Band Blades

[dad2nine]

Please forgive me if this has been asked before. Band Blades, what brand do you like the best and why? What's the best pitch for general cutting?

Thanks...

[Dan_Shade]

i started using the monksforsager (sp?), you can get them from Menominee, who is  a sponsor.

I think I use a 7/8 pitch.  a lot depends on how much HP your saw has if it's a small saw.

[alwaysoily]

Well I use 3 diffrent blades for cutting.  They are all 7/8 pitch but the hooks are all at diffrent angles.  They are all 1 1/4' wide, and .045 thick.  I use a 9 degree for white oak and harder.  I have a 10 degree for red oak, walnut, and some pine.  I guess you could say that is my general blade.  And I now have a 13 degree for real notty pine, only thing is that it only comes in 1 1/2".  All my blades come from Wood-mizer, double hard blades.  I like them because I just don't have the time yet to sharpen my own blades, and I can ship a box of old blades out and get them resharp to just like new.  Just to let you know,  the Wood-mizer mill that I have has a 35hp motor, maybe the pitch and thickness that I use might not be compatable to the size motor on your mill.  Hope some of this helps

[rbarshaw]

I use Monks blades, 7/8 pitch, 0.04 minimum thickness, I have found that thinner than this and the blade wanders too much. I have tried Red Streak also but only at 0.035 thick so can't compare them to Monks blades, and one other off brand that was bad, don't know the name. If it were me I'd stick with the Monks.