Recommendation? I have a Miwaukee portable band saw. Can anyone suggest the best blades and TPI for cutting thru approx 3/16" to 1/4" AEB-L stainless.

[DAVE DEMATTEO]

I have a Miwaukee portable band saw. Can anyone suggest the best blades and TPI for cutting thru approx 3/16" to 1/4" AEB-L stainless. I am going through blades much too fast with the Lenox Wolf-Brand TPI 14/18 I am using.
Thank you

 

[Horsewright]

I would use 18TPI or 22TPI blades. I've had good luck with Morse blades and Lennox although the last few boxes of Lennox blades I had didn't last as long as normal. I cut a lot of AEB-L and in fact am working on 100 plus blades right now. Most is in the 1/8" range but do have one sheet in this batch of 3/16. Last time I di a hundred plus AEB-L blades:

You have adjustable speed on your saw?

 

[DAVE DEMATTEO]

Yes, I have an adjustable speed on my saw. I heard that the Lenox Master Band might be better??? The blades I have been using are .020" thick where I find the 18 TPI blades are .025" thick.

 

[Horsewright]

I'm not sure that the thickness makes a diff really. Seems like when a blade breaks its at the weld. With the thicker steel I go a lil slower. Don't know about the Master Brand on the Lennox. They had been my go to brand for a long time and the last couple as I mentioned just didn't last very long.

 

[Seedy Lot]

The wolf-bands are bottom quality in the Lennox lineup. I have been less than impressed by the ones I have lately been using from Lowes.

I have heard good things about the higher dollar Lennox blades. Think my next band saw blade purchase will be Morse as they get great reviews here on the forum and they can be found for a decent price.

With the Wolf bands I have been starting at 1 for speed and slowly working up to 4 as the saw slows down with the cuts. I also have been slowly cutting through a 2×4 to help brake in blade.

I would think 14-18 tpi would be a good a good choice for you.

 

[DAVE DEMATTEO]

The wolf-bands are bottom quality in the Lennox lineup. I have been less than impressed by the ones I have lately been using from Lowes.

I have heard good things about the higher dollar Lennox blades. Think my next band saw blade purchase will be Morse as they get great reviews here on the forum and they can be found for a decent price.

With the Wolf bands I have been starting at 1 for speed and slowly working up to 4 as the saw slows down with the cuts. I also have been slowly cutting through a 2×4 to help brake in blade.

I would think 14-18 tpi would be a good a good choice for you.

Thank you. I'll try your suggestions and also check into Morse.

 

[DAVE DEMATTEO]

I'm not sure that the thickness makes a diff really. Seems like when a blade breaks its at the weld. With the thicker steel I go a lil slower. Don't know about the Master Brand on the Lennox. They had been my go to brand for a long time and the last couple as I mentioned just didn't last very long.

Thanks. Don't know what's up with Lenox. Can't purchase them through Amazon anymore.....discontinued. Looking into other brands.

 

[JV Knives]

I have had decent luck with Dewalt blades recently and the 3 packs have been under 25 bucks online. I tend to go back and forth between steel and g10 or other plastics so I don’t expect great life. For the price of a ceramic 2x72 belt, they do fine.

 

[DAVE DEMATTEO]

Thanks. Don't know what's up with Lenox. Can't purchase them through Amazon anymore.....discontinued. Looking into other brands.

Thank you. I'll try your suggestions and also check into Morse.

I have had decent luck with Dewalt blades recently and the 3 packs have been under 25 bucks online. I tend to go back and forth between steel and g10 or other plastics so I don’t expect great life. For the price of a ceramic 2x72 belt, they do fine.

Thanks, I'll check out Dewalt.

 

[J. Hoffman]

MK Morse 811 or 1216. Best blades I've ever used and I've tried most. They have a very different tooth profile. The 811 is my preferred and I use it on everything from .100 to .25 steel. I use the 1216 on thinner stuff, but still can use the 811.

 

[Lorien]

I've read that you want three or more teeth on the material you're cutting

 

[Andrew LB]

I've read that you want three or more teeth on the material you're cutting

my last blade purchase, I used that methodology on choosing TPI and bought 24-tpi MK Morse bi-Metal blades and they were terrible. The last of the pack broke today which is why I’m here looking for suggestions. Ive already found a better use for those 24-tpi blades, I cut them up and use the pieces for glue spreaders. They leave a very even distribution of glue due to the small teeth.
the blades I used prior were Lenox 14-18 from Lowe’s and they were pretty good.