how often do you change your blade on your shop bandsaw?

[hackberry jake]

I've been doing a lot of resawing on my shop bandsaw and it seems like the blade is lasting forever. My previous two blades got prematurely damaged so I never got to see how long they would've lasted. I would say I probably have 8 hours on my current blade and it's still cutting pretty fast.

[Andy White]

Hackberry Jake,
I had to change bands on my saw after resawing Hickory, and White Oak fairly soon. Probably 8 to 10 hours. I went to my local woodworker supply house, and he recommended a new type band for me to try. It is a 1/4" three tooth per inch by Olsen called Furniture Makers Special. Normally I used a 3/4" for resaw, but this one is a beast. I don't know hours, but I've been cutting with this one for over a year. I can cut radius cuts with it as well as resawing. Saves me a lot of time switching bands. I like it a lot!    ;D ;D  Andy

[Den-Den]

My experience is not typical; I use my shop band-saw mostly for cutting turning blanks.  Wet thick wood with bark, no precision required.  Partly because I have a bigger band-saw than most of my turning friends, my saw gets used quite a bit.  I go through 8 - 10 carbon steel blades per year.  I have also used bi-metal blades (Lennox DieMaster 2) they cost about 3x the blades I use now and last 3x as long; IF no metal is involved. 

If I was mostly re-sawing clean wood, I would use a more expensive blade and expect a longer life.

[hackberry jake]

I think it was @Larry who was telling me that wider blades are over-rated for resawing. Before I got my band saw I had him resaw some Osage Orange into 1/4" thick veneers for guitars. I think he used a 1/4" blade. I am using a 1/2" blade at the moment and I have been resawing 3" thick pine, sycamore, and cedar. Im sure that's part of why my blade has lasted so long. Softer woods and fairly shallow cuts. If I were resawing 12" thick hickory... my mileage would likely be far worse.

[Larry]

It seems like bands last a lot longer on the bigger bandsaws than they did on my small saws.  I'm happy with my blade life in any case and I'm an abuser.



Last week I was sawing aluminum and the week before some brass.  Than yesterday I sawed a piece of driftwood out of the lake for a lady that turns it into art.  All with the same band...like I said I'm a abuser.

But I do change them after they break. :D :D

[hackberry jake]

Larry, was that the 20" band saw or the 14" band saw?

[Larry]

I was talking about my 20" Delta and that is what is pictured.

I put a Boston gear drive in my 14" Delta to slow it down and it sees nothing but steel.  It has been working great for that purpose.  I think I put a 16 or maybe a 18 TPI band on it.

The 20" Delta normally has a 3 TPI band from 1/4" width up to 1".  Most of the time it will either be 1/4" or 3/8" width.