Cutting metal on a band saw for wood? Rather not. We explain why
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How to choose a bandsaw blade for metal
The size of your bandsaw blade for metal is determined by your saw. That leaves just two things to choose: the blade type based on what you cut, and the tooth pitch based on the wall thickness or diameter of the material. You'll find both in the tables below, along with blades for popular saws.
Choose your saw
PARKSIDEPMB 1100 B21140 × 13 × 0.65 mm bladeBlades and sets →
PARKSIDEPMB 1100 C31140 × 13 × 0.65 mm bladeBlades and sets →
PARKSIDEPMBA 20-Li A1733 × 13 × 0.65 mm bladeBlades and sets →
ASISTAE5PK1101140 × 13 × 0.65 mm bladeBlades and sets →On your saw's page you'll find the exact blade size, the blades that work on it and often a set of three blades to try out. Have a PARKSIDE from Lidl? We pick blades for it in a separate guide.
Already have a blade from us? You'll find its size, pitch and series on its label. The video shows what each detail on the label means.
VIDEO: The label on a bandsaw blade for metal – what do the details mean?
Choosing bandsaw blades for metal – by material being cut
Width first: you can only choose a blade type from what is made in your saw's width. In 13 and 16 mm widths (most small saws), EPIC GP is the only bimetal blade; in 20 mm, there are EPIC GP and SBX; from 27 mm, all four series. EPIC GP will also cut stainless and tool steel, just more slowly and with a shorter service life. Click a series name to see its sizes and prices.
Choosing bandsaw blades for metal – by material shape
Which tooth pitch to choose
Tooth size is given in TPI, i.e. the number of teeth per inch (25.4 mm). For tubes and profiles, the wall thickness is what matters; for solid material, the diameter or width. The values apply to mild steel.
| Tubes and profiles: wall thickness | Pitch |
|---|---|
| 1–2 mm | 10/14 |
| 2–3 mm | 8/12 |
| 3–6 mm | 6/10 |
| 6–10 mm | 5/8 |
| 10–20 mm | 4/6 |
| 20–30 mm | 3/4 |
| 30–50 mm | 2/3 |
| 50–70 mm | 1,4/2 |
| Solid material: diameter, width | Pitch |
|---|---|
| up to 20 mm | 6/10 |
| 20–40 mm | 5/8 |
| 40–80 mm | 4/6 |
| 80–150 mm | 3/4 |
| 150–250 mm | 2/3 |
| 250–400 mm | 1,4/2 |
| 400–600 mm | 1,1/1,4 |
| over 600 mm | 0,7/0,9 |
For soft materials such as aluminium, you can go one size coarser, and for hard and tough steels one size finer. We offer the 13 × 0.65 mm blade with pitches of 4, 6/10, 8/12, 10, 10/14 and 14, and in 0.5 mm thickness also 14/18. If the pitch from the table isn't available in the 13 mm width, take the nearest one.
Choosing a bandsaw blade for metal – basic parameters
- Width and length. When choosing a new bandsaw blade, you first need to find out what size you need. The size is specified by the manufacturer of your bandsaw, and you usually can't use a different one. The choice of blade types depends on the required width. For example, in a 13 mm width only one type of bimetal blade is available (the all-purpose EPIC GP), in 20 mm there are two (EPIC GP and SBX GP) and in 27 mm four (EPIC GP, SBX GP, SiClone and XP). We weld the blade to exactly the length you need.
- Tooth size. Another criterion when choosing a bandsaw blade is the tooth size (pitch) – i.e. the number of teeth per inch (also abbreviated as TPI). This figure tells you how many teeth there are over a length of 25.4 mm (one inch). So 8/12 TPI means that over a distance of 25.4 mm you will count 8 to 12 teeth.
- What pitch is suitable? When cutting solid material, the ideal number of teeth in the cut is 12, the minimum 4 and the maximum 24. For thin-walled profiles (tube, box section, etc.), the gap between the tooth tips should roughly match the wall thickness of the material being cut. You'll find recommended pitches for common materials in the tables above. For soft materials (when cutting graphite, non-ferrous metals, etc.), it's best to use a tooth one size coarser, and for hard and tough steels one size finer.
