Blade Break In

Posted by Al (Hacksaw) Robinson on Dec 14th 2017

Breaking In the Blade

Proper break-in of a bandsaw blade can extend blade life by up to 30%. Brand new, sharp teeth are more fragile than lightly honed teeth and, much like a freshly sharpened pencil, break-in helps condition the teeth for longer life.

To break in a new bandsaw blade:

1. Set the band speed to the normal recommended SFPM for the material to be cut.
2. Set the feed at 50% of the normal cutting rate
3. Gradually increase the feed rate to normal over the total break-in period.

Caution: during break-in, it is very important that the band always produces chips, to avoid “rubbing’ the tooth tips dull. Increase the feed if needed to produce chips.