides seem to help, but it's still tricky business on these smaller bandsaws.

[Marc St Louis]

There's something wrong if it won't cut straight.  I have used a 1/2" with 4 tpi blade for ripping and never had any problem with staves or anything else I cut.  I even saw a tube video on how to sharpen a bandsaw blade and sharpened my own blades, weren't quite as good as new but still cut quite well

[Pappy]

I use a 3/4 - 3 hook on my big saw, it will cut anything you put on it and quick, just have to be careful starting if it is thin stuff.
and it don't make turns well.
 Pappy

[Flntknp17]

3/4" 3tpi Laguna carbide Resaw King on a 14" bandsaw for me.  I was skeptical of spending the money on one of these......but it is worth EVERY PENNY and then some.  Huge performance and safety gain over any bi-metal blade I've had.  Also, it cuts significantly quieter.

Matt

[Piddler]

Thanks Fellas, Gonna get a new blade and have another go. I may have tweaked that blade as mentioned. Had it in a bind a couple times. Learning curve but must happen sometime.
Piddler