Porter-Cable 28-306 - Manual (Page 16)

16
BAND SAW BLADES
A band saw blade is a delicate piece of steel that is subjected to tremendous strain. You can obtain long use from a band saw
blade if you use it properly. Be sure you use blades of the proper thickness, width, and temper for the various types of material
and cuts.
Always use the widest blade possible. Use narrow blades only for sawing small, abrupt curves and for fine, delicate work. This
will save blades and will produce better cuts. For cutting wood and similar materials, Delta offers blades in widths of 1/8", 1/4",
3/8", and 1/2".
Any one of a number of conditions may cause a band saw blade to break. Blade breakage is, in some cases, unavoidable, being
the natural result of the peculiar stresses to which blades are subjected. Blades will break often due to avoidable causes, such
as the lack of care to the blade or the blade not being properly adjusted to the band saw. The most common causes of blade
breakage are:
(1) faulty alignments and adjustments of the guides.
(2) forcing or twisting a wide blade around a curve of short radius.
(3) feeding the work piece too fast into the blade.
(4) dullness of the teeth, or absence of sufficient set.
(5) improperly tensioned blade.
(6) top guide set too high above the work piece being cut.
(7)
using a blade with a lumpy or improperly finished braze or weld.
(8) continuous running of the saw blade when not cutting.
Use blades that are 93½" in length on this machine.
Always use a sharp blade. Keep it free from gum and pitch. Clean frequently with a stiff fiber brush.
Narrow blades are used for cutting small circles or curves while the wider blades are best suited for straight cutting such as
ripping.
A new blade, in most cases, will perform better and last longer than a re-sharpened blade.
Ensure that the blade guides are adjusted properly.
Do not force or twist the blade around a curve or a very short radius.
Feed the workpiece through the blade at a consistent rate, allow the blade to do the cutting – do not feed the work piece too
fast.
Do not apply excessive tension to the blade. Set the tension only so that it drives the blade without slipping on the wheels.
Narrow blades require less tension than wider blades.
SUGGESTED SKIP TOOTH BLADES AND SPEEDS
MATERIAL
STEELS
Aluminum
Asbestos
Babbitt
Brake Lining
Carbon
Copper – Drawn
Duralumin
Lead
Magnesium
Paper Board
Rubber – Hard
Zinc
Plastics
Builders Board
Hardwoods
Plywoods
Softwoods
TEETH
PER
INCH
3
4
4
6
4
6
3
6
3
6
6
6
See note
6
6
6
6
FPM
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
TEETH
PER
INCH
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
FPM
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
TEETH
PER
INCH
3
4
3
3
4
3
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
FPM
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
3000
1/2” TO 2” 2”AND UP
NOTE: Some types of plastics lend themselves to more pronounced results with the regular saw blades.
Sheets under ¼” thickness and tubing under ¼” wall thickness are not adapted to skip tooth blades.
WIDTH
1/8”
3/16”
1/4”
MIN. CUTTING RADIUS
1/4”
1/2”
3/4”
WIDTH
3/8”
1/2”
3/4”
MIN. CUTTING RADIUS
1”
1-1/4”
1-3/4”
UNDER ½”