Band widths and their uses

[mcarso1]

I bought a used Norwood super lumbermate 2000 and the owner gave me about 20 used bands some sharper than others. Question is they are 1.25 and 1.50 inch bands, so why the different sizes and where can I send them to be sharpened? I am in southwestern pennsylvania.

[Tom]

one and a half inch bands are supposed to be more stable in cutting a straight line than one and a quarter inch bands, though I've not found that to be especially true.  The logic comes from the fact that the kerf in the wood helps to guide the band and the wider band is given more control because the back of the blade is further away from the cutting area (teeth).

The wider bands provide more beam strength (the resistance to bending of the band, from front to back). This allows the band to be driven harder if you have the horsepower to do it.

I've found that one and a quarter inch bands work fine for me.  It is more dependent on the sharpness of the teeth, the accuracy of the set and finding the sawing speed that works.

Wider bands will usually require different guides, and sometimes different bandwheels, so there might be a point of diminishing returns there.

As far as sharpening, you could always get your own blade maintenance kit (Sharpener and setter). 

Some of the manufacturers of sawmill bands also do sharpening, if the stock blade is one that they sell.   Woodmizer, Cooks, timberking, etc. have sharpeing services, as well as our sponsor Menominee Saw.

I've always recommended that a sawmill owner get his own sharpening equipment, if he can afford it, whether he uses a service or not.  It's a good idea to know how to sharpen your own blades properly to be able to judge the worth of the service.  It also comes in handy in a bind.

There are used devices on the market from time to time.

[solidwoods]

Same machine, same power, same material, a wider blade will make a faster feed rate.
But just as in life/physics everything has a trade off.
Wide blades cost more, should have larger dia wheels (for longer life), require more pwr (to achieve the same feed rate as a narrow blade).
There isn't allot of difference in 1.25 and 1.5 but some people can see a little better cut performance in the wider.  If you do and the initial cost is within your overhead go with the better performer.  (and results can change per blade mfr.)
jim