b vs. f style blade

[kb88]

I run a 56" f style blade and was wondering if a b style blade has any advantages. I saw pallet lumber so a rougher finish isnt a big deal.

thank!

[Ron Wenrich]

I switched from the F style to the B style and used them for a long time.  The B has a gullet that is 50% larger than the F style.  You can feed a bit faster without hanging the saw.  Also, there are less teeth on a B pattern and that helps lower cost and maintenance.  My tooth pattern took it down 8%.  You should be able to need a bit less hp on your power. 

The B pattern saw is recommended if you are running larger logs over smaller logs.  We always ran to the larger sizes.  Our edger blades were F pattern.  I never had issues with the roughness, and I sawed grade lumber.  Roughness has more to do with saw maintenance and sawing style than it does pattern. 

I don't know if you have Lunstrum's book on sawmills and maintenance.  It was written back in the '60s and reprinted in 1993.  It is probably the best handbook you can have.  He has a section that covers saws.  Here's the link:

https://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/misc/circsaw.pdf

[bandmiller2]

Ron pretty much hammered it. B style is the most popular up here in the northeast. If you cut a lot of smaller stuff, alas "pecker poles" your better off with F style their not as grabby. One good thing the bits are the same F&B. Frank C.

[kb88]

Thanks for the replies. Ive been researching it and thats the conclusion I came to as well. I just got 100 cord of cottonwood hauled in the yard and the small stuff is 20". Now i just need to get my hands on a b style blade for a left hand mill.

[fishfighter]

You guys with these kind of mills. I and I'm sure others would really like to see y'alls mills in action. Any videos of them? That would be sweet! ;D

[Darrel]

You guys with these kind of mills. I and I'm sure others would really like to see y'alls mills in action. Any videos of them? That would be sweet! ;D

X2
I have a neighbor that has a circle mill and as far as I'm concerned, even though a band mill is more efficient, the circle mill has more in the way of cool factor! 😎

[Dleavitt]

I have a friend with a lt40 and I must say the old lane "single 0" is allot of fun and at the end of the day my sawdust pile may be bigger but the lumber pile grew faster as well. I think it's the vintage machinery factor and stepping back to a simple time ........