Running in a band saw blade for metal
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Cooling a band saw blade for metal
For your metal-cutting band saw blade to work well and for a long time, not undercut, not vibrate and not be noisy in the cut, it must be cooled correctly. Properly set cooling is a prerequisite for its correct operation. Poor cooling is one of the most common causes of low band saw blade life, undercutting, unpleasant noise and tooth damage. At the same time, it tends to be the most underestimated factor. So how should you cool a band saw blade correctly?
1) Choose the right coolant and dilution ratio
- For machining standard steels, a mineral emulsion with 5–7 % concentration is sufficient. However, if you use a semi-synthetic coolant, you will extend the service life of both the coolant and the band saw blade.
- For machining hard steels, always use a semi-synthetic coolant with at least 10 % concentration.
- For machining very hard and tough steels, use a semi-synthetic coolant with 10–15 % concentration, or oil cooling.
- For cutting non-ferrous metals it is advisable to use a special emulsion.
2) Check the coolant
- Regularly check the concentration of the coolant emulsion with a refractometer (you can order one from us).
- Regularly check the alkalinity using a pH test. A drop in pH below 8.8 indicates the presence of a large amount of bacteria and may result in poorer surface quality, especially on non-ferrous metals, and a drop below pH 8.2 will cause corrosion of the machine. The optimum pH value measured by test strip is 9.1–9.5.
- Solid particles in the coolant may be caused by poor operation of the filtration system.
- Odour indicates the presence of bacteria or fungi. We recommend cleaning with a system cleaner and replacing the coolant with a fresh one.
3) Follow the correct procedure when changing and diluting coolant emulsion:
- Before changing the coolant, top up the water to the maximum level. Add a system cleaner (a concentration of 2–3 % is sufficient) and let it circulate for 24–48 hours. Then drain the coolant and dispose of it in an environmentally responsible way (never pour it down the drain – even in the case of "eco-friendly" coolants it is still a mixture of chemicals and must be treated as hazardous waste).
- Clean the machine of deposits and dirt.
- Pour the concentrate into a container of water slowly while stirring continuously. If possible, use a mixer. Never pour water into the concentrate – the resulting mixture will not function correctly!
- Pour the coolant into the machine and check the correct concentration with a refractometer.
4) We offer:
- CS WASOL 1500 FAB mineral coolant with biocidal component
- COLOMETA PA 40 FN semi-synthetic coolant with biocidal component
- Cooling oil for mist cooling
- Accessories for proper use of coolant: refractometers, pH test strips, water hardness test strips, mixers, etc.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us in the discussion below the article.
Your questions
Hello, it is not necessary to lubricate or cool when cutting, but if you apply it, you can achieve a longer service life for the saw blade.
In general: cooling is better than lubrication, lubrication is better than "dry" cutting.
For hobby conditions, it is sufficient to spray water with a small amount of cutting emulsion into the cutting area – for example, from a PET bottle with a small hole in the cap.
One of our customers, who cuts stainless steel (produces stainless steel screens), uses WD-40 spray and is satisfied – the surface remains clean for welding. He also recommends releasing the saw blade after work, which helps it not to wear out.
If you have a problem with dull teeth, I recommend trying a saw blade with a finer tooth pitch, for example: EPIC GP 13 × 0.65 mm TPI 8/12
The reason may be that at the moment there are too many teeth in engagement.
Cheers, Dudr Saw
Hello, you can use COLOMETA PA 40 FN for this.
S.Kolarik | kolarik@simonds.pl
Hello, both of the above-mentioned liquids can be used for this saw. I personally prefer to recommend the semi-synthetic one, but unfortunately we only have 20l packaging and I don't know if it won't be too much for you.
If so, call me/write to me and we'll figure something out.
S.Kolarik | kolarik@simonds.cz | +420 773 048 351
Good afternoon,
Cooling the saw blade is important when cutting, besides the effect of washing away chips, the liquid cools and lubricates the cut and thus protects the edge. The size of the teeth is also important, for 40x40 square tubes, the cutting length when finishing the cut is 40mm and this is too much for finer blades, the gaps between the teeth get clogged and the blade then breaks.
Regards, the DUDR Saw team