- Material being cut. When choosing a bandsaw blade, it also matters what material you want to cut. For example, a cheaper all-purpose blade can cut tool steel, but it will take longer and the blade will have a shorter service life. So it's better to use a specialised blade. In the tables above, we give an overview of the most common materials and shapes and the recommended bandsaw blade series.
Sizes and prices of bandsaw blades for metal
Choose a series, then the width and pitch in the table. Click a pitch to open the specific blade; you enter the length on its page.
| EPIC GP | Number of teeth per inch | Price per metre excl. VAT including weld |
|---|---|---|
| 13 x 0,5 mm | 8/12 10/14 14/18 | 9,71 € |
| 13 x 0,65 mm | 4 6/10 10 8/12 10/14 14 | 9,71 € |
| 13 x 0,9 mm | 4 6/10 8/12 10/14 | 9,71 € |
| 16 x 0,65 mm | 10/14 | 9,71 € |
| 20 x 0,9 mm | 3 4/6 5/8 6/10 8/12 10/14 | 7,97 € |
| 27 x 0,9 mm | 2/3 3/4 4/6 5/8 6/10 8/12 10/14 | 8,33 € |
| 34 x 1,1 mm | 1,4/2 2/3 3/4 4/6 5/8 | 10,51 € |
| 41 x 1,3 mm | 1,4/2 2/3 3/4 4/6 5/8 | 13,99 € |
| 54 x 1,6 mm | 0,8/1 1,1/1,4 1,4/2 2/3 3/4 4/6 | 19,14 € |
| 67 x 1,6 mm | 0,8/1 1,1/1,4 1,4/2 2/3 3/4 4/6 | 25,82 € |
| 80 x 1,6 mm | 0,8/1 | 38,94 € |
| SBX | Number of teeth per inch | Price per metre excl. VAT including weld |
|---|---|---|
| 20 x 0,9 mm | 6/9 8/11 4/6 5/8 12/16 | 7,97 € |
| 27 x 0,9 mm | 6/9 3/4 4/6 5/8 8/12 12/16 | 8,33 € |
| 34 x 1,1 mm | 2/3 3/4 4/6 5/8 6/10 8/12 | 10,51 € |
| 41 x 1,3 mm | 2/3 3/4 4/6 | 13,99 € |
| 54 x 1,6 mm | 2/3 3/4 | 19,14 € |
| 67 x 1,6 mm | 2/3 3/4 | 25,82 € |
| SiClone | Number of teeth per inch | Price per metre excl. VAT including weld |
|---|---|---|
| 27 x 0,9 mm | 2/3 3/4 4/6 | 9,91 € |
| 34 x 1,1 mm | 2/3 3/4 4/6 | 12,52 € |
| 41 x 1,3 mm | 1,4/2 2/3 3/4 | 14,33 € |
| 54 x 1,6 mm | 1,1/1,4 1,4/2 2/3 3/4 | 19,75 € |
| 67 x 1,6 mm | 0,7/0,9 1,1/1,4 1,4/2 | 26,60 € |
| 80 x 1,6 mm | 0,7/0,9 | 42,37 € |
| XP | Number of teeth per inch | Price per metre excl. VAT including weld |
|---|---|---|
| 27 x 0,9 mm | 2/3 3/4 4/6 5/8 | 11,04 € |
| 34 x 1,1 mm | 2/3 3/4 4/6 | 13,59 € |
| 41 x 1,3 mm | 1,4/2 2/3 3/4 | 15,96 € |
| 54 x 1,6 mm | 1,4/2 2/3 3/4 | 20,85 € |
| 67 x 1,6 mm | 0,75/1,25 1,4/2 2/3 | 33,10 € |
SetTooth and TripleChip carbide-tipped blades
For aluminium, bronze, copper and other non-ferrous metals, especially tough and abrasive ones. We make SetTooth in 13, 20 and 27 mm widths, TripleChip from 27 mm. If the material is neither too tough nor abrasive, the all-purpose EPIC GP is enough. More in the bandsaw blade catalogue (PDF); we'll be happy to help you choose – contact us.
