Be careful with sheet metal-broken teeth

Janderso

Janderso

Jeff Anderson
H-M Platinum Supporter
Joined
Mar 26, 2018
Messages
8,645
I didn't know it would do that??
I was using one of those anti-vibration blades I got from McMaster.
It was on the 14" Delta band saw. The sheet metal was perforated (had little holes) 16 gauge.
I cut about a 12" piece and discovered the missing teeth.
Going back to the drawing board I discovered there are blades for sheet metal. This blade is a 1/2" wide- 10-14 TPI for 1/4" to 1" steel, brass, aluminum etc..
I replaced it with a McMaster 1/2" wide .025" 14 TPI blade.
I will not be cutting perforated sheet metal anymore.

FYI
 
18tpi . I just had to cut thru tubing at work for an hour and a half . You want 3 teeth in the material if at all possible . Those broken teeth also come off HOT ! :)
 
I had to order a special blade from morse to do .080 material, 28 TPI. worth it.
 
I bought the McMaster 32 tooth carbon blade for thin sheet metal. Cuts down to .045 sheets great, just have to remember to use less pressure than the variable tooth blades.
 
Timely of you to post this.

Last night I ordered some 10-14 TPI blades for the Kalamazoo saw since I've still been using the blade it came with which is clearly on the dull side. I was just pondering if it might make sense to put a fine tooth blade on the HF 4x6 and dedicate it to cutting tubing and other thin materials. I go through a fair bit of thin wall tubing. I guess for 1/8-1-4" wall I'm going to want at least 18tpi and maybe even 24tpi if I can find one that fine.
 
I had to go into work last night on a special call . They needed a frame cut out and couldn't use a chop wheel for fear of lighting the place up . I took my Sawzall in and my finest blade at the house was an 18 tpi . 1/4" tubing . I made it thru but the blade was still too aggressive . Bent it up big time . Of course , I was squished under a conveyor ramp with no room for me or the saw . Another night in paradise . ( no pun intended Jeff ) :)
 
Aaron_W said:
Timely of you to post this.

Last night I ordered some 10-14 TPI blades for the Kalamazoo saw since I've still been using the blade it came with which is clearly on the dull side. I was just pondering if it might make sense to put a fine tooth blade on the HF 4x6 and dedicate it to cutting tubing and other thin materials. I go through a fair bit of thin wall tubing. I guess for 1/8-1-4" wall I'm going to want at least 18tpi and maybe even 24tpi if I can find one that fine.
Click to expand...
Be sure to break-in the new blade.
 
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