- Band saws typically come in two types of applications, vertical and horizontal. The vertical application is found in most uses that require a person to push the work piece through the running blade. A horizontal band saw is generally used when the work piece is held fixed in a holding device and the blade is passed through the work piece being cut. Regardless of the type of band saw, each has common parts that move a blade in order to remove material for cutting a work piece.
- All band saws have two large wheels on which the cutting blade runs. The longer or larger the blade, the larger in diameter these wheels are for propelling the blade. One wheel is called the driven wheel, and the other is the idler. The driven wheel is a fixed round wheel that is connected to the power source. The power source can be either an electric motor or a combustion engine. The power is generally transferred by a rubber belt much like the belts in an automobile. The driven wheel is held in place by two large bearings that allow for maximum power transfer from the motor or engine. The idler wheel is a moveable wheel that is also held in place by two large bearings. The idler can be adjusted to loosen or tighten the blade of the band saw. Loosening or tightening the blade allows for accurate cutting through different materials.
- The long blades of a band saw must be held in place when cutting through material so the blades do not run off of the driven and idler wheels. Blade guides serve this purpose so an accurate cut can be achieved. The blade guides hold the blade on either side of the thin metal as it passes through the material. The blade guides can be made either of a hard carbon steel or roller bearings. Regardless of the type of guide, the blade must be allowed to freely move through these holding devices or else the blade will be pinched and break.
- Band saw blades come in a loop design. The blade is made from a long roll of toothed metal material and is cut to length. It is then welded into a loop for the size of that particular band saw. The teeth of the blade can come in many shapes and sizes depending on the material being cut. Metal cutting blades will have very fine teeth for the removal of hard material. Generally, these types of cutting blades will have as many as 32 teeth per inch on the continuous looped blade. Softer materials such as wood will use a coarse toothed blade. In some instances the wood cutting blades will have only one tooth per inch of running blade.
