Olson Band Saw Blade Lines
Carbon-rich steel with computer-controlled raker tooth setting for straighter, precise cuts with less waste. Available in widths from 1/8" to 1" with Hook and Regular teeth. For the professional user who demands the best cut quality.
Outlasts standard carbon blades 5:1 in wood and 10:1 in metal. Tough and shock resistant, cuts through nail-embedded wood without damage. Available in 1/2" width, 3 TPI Hook only.
Excellent general purpose blades for DIYers and professionals. Hardened teeth with a flexible back for long life. Available in widths from 1/8" to 1" with Regular, Skip, and Hook teeth. For 2-wheel vertical or horizontal and 3-wheel bench top band saws (.014 gauge only on 3-wheel).
Same tooth hardness as Flex Back with a hardened back for heavier feed pressure (prevents mushroomed edges) and greater blade tension. Use on horizontal (especially 64-1/2") and vertical metal cutting saws. For production work with easy-to-machine metal at slower speeds.
Electron beam welded to a low alloy back. Tough, shock-resistant cutting edge resists heat above 1000 degrees F and cuts hard materials up to 10x faster than carbon blades. For high speed, production-type cutting.
Thin gauge blades ideal for 2- and 3-wheel bench top band saws. .020 gauge is standard for stationary band saws with up to 4" diameter wheels. Precision formed teeth, every tooth set. Best value for hobby and occasional use.
Tooth Types
Provides excellent chip evacuation and uniform tooth set to cut faster with a smoother finish. Best for thick wood, plastic, plywood, and composition material. Perfect for resawing. Positive rake angle for aggressive cutting.
Fine, equally spaced teeth in narrow bands for wood, plastic, and non-ferrous metals. 0 degree rake angle. Best for thinner materials and general purpose cutting where a smooth finish is needed.
Wide spaced teeth with a 0 degree rake angle prevent clogging when cutting soft, non-ferrous metals, plastics, and wood. The extra gullet space allows for better chip removal on softer materials.
Teeth are set in a wave pattern rather than alternating left-right. Used on Hard Back blades for metal cutting. Resists tooth stripping on hard or thin-walled materials.
Alternating tooth spacing (e.g., 10/14 TPI) reduces noise and vibration for smoother, quieter cuts. Used on Bi-Metal and Portable blades. Excellent for cutting varied thickness materials.
Minimum Radius Cutting Chart
The narrower the blade, the tighter the curve you can cut. This chart shows the minimum turning radius for each blade width.
| Blade Width | Min. Radius | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8" | 3/16" (4.76 mm) | Tight scrollwork, intricate curves |
| 3/16" | 5/16" (7.93 mm) | Detailed curves, small projects |
| 1/4" | 5/8" (15.87 mm) | Moderate curves, general shaping |
| 3/8" | 1-1/2" (38.1 mm) | Gentle curves, pattern cutting |
| 1/2" | 2-1/2" (63.5 mm) | Gentle curves, resawing, general ripping |
| 5/8" | 4" (101.6 mm) | Straight cuts, resawing |
| 3/4" | 5-1/2" (139.7 mm) | Straight cuts, heavy resawing |
| 1" | 7" (177.8 mm) | Straight cuts only, max resawing |
TPI Selection Guide
Key rule: Keep at least 3 (preferably 6) teeth in the material at all times. Fewer or more teeth than this risks poor results.
| TPI | Cut Type | Best Material Thickness | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-3 | Very Coarse | 4" to 8"+ | Resawing thick stock, fast ripping of hardwood |
| 4 | Coarse | 2" to 6" | General resawing, thick softwood, fast cuts |
| 6 | Medium | 1" to 4" | General purpose wood cutting, all-around blade |
| 10 | Medium-Fine | 1/2" to 2" | Thinner stock, smoother finish, plywood, hardwood |
| 14 | Fine | 1/4" to 1" | Thin stock, non-ferrous metals, plastic, smooth finish |
| 18 | Very Fine | 1/8" to 1/2" | Thin metal, tubing, plastic sheet |
| 24 | Extra Fine | Under 1/4" | Thin-wall tubing, sheet metal, very thin stock |
| 32 | Ultra Fine | Under 1/8" | Very thin metal, precision cuts |
Blade Terms
Blade Width is measured from the tips of the teeth to the back edge of the blade. Follow the instructions for your band saw when choosing blade width. Wider blades cut straighter; narrower blades cut tighter curves.
TPI (Teeth Per Inch) indicates how fine or coarse the blade cuts. Higher TPI = smoother, slower cut. Lower TPI = faster, rougher cut. Always keep at least 3 teeth in the material.
Blade Gauge (Thickness) refers to the thickness of the blade body. Common gauges: .014 (thin, for 3-wheel bench tops), .018 (bench top), .020 (standard bench top / small stationary), .025 (standard), .032 (heavy duty 3/4" blades), .035 (heavy duty 1" blades).
Rake Angle is the angle of the tooth face relative to vertical. Hook teeth have a positive rake (aggressive), Regular teeth have 0 degree rake, Skip teeth have 0 degree rake with wider spacing.
Set refers to how teeth are bent alternately left and right to create a kerf wider than the blade body, preventing binding. Raker set uses a pattern of left-right-straight. Wavy set bends groups of teeth in a wave pattern.
Kerf is the width of the cut made by the blade. A wider set produces a wider kerf (more waste, less binding). A narrower kerf saves material but requires better blade tension and alignment.
Safety Tips
Always wear safety goggles or a face shield when using power tools.
Always wear gloves and face protection when handling band saw blades.
Always keep your fingers away from the blade. Use push sticks or guides.
Always lower the upper guides and guard to slightly above the workpiece.
Never wear loose clothing or jewelry that could be caught in the machine.
Uncoiling: The band saw blade is packed under tension. To uncoil, remove the tie and gently toss the blade to the floor in an open, unoccupied area. The blade will snap open ready for installation.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Blade wanders or drifts | Insufficient tension, dull blade, or guides too far from blade | Increase tension, replace blade, adjust guides close to blade |
| Rough or wavy cut | Feed rate too fast, wrong TPI, or dull blade | Slow feed rate, use coarser blade for thick stock, replace blade |
| Blade breaks frequently | Too much tension, blade too narrow for material, or blade fatigue | Reduce tension, use wider blade, release tension when not in use |
| Burning on wood | Dull blade, feed too slow, wrong blade for material | Replace blade, increase feed rate, use fewer TPI |
| Teeth stripping | Too few teeth in material, feed too aggressive | Use more TPI, reduce feed pressure, use wavy set for thin stock |
| Blade won't track | Wheels misaligned, blade not tensioned, wrong blade width | Adjust tracking, tension blade, check blade width for your saw |
| Excessive vibration | Blade not welded properly, damaged teeth, wheels dirty | Replace blade, clean tires/wheels, check for damaged teeth |