Before you fit a new blade
Four things that determine how long a metal-cutting bandsaw blade lasts.
Running in
For the first 15–20 minutes, cut soft solid material with half the feed pressure and the speed at 50–80% of normal. The chips should be fine and hair-like. Without running in, microscopic tips break off the very sharp new teeth and the blade lasts significantly less time.
Blade speed
Ordinary structural steel 50–100 m/min, tool steel 30–60 m/min, stainless 30–40 m/min. The harder the material, the lower the speed. Small saws often have only two speeds, marked with a tortoise and a hare.
Cooling
For mild steel, a 5–7% emulsion is enough; for hard steels, at least 10%. If the saw has no coolant system of its own, cool by hand with emulsion or oil, or at least with water. Poor cooling shortens blade life, dulls the teeth faster and can make the blade cut crooked.
Tension and guides
A 13 × 0.65 mm blade needs a tension of 130–150 N/mm², a 27 × 0.9 mm blade 200–220 N/mm². When running idle, the back edge of the blade must not rest against the rear guide bearing or the wheel flange; leave a gap of about 1 mm (a fingernail's thickness).
Is your blade still breaking or cutting crooked? You'll find the causes and solutions in the article Why bandsaw blades for metal break.
Common questions from our advice service
Our customers' most frequent questions and our answers.
? Which pitch for tubes with a 1.5 to 2 mm wall?
For a 1–2 mm wall, pitch 10/14; from 2 mm up, 8/12. For the Scheppach MBS 1100 saw and tubes 40–60 mm in diameter with a 1.5 mm wall, we recommend 1140 × 13 × 0.65 mm, pitch 10/14.
? I cut stainless profiles with a 2–3 mm wall. Which blade?
For a 13 mm blade width, an all-purpose blade with an 8/12 pitch, for example 1640 × 13 × 0.65 mm. Run the blade in first on ordinary solid steel and cool it when cutting stainless, ideally with emulsion mixed with water.
? Large profiles from 60 × 60 to 100 × 100 mm with a wall of up to 2.5 mm, on a 13 mm blade?
Pitch 6/10; for a saw with a 1440 mm blade, for example this blade. That is a tooth one size coarser than the wall alone would call for: at the end of the cut, the blade passes through the entire bottom wall and too many teeth are engaged, which can break off. It also helps to prop up the material so that the blade cuts at an angle: fewer teeth are in the cut and the blade lasts longer.
? Which blade for solid aluminium or duralumin round bar 70 mm in diameter?
For a solid diameter of 40–80 mm, a 4/6 pitch is suitable. On saws with a 13 mm blade, where 4/6 isn't available, take the nearest pitch, 4. An all-purpose blade is enough.
? I need to cut tool steel (Czech class 19). What do you recommend?
Class 19 materials call for a blade for hard steels and cast iron with teeth made of powder-metallurgy high-speed steel, or alternatively a carbide-tipped blade. We offer this blade from a width of 27 mm. On saws with a 13 or 20 mm blade, that leaves an all-purpose blade, which cuts more slowly and doesn't last as long. Choose the pitch according to the table above.
? How do I find out the pitch of an old blade?
Measure the distance between the tips of two adjacent teeth and divide 25.4 by it, or count the teeth over a length of 25.4 mm. A gap of 2.75 mm gives 9 teeth per inch, a gap of 4 mm about 6. If the gaps alternate, it's a variable pitch, in this case 6/10; if they're all the same, it's a constant pitch of 6.
? I cut very thin walls or sheet metal. Which tooth?
For thin-walled tubes up to 1 mm, titanium ones for example, the finest tooth possible: 14 teeth per inch. For sheet metal around 0.5 mm, pitch 10/14. On PARKSIDE PMB 1100 saws, instead of the original 0.65 mm blade you can also use the thinner 1140 × 13 × 0.5 mm with a 14/18 pitch.
