Know-How

Chart of Common Band Saw Blades

Width, Minimum Radius, Grind, Pitch, Uses
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Width Radius* Grind Pitch† Uses/Comments

1/16” 0” Standard 24 Fine scrollwork. Blade can turn a 90º corner because the kerf is as
1.5 mm 0 mm wide as the blade.

1/8” 3/16” Standard 14 Scrollwork that requires smooth surface; also good for joinery.
3 mm 4.5 mm

1/8” 3/16” Skip 8 Fast cutting of scrollwork, cutting scrollwork in thick stock.
3 mm 4.5 mm

3/16” 3/8” Standard 10 Cutting small curves that require smooth surfaces; joinery.
4.5 mm 9.5 mm

3/16” 3/8” Skip 4 Fast cutting of small curves; cutting small curves in thick stock.
4.5 mm 9.5 mm

1/4” 5/8” Standard 10-18 Cutting medium curves that require a smooth surface; joinery. Finer
6 mm 16 mm pitch (more teeth) is best for joinery.

1/4” 5/8” Skip 4-6 Fast cutting of medium curves in thick stock. A 1/4” (6 mm) 6-pitch
6 mm 16 mm skip-tooth blade makes a good general-purpose blade.

1/4” 5/8” Hook 4-6 Aggressive cutting of medium curves; ripping, resawing narrow
6 mm 16 mm stock.

3/8” 1-1/4” Standard 8-14 Cutting large curves which require a smooth surface; crosscutting
9.5 mm 32 mm and mitering thin stock.

3/8” 1-1/4” Skip 4 Fast cutting of large curves; ripping, resawing narrow stock. This
9.5 mm 32 mm can also make a general purpose blade.

3/8” 1-1/4” Hook 4-6 Aggressive cutting of large curves; ripping, resawing narrow stock.
9.5 mm 32 mm

1/2” 3” Standard 6-18 Cutting gentle curves; crosscutting and mitering. Finer pitches will
13 mm 76 mm make very smooth, straight cuts.

1/2” 3” Skip 4 Fast cutting of gentle curves.

13 mm 76 mm

1/2” 3” Hook 4-6 Aggressive cutting of gentle curves; ripping, resawing medium-size
13 mm 76 mm stock, sawing green wood. 4 TPI works best for green wood.

3/4” 5” Standard 6-8 Crosscutting and mitering thick stock.

19 mm 127 mm

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 Chart of Common Band Saw Blades Page 2

3/4” 5” Skip 3-4 Fast cut-off work, cutting thick stock with the grain. May also be
19 mm 127 mm used for resawing thick or wide softwoods.

3/4” 5” Hook 3-6 Aggressive cut-offs, ripping, resawing wide boards; cutting green
19 mm 127 mm wood. 3 TPI works best for green wood.

1” 8” Standard 8-14 Continuous crosscutting; mitering of thick stock.

25 mm 203 mm

1” 8” Hook 3 Continuous ripping, resawing wide boards; cutting green wood.

25 mm 203 mm

* Minimum radius that can be cut with this specific width of blade. This may vary with the manufacturer; the
minimum radius depends not only on the width of the blade, but also the set, kerf, and blade thickness. Consider
the measurements in this column as estimates only.
† Pitch is the number of teeth per inch, or – if you think in metric – the number of teeth every 25 mm. Also, these
are pitches that are commonly available. Other pitches may be available on special order.

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