Metal Cutting Bandsaws

Thode Knife & Saw Ltd holds a comprehensive range of Lenox Bi- Metal  bandsaw blades. The Bi-metal blading have tooth tips manufactured from high speed steel that is electron beam welded to a high strength spring steel backing material. The result is a durable, fatigue resistant blade that can withstand the heat generated by cutting steel and other alloys.

The Bi-Metal range is suitable for most metalworking applications, carbon steels, alloy and tool steels, stainless steels and nickel based alloys. The Bi-Metal range is sharper, stronger and more durable and will cut smoother, faster, longer.

One very important aspect of getting the best from your Lenox B-Metal blade is correctly "breaking in" the saw before putting the saw to full work. a brand new saw has razor sharp tooth tips. In order to withstand the cutting pressures used in bandsawing, the tip should be honed to form a micro radius. Cutting with high pressure without performing this honing will cause microscopic damage to the tips of the teeth, resulting in loss of tool life. Completing a proper break in on a new bandsaw will significantly increase its useful tool life.

How To Break In A Blade

• Use the appropriate band speed for the material to be cut (see table below)
• Reduce the feed rate/force control on the saw to achieve a cutting rate of approximately 20 - 50% of the normal cutting rate.
• Begin the first cut at a reduced rate making sure that the teeth are forming a chip. Once the blade fully enters the workpiece, the feed rate can be slightly increased.
• Make gradual increases in feed rate/force over several cuts until the normal cutting rate is established  
• During break in, slight adjustments to band speed may be made in the event of excessive noise or vibration. Once the blade is broken in, the recommended band speed should be used.  

ADJUST BAND SPEED for different materials
Material	Band Speed
1/4"	Increase 15%
3/4"	Increase 20%
1-1/4"	Increase 10%
2-1/2"	Increase 5%
8"	Decrease 12%

FOR HEAT TREATED MATERIALS
DECREASE BAND SPEED	ROCKWELL	BRINELL
0%	up to 20	226
5%	22	237
10%	24	247
15%	26	258
20%	28	271
25%	30	286
30%	32	301
35%	36	336
40%	38	353
45%	40	371

BI-METAL BAND SPEED CHART		(FEET/MIN)
MATERIALS	U.S DESIGNATION	BAND SPEED
Copper Alloys	CDA 220	210
	CDA 360	295
	Copper Nickel (30%)	200
	Beryllium Copper	160
Bronze Alloys	AMPCO 18	180
	AMPCO 21	160
	AMPCO 25	110
	Leaded Tin Bronze	290
	Aluminium Bronze 865	150
	Manganese bronze	215
	932	280
	937	250
Brass Alloys	Cartridge Brass	220
	85% red Brass	220
	Naval Brass	200
Leaded, free machining, low carbon steels.	1145	270
	1215	325
	12L14	350
Structural Steel/Profiles	A36 (Shapes)	295
Low Carbon Steels	1008	270
	1018	270
	1030	250
Medium Carbon Steels	1035	240
	1045	230
High Carbon Steels	1060	200
	1080	195
	1095	185
Mn Steels	1541	200
	1524	170
Cr-Mo Steels	4140	225
	41L50	235
	415H0	200
Cr Alloy Steels	6150	190
	52100	160
	5160	195
Ni-Cr-Mo Steels	4340	195
	8620	215
	8640	185
	E9310	160
Stainless Steel	304,304H	115
	316	90
	410	135
	420	135
	440A	80
	440C	70
Low Alloy Tool Steel	L-6	145
Water Hardening Tool Steel	W-1	145
Cold Work Tool Steel	D-2	90
Air Hardening Tool Steels	A-2	190
	A-6	135
	A-10	100
Hot Work Tool Steels	H-11,H13	140
	H-25	90
Oil Hardening Tool Steels	O-1	180
	O-2	135
High Speed Tool Steels	M-2, M10	105
	M-4, M42	95
	T-1	90
	T-15	60
Mold Steels	P-3	180
	P-20	165
Shock Resistant Tool Steels	S-1	140
	S-5	125
Precipitation Hardened Stainless Steels	17-4 PH	70
	15-5 PH	70
Free Machining Stainless Steels	420F	150
	301	125
Nickel Alloys	Monel K-500	70
	Duranickel 301	55
Iron Based Super Alloys	A286	80
	Incoloy 800	55
	Incoloy 825	80
	Pyromet	70
Titanium Alloys	CP Titanium	85
	Ti-6AI-4V	65
Cast Irons	60-40-80	225
	120-90-02	110
	Class 20	160
	Class 40	115
	Class 60	95