? My saw takes a 16 mm blade or an unusual length. Can I get one?
An unusual length is no problem; we weld every blade to measure. However, the 16 mm width is hardly made any more: at the moment we only offer 16 × 0.65 mm with a 10/14 pitch, suitable for 1–2 mm walls and solid material up to 20 mm. You can enter the blade in the bandsaw blade configurator for metal; we explain how to measure the length in the article How to determine the length of a bandsaw blade.
Didn't find an answer? Tell us in the comments below the article which saw or blade size you have, what you cut and the wall thickness or diameter of the material. Or contact us directly.
Your questions
Good morning Gabriele, thank you for your message. Based on the materials you indicated, we recommend:
Epic GP 1735 × 13 × 0.65 mm – 8/12 TPI for cutting iron tubes of 25x25x2 mm and 30x30x2 mm.
Epic GP 1735 × 13 × 0.65 mm – 6/10 TPI for cutting steel bars up to 30x8 mm.
The 8/12 TPI tooth pitch should handle both applications well. If, however, you cut solid material more frequently, we recommend choosing the 6/10 TPI.
Best regards, The Dudr Saw Team
Hello!
For the Parkside PMB 1100 B2 machine (1140 × 13 × 0.65 mm), we recommend the following bands:
EPIC GP 13 × 0.65 mm TPI 10/14 – for steel sheets around 0.5 mm thick, thin-walled profiles, and tubes.
EPIC GP 13 × 0.65 mm TPI 6/10 – for solid structural steel and general use.
It may also be worthwhile to choose our starter set, which we offer specifically for the Parkside PMB 1100 B2 machine with a 5% discount.
Best regards, the Simonds team
Good morning, if we are not mistaken, the blade size for your Thomas SAR610 SA Digit band saw is 5650 × 34 × 1.1 mm. For cutting HEB, HEA profiles, tubes, and hollow sections, we recommend the SBX blade, which has a reinforced tooth and a slightly larger set, making it particularly suitable for cutting profiles. You can find it here: 5650 x 34 x 1.1 mm. The choice of tooth pitch (TPI) depends on the thickness of the materials. If you let us know what dimensions you cut most frequently, we can recommend the ideal pitch. For solid material (solid round bars, thick plates, etc.), we recommend the EPIC GP blade instead, as the SBX might not be optimal for completely solid materials. We remain available for any clarification.
Best regards, DudrSaw.it Team
Good morning, if we are not mistaken, the blade size for your Thomas SAR610 SA Digit band saw is 5650 × 34 × 1.1 mm. For cutting HEB, HEA profiles, tubes, and hollow sections, we recommend the SBX blade, which has a reinforced tooth and a slightly larger set, making it particularly suitable for cutting profiles. The choice of tooth pitch (TPI) depends on the thickness of the materials. If you let us know what dimensions you cut most frequently, we can recommend the ideal pitch. For solid material (solid round bars, thick plates, etc.), we recommend the EPIC GP blade instead, as the SBX might not be optimal for completely solid materials. We remain available for any clarification.
Best regards, DudrSaw Team
Good morning, thank you for your inquiry. For cutting steel profiles from 20 imes20 imes2 mm to 100 imes100 imes4 mm with dimensions 2455 imes 27 imes 0.9 mm, we recommend Simonds SBX band saw blades. For smaller profiles, TPI 6/9 – SBX 6/9 is best suited, for larger profiles TPI 4/6 – SBX 4/6, and for the largest cross-sections TPI 3/4 – SBX 3/4. The SBX series is ideal for cutting closed and structural profiles, ensuring high durability and fast, clean cuts.
Best regards, the Simonds team
Good day, for materials of class 19, the XP blade, or blades with carbide teeth, are intended.
https://www.simonds.cz/o-simonds/xp
S.Kolařík
Good afternoon, thank you for your inquiry. To recommend the most suitable bandsaw blade, please provide the length and width of the bandsaw blade used. Also, if you provide the dimensions of the materials to be cut (profiles or solid materials, wall thickness, diameter, etc.), we can also recommend a suitable tooth pitch (TPI).
