How to Choose the Right Cold Saw Blade

Cold saws use special band saw blades designed to cut wood or metal.

Cold saws are a type of circular saw used for cutting wood and metal objects. Unlike traditional saws, cold saws transfer heat back into the blade rather than into the object being cut. These tools are primarily used for cutting sheet metal and metal pipes, but they may also be used by woodworkers and other professionals. To ensure smooth and safe cuts, buyers should choose saw blades carefully. When selecting cold saw blades, consider factors like size, tooth design and material to find the right blade for your needs.

Instructions

1. Compare blade materials. Band saw blades come in three basic varieties, including carbon steel, high speed steel (HSS) and tungsten carbide tip. According to Tool Center, carbon blades are the most economical of the three, and are sufficient for most basic cutting jobs. HSS blades are more durable than carbon steel and have a longer lifespan in general. Tungsten carbide blades offer a high level of strength and durability, as well as the fastest cutting speed and longest lifespan of the three materials.

2. Choose the thickness of cold saw blades based on the diameter of your saw's mounting wheel. Most blade manufacturers provide a standard sizing chart, or you can reference the chart at the Tool Center website (see Resources). The smaller the mounting wheel, the thinner your blade should be. For example, a wheel that measures 6 inches or smaller requires a blade of only 0.014 inches. When in doubt, choose the thinner of two potential blades to maximize the life of the blade.

3. Match the diameter of the blade to the requirements for your cold saw. Check your owner's manual to find the correct blade diameter, or take your old blade to a local supplier and ask for help in finding the correct size.

4. Look at the tooth design, or tooth shape for each blade. According to Sterling Machinery, standard tooth designs are the best choice for fragile materials and are also a good option for general-purpose cutting. Skip-tooth blades provide the smoothest and fastest cuts for wide or large objects, while hook-tooth units are the most efficient for cutting soft metals like aluminum.

5. Find the pitch rating for each blade, measured in teeth per inch (TPI). According to Detroit Band Saw Works, the optimal TPI ranges from 6 to 12 depending on material. Soft or narrow materials require very fine blades, which will have a relatively high TPI. Wide or dense materials require coarse blades with a low pitch. The lower the TPI, the more coarse the blade will be.

6. Check the tooth set pattern. Regular blades, also known as raker pattern blades, feature single alternating teeth that are offset to opposite sides of the blade. According to Sterling Machinery, raker patterns provide the most uniform cuts and are best for cutting curves and contours. Wavy pattern blades feature several adjacent teeth set to one side of the blade, with the next group of teeth set to the opposite side to form a wave pattern. This design places the least amount of stress on the blade and can help prolong the life of most blades. Wavy patterns work best for thin or delicate materials, or for any applications where the teeth are suffering from breakage or damage.

References

• Detroit Bandsaw: Troubleshooting FAQ
• Sterling Machinery: New and Used Saws
• Tool Center: Band Saw Blades

Resources

• Tool Center: Blade Selection