Blade Break-in Procedures
The importance of breaking in a new blade should not be under estimated. It can mean the difference between success and failure of your bandsaw blade.
Proper break-in of your bandsaw blade will give you a more uniform blade life. It will make it easier to judge the overall blade life and performance.
One should always break-in a blade when first installed to remove the sharp edge. Breaking-in the bandsaw blade will give you a much longer blade life and you will not have as many problems with breaking/stripping teeth, or crooked cuts.
Think of a new bandsaw blade as if it were a knife with a new edge or a pencil with a new point. Everyone knows that a knife will stay sharper longer if you take the time to hone the edge before you use the knife. We also know one cannot push down hard on a pencil point without breaking the tip when it is new. Bandsaw blades are no different.
The following are a few successful ways to properly break-in bandsaw blades.
Procedure 1
- Set the speed of the bandsaw blade according to your cut charts or the Simonds Recommended Speeds list.
- Reduce the feed pressure and/or head drop rate by 25% of the regular production rate for the first one hundred square inches.
Procedure 2
- Set the speed of the bandsaw blade according to the size and type of material to be cut (see Simonds Recommended Speeds).
- Reduce the feed force to the minimum feed possible to maintain a chip.
- Gradually increase the feed pressure until the desired cutting rate is acquired.
Procedure 3
- Reduce the blade speed and feed force by 25%.
- Gradually increase both speed and feed until the desired cutting rate is achieved.