Why do bandsaw blades for metal break? The most common problems
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Full article
Bandsaw blade welding: quality welds and warranty
We weld your bandsaw blade to the length your saw needs, and we stand behind the weld. We show you how to recognise a quality weld, when a crack at the weld means the weld is faulty, and how our warranty and claims process works.
Bandsaw blade weld Dudr Saw
Welding
How we weld bandsaw blades
We weld Simonds blade stock to the length your saw needs. We join the blade ends by butt welding: we place them against each other and an electric current fuses them together without filler metal. We weld on German IDEAL BAS 340 semi-automatic welders.
The heat of welding changes the strength and flexibility of the steel at the weld. That is why we first grind off the excess material around the weld and only then anneal the clean weld. It takes more work than annealing straight after welding, but it is more precise: the weld then has properties comparable to the rest of the blade. We don't polish the weld afterwards, so you can see that it is straight and free of irregularities.
0.8%
approximate share of blades with a warranty claim
2 years
weld warranty from the date of purchase
from photos
we usually assess a weld claim from photos alone
On our About us page, we show how a blade is made in our shop, from blade stock to packing.
Jump to:
Made to length
We weld custom bandsaw blades to length
We weld your blade only after you order it, exactly to the length your saw needs. Ordering takes three steps:
1Find the sizeYou will find the width, thickness and length on the label of your old blade or in the saw's manual. Don't know the size? The saw model is enough: our bandsaw database lists the blade size and recommended blades for over 2,000 machines.
2Choose a bladeChoose the series and tooth pitch to suit the material: band saw blades for metal or band saw blades for wood. The price per metre shown for each series already includes the weld.
3We weld and shipWe ship about 70% of orders on the day we receive them. December and January are the busiest months in our welding shop, and shipping may then be delayed by a few days.
total photos:
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total photos:
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Inspection
How to recognise a quality weld
The weld is a sensitive spot on a bandsaw blade. You can recognise a quality weld by three things:
✓Bend. Flex the blade at the weld. The curve should be the same as anywhere else on the blade. This tells you whether the weld is too soft or, on the contrary, too hard.
✓Tooth pitch. The teeth run evenly across the weld, with no noticeably large or small gap. Welding consumes a little material, and the correct procedure allows for this.
✓Thickness and set. The blade has not been thinned by grinding at the weld, and the teeth next to the weld have kept their set.
You can spot a faulty weld while cutting, too
●The blade jumps at the weld, most noticeably when cutting sections.
●The cut shows a mark that repeats once per blade revolution.
●Teeth break off only at the weld; the rest of the blade is fine.
Diagnosis
Blade cracked at the weld. Is the weld faulty?
A weld is slightly more prone to material fatigue than the rest of the blade. But a well-made weld lasts a long time, so a crack at the weld may or may not be a weld defect. The situation will tell you which it is:
Probably a faulty weld
✓the blade cracks at the weld repeatedly and soon after fitting
✓you can see one of the defects described above on the weld
✓→ make a claim
End of service life
✓the teeth are dull and the blade has been cutting for a long time
✓after thousands of bends, the steel is fatigued and the blade cracks, possibly at the weld
✓→ not a weld defect; the blade needs replacing
Saw-related cause
✓blades from different suppliers crack at the weld
✓cracks also appear away from the weld
✓→ check the tension, guides and blade thickness
In the articles Why do bandsaw blades for wood break? and Why do bandsaw blades for metal break?, we discuss saw-related causes according to where the blade cracks.
Warranty
Weld warranty and claims
We stand behind our welds. If a blade from us cracks at the weld, we will replace it with a new one or work with you to find out why it is cracking. The weld warranty is valid for 2 years from purchase.
1Photograph the crack and the labelThe label shows the blade size, the welding date and the welder's initials. We use it to trace the blade.
2Email the photosSend the photos with a short description to info@dudrsaw.eu. We can usually assess the claim from the photos alone, so you don't need to send us the blade. Once both photos arrive, we usually assess the claim the same day.
3We send a new bladeOnce the claim is accepted, we will send you a new blade free of charge. If the weld was not faulty, we will advise you where to look for the cause.
Warranty applies
✓the blade cracked at the weld within 2 years of purchase
✓you bought the blade from us (the order number is enough, or your name and the approximate date of purchase)
Warranty does not apply
✕a blade at the end of its service life with dull teeth, even if it cracks at the weld
✕a blade bought elsewhere
✕cracking caused by the condition of the saw or unsuitable use of the blade
From practice
Can a cracked blade be welded again?
Usually it is not worth it. A cracked blade is often distorted or has broken teeth, and every extra weld makes it shorter, so it may no longer fit your saw. That is why we send a new blade when we accept a claim.
Frequently asked questions
?My blade broke at the weld after four months. What should I do?
After four months, your blade is still under warranty: the weld is covered for 2 years from purchase. Photograph the crack and the blade label and send both photos to info@dudrsaw.eu. We will assess whether it is a weld defect or the end of the blade's service life.
?Do I have to send the cracked blade back?
Usually not. We assess weld claims from photos of the cracked area and the label.
?Blades from different suppliers keep cracking at the weld. Why?
If blades of different brands crack, look for the cause in the saw and its set-up first. The article on blades for wood or on blades for metal will help.
?Will you weld a blade to any length?
Yes, we weld the blade to the length your saw needs. You will find the size on the label of your old blade or in our bandsaw database.
Having trouble with a blade from us? Describe it in the discussion below the article or email info@dudrsaw.eu.
Your questions
Good day, it is enough to photograph the broken weld and send the photo to the email address info@simonds.cz. After assessment, we will send you a new blade or help you resolve the cause that is causing the breakage.
Sincerely, Team Dudr.