If the width of your bandsaw blade is 13 mm or 20 mm, we offer one option in these widths – EPIC GP. This is a universal bandsaw blade suitable for mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.
When cutting stainless steel, we recommend „running in“ the blade for about 20 minutes while cutting mild steel, and only then start cutting stainless steel – this helps to extend the lifespan of the bandsaw blade.
From 27 mm width, we can offer a wider selection:
EPIC GP – universal bandsaw blade
SiClone – specially designed for stainless and tool steel, intended for solid materials
XP – suitable for both profiles and solid materials
Send us the required data, and we will recommend a suitable bandsaw blade and optimal TPI according to your cutting conditions.
Sincerely, the DudrSaw team
Dear customer, in width 16 mm, we currently offer only this model: EPIC GP 1850x16x0.65 TPI 10/14
This saw blade is intended for profiles, but might have difficulties with larger solid materials.
Teeth per inch TPI 10/14 (tooth pitch 1.8–2.5 mm) – suitable for solid materials up to 20 mm and profiles with a wall thickness of 1–2 mm.
16 mm wide bi-metal blades are hardly produced anymore today – this is an unusual dimension.
They are produced in standard widths of 13×0.65 mm or 19×0.9 mm, as it is not economical for manufacturers to produce the 16 mm width.
We previously had 16 mm with TPI 8/12 and TPI 6/10 teeth, but unfortunately, these models are no longer available.
Kind regards, Dudr Saw Team
Dear customer, we weld any bandsaw blade for a bandsaw. You can buy here e.g. bandsaw blade EPIC GP 13 x 0.65 TPI 14 or you can choose a different tooth pitch depending on how large profiles you cut.
Regards, the Dudr Saw team.
Dear customer, you ordered a metal band with a large pitch of 4 TPI. The tooth spacing is 6.4 mm, and this band is suitable for cutting solid material (40 - 80 mm) and profiles (wall 10 - 20 mm). For more information, please contact us at the email address: info@dudrsaw.hr
Kind regards, Dudr Team
Dear Sir/Madam, for this application we recommend the SBX blade with 6/9 teeth
https://www.dudrsaw.eu/band-saw-blade-configurator-for-metal/2480/27-x-0-9/610
The DUDR SAW Team
Dear Customer, EPIC saw blade with teeth 8/12tpi or 10/14tpi is suitable for profiles and pipes 40x40x2mm
https://www.dudrsaw.eu/band-saw-blade-configurator-for-metal/1435/13-x-0-65
Hello, thank you for your interest. We offer steel with 14/18 TPI in 0.5 mm thickness. Here is a link to purchase: EPIC GP 13x0.5 TPI 14/18
Good day!
We recommend you try the universal bandsaw blade Epic GP 1140x13x0.65 tpi 8/12, and for aluminum we recommend larger teeth Bandsaw blades 1140 x 13 x 0.65 TPI 6/10.
Thank you!
Good day, for such material, we would recommend the XP 27 x 0.9 mm band. For smaller diameters, 4/6 TPI works best. For larger diameters, it is worth using a band with a larger tooth pitch – 3/4 TPI. In practice, you will have to check which tooth pitch works best in your production and whether it will be convenient for you to change the bands depending on the diameter.
Regards, Simonds.pl Team
Good afternoon, thank you for your message. For cutting closed steel profiles with dimensions from 60x60 to 100x100 mm and a wall thickness of up to 2.5 mm, we recommend the EPIC GP 1440 × 13 × 0.65 mm TPI 6/10 blade. When using TPI 6/10, the final cutting phase can be problematic – for a 60x60 mm profile, there are about 19 teeth in the cut, and for a 100x100 mm profile, even about 32 teeth, which can lead to tooth breakage. Ideally, there should be about 10 teeth in the cut. In the case of profiles, an intermediate toothing should be chosen, as the blade cuts a thin wall at the beginning and reaches full material at the end. For larger profiles, it is worth adding material underneath so that the blade cuts at an angle – this will reduce the number of teeth in the cut, improve chip formation, and extend the life of the teeth.
