80-Inch Band Saw Blades: Choosing the Right TPI and Tooth Profile

You have a 12-inch band saw and you need to order blades. The saw takes 80-inch blades. You go online and find dozens of options in different widths, TPI, tooth profiles, and materials. You do not want to order the wrong blade and wait a week for a return, so you need to understand what each specification means and which one is right for your work.

The 80-inch blade is one of the most common band saw blade lengths. It fits most 12-inch band saws, including the Craftsman 113 series, Delta 28-160, Jet JWBS-12, and Grizzly G0555. The wide availability means you have plenty of choices, but you need to know what you are buying.

Blade Width Selection

The width of the blade determines the minimum cutting radius and how well the blade tracks on straight cuts.

1/8 inch: Tight curves, minimum radius about 2 inches. Not for straight cuts or resawing. The narrow blade wanders on straight lines.

1/4 inch: General curves, minimum radius about 4 inches. Handles straight cuts in stock up to 2 inches. A good second blade to keep on hand.

3/8 inch: The best all-around width. Tracks straight for ripping and resawing up to 4 inches. Still handles curves with a 5 inch radius or larger. If you only own one 80-inch blade, make it 3/8 inch.

1/2 inch: Straight ripping and resawing. Handles the full 6-inch resaw capacity of most 12-inch saws. Will not cut curves tighter than about 12 inch radius.

3/4 inch: Maximum width for most 12-inch saws. Resawing only. Some saws have guide posts that cannot accommodate 3/4 inch blades without modification.

TPI Selection

For Woodworking

3 TPI (hook tooth): Resawing thick stock (3+ inches). Large gullets clear chips fast. Aggressive hook angle pulls the blade through the wood. Fast but rough cut.

4 TPI (skip tooth): General woodworking. The default for most 1/4 and 3/8 inch blades. Handles 3/4 to 2 inch stock. Good balance of speed and finish.

6 TPI: Smoother cuts on 1/2 to 1 inch stock. Slower than 4 TPI but better surface finish. Good for furniture parts where sanding time matters.

10 TPI: Thin stock (1/4 inch and under) and fine curves. Clean cut but will burn in thick material because the small gullets cannot clear chips fast enough.

14 TPI: Very thin stock and scroll work. Smooth edge but slow and prone to burning in anything over 1/4 inch thick.

For Metal Cutting (If Your Saw Has Speed Reduction)

10 to 14 TPI bi-metal: Thick bar stock (1/2 inch and up). Use cutting fluid.

14 to 18 TPI bi-metal: General metal cutting. Handles thin-wall pipe, flat bar, and angle iron.

18 to 24 TPI bi-metal: Thin sheet metal and small round stock. Fine teeth prevent grabbing.

Tooth Profile

Hook tooth (positive rake, about 10 degrees): The tooth leans forward. Cuts aggressively. Best for thick stock and resawing. Can grab in soft woods if feed is too fast. The standard for resawing blades.

Skip tooth (0 degree rake): The tooth is straight up. Large gullet for chip clearance. The most common profile for general woodworking. Good in soft or gummy woods like pine and cedar.

Regular tooth (slight negative rake): Cuts slower, produces the smoothest finish. Best for thin stock and fine work where surface quality matters more than speed.

The rake angle affects more than just cut speed. A positive rake (hook) pulls the blade into the work, which is why hook tooth blades feel like they are self-feeding. A negative rake (regular) resists feeding, which gives you more control on fine work but requires more push pressure.

Blade Material

Carbon steel: The cheapest option. Holds an edge for 2 to 4 hours of cutting in softwoods. Dulls quickly in hardwood and is not suitable for metal. Good for occasional use and budget-conscious woodworkers. Cost: 8 to 15 dollars.

Bi-metal: M42 high-speed steel edge welded to flexible alloy steel backing. Lasts 3 to 5 times longer than carbon steel. Handles hardwood resawing without dulling mid-cut. Can cut metal on saws with speed reduction. The best choice for most 12-inch saw users. Cost: 15 to 35 dollars.

Carbide-tipped: The longest-lasting option. Carbide teeth last 5 to 10 times longer than bi-metal. Cost is 3 to 5 times higher. For a 12-inch saw, carbide is overkill unless you do production resawing. Most 12-inch saws do not have the motor power to take advantage of carbide’s higher cutting speed. Cost: 60 to 150 dollars.

Recommended Blades by Application

General woodworking: 3/8 inch, 4 TPI skip tooth, carbon steel. Handles 80 percent of tasks. Cost: about 10 dollars.

Resawing: 1/2 inch, 3 TPI hook tooth, bi-metal. Handles 6-inch hardwood boards. The bi-metal edge survives the heat of deep cuts. Cost: about 25 dollars.

Curve cutting: 1/4 inch, 6 TPI skip tooth, carbon steel. Narrow enough for moderate curves, fine enough for a clean finish. Cost: about 10 dollars.

Fine work: 1/8 inch, 14 TPI, carbon steel. Tight curves and scroll work. Cost: about 8 dollars.

Metal cutting: 1/2 inch, 14 TPI bi-metal. For saws with speed reduction. Use cutting fluid. Cost: about 25 dollars.

Common Issues with 80-Inch Blades

Thickness: Some 80-inch blades are 0.035 inches thick. Most 12-inch saws are designed for 0.025 inch blades. If your saw cannot tension a 0.035 inch blade properly, the blade will not track and will come off the wheels. Check your saw’s manual for the recommended blade thickness.

Tension: 80-inch blades need proper tension to track and cut straight. For a 3/8 to 1/2 inch blade, tension should be about 15,000 PSI. On most 12-inch saws, this is when the tension knob is snug plus a quarter turn. If the blade flutters during a cut, add tension.

Break-in: New bi-metal blades need a break-in period. Run the first 10 to 20 cuts at half feed pressure. This lets the tooth tips wear evenly and prevents chipping. Skipping break-in can reduce blade life by 30 to 50 percent.

FAQ

What saws use 80-inch blades?

Most 12-inch band saws, including Craftsman 113, Delta 28-160, Jet JWBS-12, Grizzly G0555, and Rikon 10-312.

What is the best all-purpose 80-inch blade?

A 3/8 inch wide, 4 TPI skip tooth blade in carbon steel (for budget) or bi-metal (for longer life). This handles 80 percent of woodworking tasks.

Can I use an 80-inch blade for metal cutting?

Only if your saw has a speed reduction that drops the blade speed to 100 to 300 SFPM. Standard woodworking speed (3000 SFPM) is too fast for metal and will destroy the blade.

What TPI should I use for resawing?

3 TPI hook tooth is the standard for resawing. The coarse teeth clear chips fast and the aggressive bite keeps the cut moving through thick stock.

How tight should I tension an 80-inch blade?

For a 3/8 to 1/2 inch blade, about 15,000 PSI. On most 12-inch saws, this is when the tension knob is snug plus a quarter turn. If the blade flutters, add tension.

Why does my 80-inch blade keep breaking?

Common causes: too much feed pressure, blade guides too tight, worn tires causing blade fatigue, or the blade is too thick (0.035) for the saw’s tensioning system. Check each in order.

References

• Olson Saw. “80-Inch Band Saw Blade Selection Guide.” Olson Saw Company.
• Timber Wolf Blades. “80-Inch Blade Specifications.” Suffolk Machinery Corporation.
• LENOX Tools. “Woodworking Band Saw Blade Classifications.” LENOX Classic Pro Documentation.
• Carter Products. “Blade Tension Recommendations for 12-Inch Saws.” Carter Products.
• Starrett. “Bi-Metal vs Carbon Steel Blade Performance Data.” L.S. Starrett Company.