What Blade Size Fits the Craftsman 12-Inch Band Saw? Length, Width, and TPI

You inherited a Craftsman 12-inch band saw from your grandfather’s garage. It still runs, the tires look okay, and the motor does not smoke. But the blade on it is rusted solid and you cannot read the size stamp. The owner’s manual is somewhere in the house, probably in a box marked “miscellaneous” that has not been opened since 1997.

The Craftsman 12-inch band saw takes a blade that is 80 inches long. That is the standard length for most 12-inch band saws, including the Craftsman 12-inch models sold by Sears over several decades. But knowing the length is just the start. The width and TPI you choose will determine whether you can resaw a 6-inch oak board or cut tight curves in a piece of pine.

Blade Length: 80 Inches for the 12-Inch Frame

The 80-inch blade length comes from the wheel diameter (12 inches) and the center-to-center distance between the upper and lower wheels. When you install an 80-inch blade and tension it, the blade tracks around both wheels with about 1/4 inch of clearance from the blade guard.

Some Craftsman 12-inch saws, particularly the model 113 series, have a riser block option. A riser block installs between the upper and lower wheel housings and increases the resaw capacity from about 6 inches to 12 inches. If your saw has a riser block installed, the blade length changes to 105 inches. Check your saw before ordering blades.

If you are not sure whether a riser block is installed, measure the distance from the table to the upper blade guide at its highest position. A stock 12-inch saw gives you about 6 inches of clearance. With a riser block, you get about 12 inches.

Blade Width: Matching Width to the Cut

The Craftsman 12-inch band saw accepts blades from 1/8 inch to 3/4 inch wide. The blade guides on the saw are adjustable to accommodate different widths, but the upper and lower guide blocks need to be set correctly for each blade change.

1/8 inch is for tight curve work. You can cut circles as small as 2 inches in radius. The trade-off is that a blade this narrow wanders on straight cuts and cannot resaw worth a damn. Use it for scroll work and small radius cuts only.

1/4 inch is the general-purpose width. It handles most furniture parts, small resawing (up to 3 inches thick), and moderate curves. If you only own one blade, make it a 1/4 inch.

3/8 inch gives you better straight-line tracking and allows resawing up to about 4 inches. It still handles gentle curves (5 inch radius and up). For a 12-inch saw, 3/8 inch is the best all-around choice if you do a mix of straight and curved work.

1/2 inch is for resawing and straight ripping. It tracks straight with minimal drift and can handle 6-inch resawing on a stock saw. You cannot cut curves tighter than about 12 inch radius with this width.

3/4 inch is the widest blade a stock 12-inch Craftsman can run. It is for resawing only. The blade is too wide for the guide blocks to support in curve work, and it will not track on tight radii.

TPI: Teeth Per Inch for Wood

For woodworking on a 12-inch band saw, TPI ranges from 3 to 14.

3 TPI (hook tooth) is for thick stock resawing. The large gullets clear sawdust fast, and the aggressive hook angle pulls the blade through the wood. Use it for resawing 4 inches and thicker. The cut is fast but rough.

4 TPI (skip tooth) is the workhorse for general woodworking. It cuts 3/4 to 2 inch stock well, clears chips adequately, and leaves a decent surface. Most 1/4 and 3/8 inch blades come in 4 TPI as the default.

6 TPI gives a smoother cut on 1/2 to 1 inch stock. It is a good choice for furniture parts where you want to minimize sanding. Feed rate is slower than 4 TPI.

10 to 14 TPI is for thin stock (1/4 inch and under) and fine curves. The fine teeth produce a clean edge but will burn in thick material because the small gullets cannot clear chips fast enough.

Tooth Profile: Hook vs Skip vs Regular

Hook tooth has a positive rake angle (10 degrees). The tooth leans forward, biting aggressively into the wood. It cuts fast and is the default for resawing blades. The aggressive bite can cause the blade to grab in soft woods if your feed rate is too high.

Skip tooth has a 0 degree rake angle. The tooth is straight up, less aggressive than hook. The space between teeth is larger than regular tooth, which helps with chip clearance in soft or gummy woods. Skip tooth is the most common profile for general woodworking blades.

Regular tooth has a slight negative rake. It cuts slower but produces the smoothest finish. Use it for thin stock and fine work where surface quality matters more than speed.

Blade Material for Wood

For a 12-inch Craftsman, carbon steel blades are fine for woodworking. They are inexpensive and hold an edge adequately for softwoods and moderate hardwood use. If you cut a lot of hardwood (oak, maple, hickory), step up to a bi-metal blade. The M42 high-speed steel edge lasts 3 to 5 times longer than carbon steel in abrasive hardwoods.

For cutting metal on the Craftsman 12-inch (which some models support with a speed reduction), you need a bi-metal blade. Carbon steel will not hold up on steel or aluminum.

Recommended Blades

For general woodworking, the Timber Wolf 80 inch band saw blade in 3/8 inch width with 4 TPI is a solid choice. It tracks well on the Craftsman 12-inch, cuts clean in both soft and hardwood, and holds tension without stretching.

For resawing, a 1/2 inch bi-metal blade in 3 TPI hook tooth will handle 6-inch hardwood boards. The bi-metal construction resists the heat buildup that kills carbon steel blades in thick stock.

One issue with the Craftsman 12-inch: the blade guides. Older models use metal guide blocks that can damage the blade set if they are too tight. Replace them with Carter guide blocks or Cool Blocks if you want better blade life. The stock guides work but they run hot and wear blades faster than they should.

FAQ

What length blade does a Craftsman 12-inch band saw use?

Most Craftsman 12-inch band saws use an 80-inch blade. If a riser block is installed, the blade length is 105 inches.

Can I put a metal cutting blade on my Craftsman 12-inch band saw?

Some Craftsman 12-inch models have a two-speed or speed-reduction feature that allows metal cutting. Check your model’s manual. If the saw only has one speed, it is too fast for metal cutting and will destroy the blade.

What is the best all-around blade for a Craftsman 12-inch?

A 3/8 inch wide, 4 TPI skip tooth carbon steel blade in 80 inch length handles 80 percent of woodworking tasks well.

How tight should the blade tension be?

For a 3/8 to 1/2 inch blade, tension should be about 15,000 PSI. On the Craftsman 12-inch, this is roughly when the tension knob is snug plus a quarter turn. If the blade flutters during a cut, increase tension slightly.

Why does my blade keep coming off the wheels?

Check the tire condition. Old rubber tires harden and crack, causing tracking problems. Replace them with urethane tires for better grip and longer life. Also check that the upper wheel is tilted slightly forward (about 1/2 degree) to keep the blade tracking in the center.

Can I resaw with a 12-inch Craftsman band saw?

Yes, up to about 6 inches on a stock saw. Use a 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch blade with 3 TPI. Feed slowly and let the blade do the work. Expect some drift and plan to plane the resawn face flat.

References

• Sears Craftsman. “12-Inch Band Saw Owner’s Manual.” Sears Roebuck and Co.
• Olson Saw. “Band Saw Blade Selection Guide.” Olson Saw Company.
• Carter Products. “Band Saw Guide Block Upgrade Guide.” Carter Products Technical Literature.
• LENOX Tools. “Woodworking Band Saw Blade Classifications.” LENOX Classic Pro Blade Documentation.
• Timber Wolf Blades. “80-Inch Band Saw Blade Specifications.” Suffolk Machinery Corporation.