¶ The Importance of TPI in Bandsaw Blades
Make Santa Fe Members can get access to our various bandsaws (handheld, vertical, and horizontal) in both the woodshop and the metalshop. However, not all band saw blades are the same. All bandsaw users must be aware of the various blade types and their uses. Below, you'll find the basic information to ensure proper use and proper blade selection.
Select the correct Teeth Per Inch (TPI) for the thickness of the material you are cutting! If the correct TPI is not chosen, the blade life will be dramatically reduced or the teeth will be stripped. TPI selection is the most important decision when selecting a band saw blade.
TPI can vary from 1 to 32 TPI. TPI is measured from gullet to gullet, not tooth tip to tooth tip.
¶ The general rule of thumb is:
- For wood and soft materials, aim for 3 -- 6 teeth in the workpiece.\
- For metals and harder materials, aim for 10 -- 24 teeth in the workpiece.
¶ Some things to note:
- Too few teeth may cause the work to be straddled and break teeth.\
- Too many teeth can cause gullet overload and strip teeth.
Use the bandsaw teeth per inch chart below to select the optimum TPI for your project needs.
¶ Wood/Plastic/Aluminium
| Material Thickness (GA) | 7 – 11ga | 12 – 14ga | 16 – 20ga | > 22ga |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material Thickness (in) | 0.1 – 0.2in | .07 – .1in | .04 – .07in | < .04 |
| Material Thickness (mm) | 3 – 4mm | 2 – 3mm | 1 – 2mm | < 1mm |
| TPI | 10 | 14 | 18 | 24 |
¶ Solid Round or Square Metal
| Material Thickness (ga) | < 7ga | 7 – 12ga | 14 – 22ga | > 22ga |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material Thickness (in) | > .2in | .1 – .2in | .03 – .1 | < .03in |
| Material Thickness (mm) | > 5mm | 2.5 – 5mm | .75 – 2mm | < .75mm |
| TPI | 12 | 16 | 24 | 32 |
¶ Metal Pipe/Tube/Profile
| Material Thickness (ga) | 7 – 9ga | 10 – 16ga | 18 – 20ga | >22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material Thickness (in) | .15 – .2 | .06 – .2in | .03 – .06 | < .03 |
| Material Thickness (mm) | 4 – 5mm | 1.5 – 4mm | .75 – 1.5mm | < .75,, |
| TPI | 10 | 12 | 14 | 18/24 |