Band Saw Blades what do you recommend?

[Kendall]

I've got a cheap 4x6 Clarke bandsaw and I'm needing a new blade. What blades do you all recommend for speed of cut? Longevity is second to cut speed. I love being able to set up the saw and turn it on and go work on something else but my current blade is so slow that I've just been using the plasma cutter which ends up with about as much time grinding a smooth edge. I'm still not very good making straight cuts with the plasma.

[Rambozo]

Sandvik or other quality Bi-Metal blades are worth the extra they cost, both in cut speed and blade life.

[cbmkr]

I use Supercut blades in my metal band saws 14 or 18 TPI and wood band saws they have performed well with no problems. Bi metal vari tooth blades are great also but for heavier applications and most need coolant.

Supercut is in Idaho blades are made in USA , I have seen there blades at the local HF

[everlastsupport]

I'll see if I can find the guys card. I bought one some time ago, couldn't find the emails or info on it.

But this one has been used a lot, and still cuts great. They sold me one at a discount to try it. Have not killed it to get more. It has some type metal M## (I think two numbers), but i googled it back then and heard all good and very impressed with the blade.

Will post it if I find it. Like said, a quality blade is worth it when cutting metals.

[CGCINC]

I bought some cheap blades to try and save a few bucks..... Junk! Didn't last very long so you get what you pay for!

[agent4573]

I bought a bunch of Lennox bi-metal blades and really like em. The port-a-band I have didn't use to cut anything and now it goes through pipe and tubing like butter. I converted a Craftsman 14" wood bandsaw to cut metal, and only had one issue with the blade after the conversion. It was taking forever to go through a piece of 1/4 plate and I was starting to have a bad feeling about the blade. Turns out I installed the blade with the teeth facing the wrong way. Still made it about 4 inches into the piece with the teeth pointing up instead of down. After I flipped it around, took about 20 seconds to finish the other 4 inches and has worked great since.

[geezer]

I bought a bunch of Lennox bi-metal blades and really like em. The port-a-band I have didn't use to cut anything and now it goes through pipe and tubing like butter. I converted a Craftsman 14" wood bandsaw to cut metal, and only had one issue with the blade after the conversion. It was taking forever to go through a piece of 1/4 plate and I was starting to have a bad feeling about the blade. Turns out I installed the blade with the teeth facing the wrong way. Still made it about 4 inches into the piece with the teeth pointing up instead of down. After I flipped it around, took about 20 seconds to finish the other 4 inches and has worked great since.

Blade on backwards,,,lol,,,I hold the record for the longest time to cut a piece of 11/2 inch aluminum round bar,,,1 hour 40 minutes,,,before I realized it was on backwards,,,to top that off my neighbour borrowed my chainsaw and returned it with the blade on backwards,,,it ran like that until I figured it out,,,these things can happen,,,duh,,,the obvious sometimes eludes us

[SeanMurphy265]

I like Lenox and DoAll blades. When you temper the blade properly they seem to last a long time.