Types Of Saw Blades For Metal

Depending on the saw's use, various saw blade types are available for your metalworking cold or band saw. Furthermore, numerous new saw types are constantly developed. Choosing the ideal saw blade for your purpose can be very confusing.

To ensure that you never second-guess your choice again, we have compiled a list of the top 5 saw blade types for metalworking and their benefits.

Types Of Saw Blades For Metal

1. Carbon Hardback

Carbon Hardback saw blades are heat-treated to offer the extra stability required for cutting a range of materials. They are made of a hardened, high-carbon steel band with teeth. These two allow for a more precise cut and can be used to work with materials, including aluminum, carbon steel, graphite, bronze, plastics, copper, mild steel, and nonferrous metals. The hardback saw blade is suited for all-day or intensive production setups and utility cutting of various materials.

Construction of carbon steel in one piece; spring-tempered backing with RC of 43–47 (for rigidity) and RC of 64–6 (for teeth).

Carbon Hardback Saw Blade: Benefits

• Low price.
• Fends off swagger.
• Refuses to score.
• Allows for higher feed pressures.
• Leads to higher cut rates.

2. Carbon Flex Back

On the other hand, Flex Back Saw Blades are also made of carbon steel but have a flexible back. They are available in a variety of widths, thicknesses, and pitches. The saw blades are excellent for cost-effective, all-purpose cutting and incredibly robust even at high speeds.

Flex-back saw blades work best for straight and contour cutting. They can also cut various materials, including composition boards, low alloy and nonferrous metals, wood, plastics, nonferrous foundry materials, and plastics.

The Flex Back Carbon Blade is a multipurpose, reasonably priced carbon blade used in lead, wood, brass, aluminum, nonferrous metals, light section steels, and plastics. Its manufacturing process involves heat treatment to produce a premium blade with a firm cutting edge. It is primarily utilized in workshops, small foundries, and maintenance shops.

One-piece carbon steel construction; tooth RC of 64–66 and spring-tempered backing with RC of 31–37 to facilitate flexing.

Carbon Flex Back Saw Blade: Benefits

• low price.
• Lengthened fatigue life.
• Blade back flexes to reduce fractures and back stress.
• At roughly 300o F, blade toughness decreases.

3. (Matrix) Bi-Metal

The phrase "bi-metal" describes the material used to make the utility blade. With a bi-metal blade, the blade body is composed of spring steel, while the edge is made of high-speed steel. To create a single blade, the two pieces are joined by welding. A bi-metal blade has the advantages of having a hardened edge that lasts longer than a typical carbon blade and a spring steel body that flexes without breaking, which is common with carbon body blades.

A blade having a high-speed steel edge material soldered to the tips of the teeth, with a steel spring backing. Cobalt 8% is commonly used in high-speed steel for its exceptional wear properties.

Bi-Metal (Matrix) Saw Blade: Benefits

• Fatigue endurance.
• Back edge swaging is resistant.
• Compared to carbon steel blades, it operates under high band tension for straighter cuts.
• At roughly 1300o F, blade toughness decreases.

4. Carbide Tipped

Carbide-tipped saw blades are specifically made to cut off various types of metal, such as steel, cast iron, copper, bronze, nonferrous metals, aluminum alloys, and many others. These blades are made of premium steel with tungsten carbide tips. These saw blades are more frequently utilized in mechanical and related industries for heavy-duty cutting tasks because they retain their sharpness longer than others. Many different industries employ these carbide-tipped blades.

Carbide-welded tooth points and the backing is made of high-strength alloy. Triple chip opportunity because every other tooth has a double bevel rather than being straight.

Carbide-Tipped Saw Blade: Benefits

• Cutting tougher substances.
• Most effective finish for nonferrous applications.
• Greater power.
• Heat resistance.
• Eliminates the binding-causing tooth set collapse.

5. Grit Edge

Tough metal backing material with diamond or tungsten carbide grits bonded to the blade's edge. For sticky materials, these blades can have straight edges or gullet edges. Each type is available in medium or coarse grit, depending on the breadth. More material is removed with coarse, but the finish is better with the medium.

Grit Edge Saw Blade: Benefits

• Cutting extremely tough or abrasive material.
• Run the blades faster.

Conclusion

Having the right tools and blades will make all the difference in ensuring your job is completed safely and correctly every time. This is regardless of the type of metal-cutting project you're working on. This could be fabricating custom parts from aluminum sheet stock or simply making repairs around your home.