We send our best regards, The Simonds Team
Hello, for a wall thickness of 3-6 mm, we can offer EPIC GP 13x0.65 TPI 6/10.
Regards, Dudr team.
Thank you for your inquiry, we recommend using a saw with the highest number of teeth per inch: EPIC GP 13x0.65 TPI 14
Regards, the Dudr Saw team
Good day, thank you for your question. For cutting stainless steel profiles and pipes with a wall thickness of 2–3 mm, we recommend the Simonds EPIC GP saw band in the dimensions 1640 imes 13 imes 0.65 mm, 8/12 TPI.
We recommend running in the band first on ordinary black solid material and using cooling during cutting – ideally an emulsion with water. Spray oil (WD-40) has also proven effective for stainless steel.
Sincerely, The Simonds Team
Good day, thank you for your inquiry. For stainless steel with a wall thickness of 1.5 mm, we recommend using a saw band with a small tooth pitch - TPI 8/12. You have not specified the size of the saw band you are using. If you have a band width of 13 mm, we recommend this saw band: EPIC 13x0,65 TPI 8/12. Please check the length before ordering. Sincerely, the Simonds team
Good day,
I recommend a 10/14 tooth pitch, see link:
https://www.dudrsaw.eu/band-saw-blade-configurator-for-metal/produkt-2/1140/13-x-0-65/1014?source=configurator
Good day, according to the manual, the length is 2480mm with a maximum width of 15(16)mm.
S. Kolářík
Good day Mr. Strnad,
firstly, I would recommend checking the length of the saw blade, customers often order a length of 2020 - 2035mm for this saw. However, a length of 2040mm might not be bad, it is an original dimension.
I recommend a maximum blade width of 13mm.
For the dimension you requested up to 10mm, I recommend a 10 TPI tooth pitch, link here: https://www.dudrsaw.eu/band-saw-blade-configurator-for-wood/produkt-15/2040/13-x-0-65/10-regular
The saw is not entirely suitable for cutting aluminum. If you have the option to reduce the saw blade speed below 100m/min, then the Epic GP saw blade can be used: https://www.dudrsaw.eu/band-saw-blade-configurator-for-metal/produkt-2/2040/13-x-0-65/610
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Vojtěch Volf
Senior Product Manager
The Sales Department
GSM: +420 774 435 667
EMAIL volf@simonds.cz
Good day,
from our offer, I would try SiClone or XP (this should be an alternative to M51), of course with appropriate teeth.
But I admit, I don't see a reason why it should take an hour.
Another possibility would be to try a carbide blade, but I would leave that as a last resort.
S. Kolařik
Good day, if I understand your description correctly, the gaps can be recalculated as follows:
25.4:2.75=9.23 teeth per inch
25.4:4=6.35 teeth per inch
therefore it may correspond to blades with variable teeth 6/9tpi or 6/10tpi. possibly with constant teeth 6tpi
Stanislav Kolařík | kolarik@simonds.cz
Good day, we recommend a 10/14 TPI saw blade EPIC GP 1140x13x0.65 TPI 10/14.
Good luck, regards Simonds Team
Good morning, for cutting plastics we can recommend the Flexback saw blade, for example Flexback 13x0.65 tpi 3 Skip. For a specific offer, we would need the width and length of the saw blade.
Sincerely, Team Dudr.
Good day, for a full diameter in the range of 40-80 mm, a 4/6tpi tooth is suitable.
From our offer, you can use the EPIC GP blade (universal blade) or the SiClone blade (slightly better, but can only be used for solid material).
S.Kolařrigen | kolarik@simonds.cz
Good day, your needs are met by the EPIC GP band - it is a universal band suitable for stainless steel as well.
In the e-shop directly for your saw you can find it here: https://www.dudrsaw.eu/band-saw-blade-configurator-for-metal/1640/13-x-0-65
S.Kolařík | kolarik@simonds.cz