Start with what the saw takes
| Saw | Blade length | Blade widths | Blade speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grizzly G0803 (9 in) | 61-13/16 to 62-3/16 in | 1/8 to 3/8 in | 2460 FPM |
| Rikon 10-305 (10 in) | 70-1/2 in | 1/8 to 1/2 in | 2780 ft/min |
| Grizzly G0555LX (14 in) | 92-1/2 to 93-1/2 in | 1/8 to 3/4 in | 1800, 3100 FPM |
| Powermatic PM1500 (15 in) | 153 in (±1/2 in) | 1/8 to 1 in | 3100 SFPM |
Each figure is the saw maker's. A blade must match the length and fall within the widths; check its own speed limit against the saw's — Olson limits its spring-steel wood blades to 3000 SFM. Not a ranking.
Choosing by the cut
| Cut | Width | Teeth | Who says so |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resawing | The widest the saw takes | Hook or skip, 3 to 6 TPI (Grizzly); 2 to 3 TPI for stock up to 8 in (Olson) | Powermatic, Grizzly, Olson |
| Tight curves | Narrow enough for the smallest radius | More TPI (Grizzly); enough teeth in the work | Grizzly, Olson |
| Straight rips and general work | The widest you own (Grizzly); as wide as the saw allows (Olson) | 4 TPI fast, 14 TPI smoother in 3/4 in wood (Olson) | Grizzly, Olson |
| Hardwood | As the cut needs | Finer pitch for harder woods (Grizzly); an 8° hook for very hard wood on Suffolk's blades | Grizzly, Suffolk |
| Thin stock | As the cut needs | Fine enough for three teeth in the work (Olson, Grizzly) or six to eight (Suffolk) | Olson, Grizzly, Suffolk |
Built from the makers' statements; where they differ, both are shown. Not a ranking.
Curves: check the radius against the width
Find the tightest curve in the part, then the widest blade that will still turn it. The makers' figures differ for the narrowest blades — for a 3/16 in blade, Olson gives 5/16 in and Grizzly 3/8 in — and agree on 5/8 in for a 1/4 in blade. Olson's chart runs to 7 in for a 1 in blade. A tighter curve than the blade allows needs relief cuts or a narrower blade, never a twisted one. The full chart and why it varies are in band saw blades.
What to compare on the label
- Length and width within the saw's limits — a 9 in benchtop saw cannot take a 1/2 in blade.
- TPI for the thickness: enough teeth in the work, not so many the gullets clog in thick stock.
- Tooth form — regular, skip or hook — in the maker's own terms; makers do not use the names identically.
- Set — Olson describes modified raker set as an excellent choice for wood on a two-wheel saw.
- Steel and speed limit against the saw's blade speed.
- Wheel size — Suffolk reports shorter blade life on saws with wheels under 14 in, and ties it to blade thickness; choose a thickness the makers list for the saw.
Safety— Fitting a new blade
Unplug the saw, release the tension, and fit the blade with its teeth pointing down toward the table; re-track, re-tension and re-set the guides before running it (Grizzly, Powermatic). The steps are in how to use a band saw.
Before choosing a band saw blade
- The saw's blade length and width range
- The cut: resaw, curve, straight, hardwood or thin stock
- Tightest radius against the blade width
- TPI against the thickness
- The blade's speed limit against the saw's speed
Choosing the saw itself is in choosing a band saw; the machine is explained in the band saw guide.
Sources
Specification-based: recommendations are each maker's. Olson and Grizzly say at least three teeth in the work, Suffolk six to eight outside resawing; Olson suggests 2 to 3 TPI for resawing, Grizzly 3 to 6 — both are shown. Blade makers are sources, not recommendations. No blade was tested and none is ranked.
- 1.
Model G0555LX 14" Deluxe Bandsaw owner's manual (for models manufactured since 1/14). Grizzly Industrial.
Used for: Hook or skip teeth at 3 to 6 TPI for resawing, and a wide blade for less lead; a narrower blade with more TPI for tight curves; the widest blade owned for straight cuts; at least three teeth in the material; fine pitch for harder woods and coarse for softer; minimum radii of 1/8, 3/8 and 5/8 in for 1/8, 3/16 and 1/4 in blades; blades 1/8 to 3/4 in wide and 92-1/2 to 93-1/2 in long on the G0555LX; speeds of 1800 and 3100 FPM.
- 2.
Model G0803 9" Benchtop Bandsaw owner's manual (for models manufactured since 09/15). Grizzly Industrial.
Used for: A 9 in benchtop saw taking blades only 1/8 to 3/8 in wide and 61-13/16 to 62-3/16 in long.
- 3.
10-305 10" Woodworking Bandsaw Operator's Manual (10-305M5), as hosted by a public library. Rikon Power Tools.
Used for: A 10 in benchtop saw taking a 70-1/2 in blade 1/8 to 1/2 in wide, running at 2780 ft/min; checking the blade size and type for the thickness and material.
- 4.
Operating Instructions and Parts Manual, 15-inch Woodworking Band Saw, Models PM1500 and PM1500T (M-1791500, edition 10). Powermatic, 2023.
Used for: The widest blade the saw can take as the ideal for resawing; blades up to 1 in wide and 153 in long; 3100 SFPM; a hook blade 3/8 in wide and 6 TPI supplied.
- 5.
Used for: Blades as wide as the machine allows for straight cuts and narrow enough for the radius in curves; minimum radii from 3/16 in (1/8 in blade) to 7 in (1 in blade); 2 to 3 TPI for resawing and stock up to 8 in; 4 TPI fast and 14 TPI smoother in 3/4 in wood; at least three teeth in the workpiece; modified raker set for wood on a two-wheel saw; spring-steel wood blades never above 3000 SFM.
- 6.
Timber Wolf Blades catalog 2026. Suffolk Machinery, 2026.
Used for: 6 to 8 teeth in the cut for scroll and straight cuts, not for resawing; a 10° hook for general work and 8° for very hard or frozen wood; recommended blade speeds by wheel diameter; shorter blade life on wheels under 14 in.
About this buying guide
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