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I recently bought a new bandsaw blade that our major tool supplier, Axminster, has started to sell, the blade is a bi-metal type with an M42 HSS strip electron beam welded to a spring steel alloy backing strip with the teeth milled into the HSS. So far so normal, but the teeth arrangement on this 13mm blade is 6tpi-10tpi, it has alternate short sections with 6tpi and then 10tpi etc. The blades aren't cheap, but they are well worth the cost, which is about the same as a neck blank. The resulting cut is out of this world, you get the cutting ability of the 6tpi section with the clean finish of 10tpi. Here's the blade, and the result straight off the saw:





Colin

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13mm blade, so is this a do-all type blade for you? You mention neck blank, are you cutting 2 from the same block? I need to drill a hole to make the heel turn, but I do have a wider blade, which I hope to replace with a blade something like this at some point. Can you describe what you feel the turning range is and the resaw thickness range? Nice picture, nothing like some good clean machinery pics.
Rob

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Variable pitch blade.

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Bi-metal blades are great. The teeth vary in groups all along the blade. I use 10 - 14 tooth and 14 - 18 tooth Lenox Diemaster blades in a 1/4" blade. The 10 - 14 tooth cuts very nicely and works in anything up to 1" without issue. You do have to go a little slower, but the cut is clean. The 14 - 18 tooth works great for purflings, linings and thin stock, with a zero clearance plate, cuts with very smooth results and not much blowout at all. They do cost a bit more, but Lenox claims 10x the life of a carbon blade. I have actually used them to cut through a neck block, but got some burning, due to it's inability to clear out the sawdust fast enough.

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Waddy

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Waddy, this 6-10 blade will handle 4" wood with no problem, just take it slow, and yes it is my general purpose blade, I have a 14-18 which will just be for cutting out plates, purflings etc.

Robert, I always use scarfed necks with stacked heels, I never cut one piece necks, I haven't tried a radius with this but a 1/2" blade should be able to cut down to about a 2 1/2" radius.

One of the main things I've noticed is how quietly and smoothly this runs.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.