Band Blade terminology and education needed.

[opticsguy]

Band blade terminology.

Trying to educate myself about the various band saw mill blades, did google search on band saw mill blade specifications and other terms.  The only results I see are all the websites for companies selling blades.  In reference to following, I use a Timberking 1220. My blades are 1.25" x 7/8". Not sure what the degree angle is.

So my questions are:
What is a 4 deg, 7 deg, 10 deg blade?  Is that the angle in the gullet? 

What is the difference in the performance of tooth spacing?  All my blades came from Timberking and they seem fine on all the varieties of wood I cut.  Maple, Alder, Cottonwood,  Cedar, Birch and Fir.  I do not see any difference when cutting the various tree species.  There is more variability when cutting individual logs.

I purchased 10? blades when I ordered my mill.  Since that time, about 6 years ago, I have broken one or two and lost one due to some micro cracking, all others have been resharpended at least a dozen times each.  I recently purchased a new blade with a wider tooth spacing and saw little difference in performance. 

Now I see chat about Kasco and other manufacturers blades along with all the other specifications.  So, what is the difference between what I use now and all the other possibilities?  My sawmill is my hobby, I do not cut professionally and as mentioned before; " I have more wood than I can shake a stick at."

Thanks for you input and insight!!!

[Ljohnsaw]

 :P

[Kbeitz]

Info I gathered of the internet.



 

[Brad_S.]

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

If you are a hobby sawyer and pleased with your blades, any production speed ups you might gain by trying other brands/configurations is negligible.

10 degrees is kind of a "universal" set. You may pick up a little speed in denser woods with a lower degree set but then you have to keep the different blades seperate. A dozen sharpening a is a good lifespan. I have experimented with many brands, Some last 12 sharpenings, some only 3.

When I was sawing full time, I easily went through 10 bands a month or less. To carry you through 6 years is great. IMO, stick with what you have been using, it sounds like it has served you well!