Craftsman 12-Inch Band Saw Blades: Fit, Blade Material, and Cut Quality
You own a Craftsman 12-inch band saw and you need to order replacement blades. The 12-inch saw uses an 80-inch blade, but you see multiple width, TPI, and material options. You want to know which blade produces the best cut quality for your work. You need a guide that covers the blade options and helps you choose the right one.
The Craftsman 12-inch band saw uses an 80-inch blade. This is a standard length available from Olson Saw, Timber Wolf, and other manufacturers. The blade width, TPI, and material you choose affect cut quality, blade life, and the types of cuts you can make.
Blade Length and Fit
The Craftsman 12-inch band saw uses an 80-inch blade. This is the correct length for the 113 series and similar 12-inch Craftsman models.
Important: Always verify the blade length with your saw’s manual or by measuring the old blade. Some 12-inch saws use a slightly different length.
How to Verify Blade Length
- Check the manual for the specified blade length.
- Look for the blade length printed on a label inside the wheel cover.
- Remove the old blade and measure it. Lay it flat, mark a point, and measure around the loop.
- Look up the model number on Sears Parts Direct.
Cross-Brand Compatibility
The 80-inch blade is used by other 12-inch saws that share this length. Blades from Olson Saw, Timber Wolf, and other manufacturers will fit the Craftsman 12-inch saw as long as the length matches.
Blade Width Options
The Craftsman 12-inch band saw can accommodate blades from 1/8 to 5/8 inch width. The width determines what types of cuts you can make.
1/8 Inch (14 TPI)
Best for: Tight curves and scroll work. Minimum turning radius about 2 inches. Cut quality: Smooth on thin stock. Wanders on straight cuts in thick stock. Not for: Straight ripping, resawing, or thick stock.
1/4 Inch (6 TPI)
Best for: General curve cutting. Minimum turning radius about 4 inches. Handles straight cuts in stock up to 2 inches. Cut quality: Good on curves. Acceptable on straight cuts in thin stock.
3/8 Inch (4 TPI)
Best for: The best all-around width. Tracks straight for ripping and crosscutting. Still handles curves with a 5 inch radius or larger. Cut quality: Good on straight cuts. Acceptable on curves. If you only buy one blade, make it 3/8 inch with 4 TPI.
1/2 Inch (3 TPI)
Best for: Straight ripping and resawing. Will not cut curves tighter than about 12 inch radius. Cut quality: Excellent on straight cuts. Clean resawing in stock up to 6 inches.
5/8 Inch (3 TPI)
Best for: Maximum width for the 12-inch saw. Heavy resawing only. Cut quality: Excellent on straight cuts. Not for curves.
TPI Selection
| TPI | Best For | Stock Thickness |
|---|---|---|
| 3 TPI (hook) | Resawing | 3+ inches |
| 4 TPI (skip) | General woodworking | 3/4 to 2 inches |
| 6 TPI | Smoother cuts | 1/2 to 1 inch |
| 10 TPI | Thin stock | 1/4 inch and under |
| 14 TPI | Scroll work | 1/4 inch and under |
Rule of thumb: At least 3 teeth should be in the material at all times. For 1/4 inch material, you need at least 12 TPI. For 1 inch material, you need at least 3 TPI.
Tooth Profile
Hook tooth (positive rake): The tooth leans forward. Cuts aggressively. Best for thick stock and resawing. Can grab in soft woods if feed is too fast.
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.
Regular tooth (slight negative rake): Cuts slower, produces the smoothest finish. Best for thin stock and fine work.
Blade Material and Cut Quality
Carbon Steel
Composition: High carbon steel throughout. Hardened to about 45 to 50 HRC. Cut quality: Good when sharp. Dulls faster than bi-metal, especially in hardwood. Can produce rough cuts as it dulls. Blade life: 2 to 4 hours in softwoods, 1 to 2 hours in hardwoods. Cost: 8 to 18 dollars. Best for: Occasional use, softwoods, general woodworking.
Bi-Metal M42
Composition: M42 high-speed steel edge (67 to 69 HRC) on flexible spring steel backing. Cut quality: Excellent. Stays sharp longer than carbon steel. Produces cleaner cuts over a longer period. Blade life: 3 to 5 times longer than carbon steel. 6 to 15 hours in softwoods, 3 to 8 hours in hardwoods. Cost: 18 to 35 dollars. Best for: Regular use, hardwoods, resawing, production work.
Bi-Metal M51
Composition: M51 high-speed steel edge (69 to 70 HRC) on flexible spring steel backing. Cut quality: Excellent. Even harder edge than M42. Produces clean cuts in the toughest materials. Blade life: 20 to 30 percent longer than M42 in hardwoods. Cost: 25 to 45 dollars. Best for: Hardwoods, exotic woods, production resawing.
Recommended Blades by Task
General Woodworking
Blade: 3/8 inch, 4 TPI skip tooth, carbon steel. Why: The best all-around blade. Handles 80 percent of woodworking tasks. Cost: About 12 dollars.
Resawing
Blade: 1/2 inch, 3 TPI hook tooth, bi-metal M42. Why: Coarse teeth and aggressive cutting action handle thick stock. Bi-metal stays sharp through long resaw cuts. Cost: About 25 dollars.
Curve Cutting
Blade: 1/4 inch, 6 TPI skip tooth, carbon steel. Why: Narrow width handles curves. 6 TPI produces smooth cuts in thin stock. Cost: About 12 dollars.
Scroll Work
Blade: 1/8 inch, 14 TPI, carbon steel. Why: Very narrow width for tight curves. Fine teeth for smooth cuts in thin stock. Cost: About 10 dollars.
Hardwood Resawing
Blade: 1/2 inch, 3 TPI hook tooth, bi-metal M51. Why: The harder M51 edge handles tough hardwoods. Stays sharp through long cuts in dense material. Cost: About 35 dollars.
Cut Quality Tips
Tension the blade properly. A properly tensioned blade cuts straighter and cleaner. For a 3/8 inch blade, tension to about 15,000 PSI. For a 1/2 inch blade, tension to about 20,000 PSI.
Set the guides correctly. Side guides should be about 1/32 inch from the blade. Thrust bearing should be about 1/64 inch behind the blade. Guides that are too close cause friction and heat. Guides that are too far allow the blade to wander.
Use the right feed rate. Feed slowly and steadily. Forcing the cut causes blade deflection and poor cut quality. Let the blade do the work.
Break in new blades. Run the first 10 to 20 cuts at half feed pressure. This lets the tooth tips wear evenly and prevents chipping.
FAQ
What blade does the Craftsman 12-inch band saw use?
An 80-inch blade in widths from 1/8 to 5/8 inch. Available in 3 to 14 TPI. Carbon steel for general work, bi-metal for resawing.
What is the best blade for cut quality on a Craftsman 12-inch band saw?
For general woodworking, a 3/8 inch, 4 TPI skip tooth carbon steel blade produces good cut quality. For the best cut quality in hardwood, use a bi-metal M42 blade.
What is the difference between carbon steel and bi-metal blades?
Carbon steel is softer and dulls faster but costs less. Bi-metal has a hardened high-speed steel edge that stays sharp 3 to 5 times longer. Bi-metal produces cleaner cuts over a longer period.
What TPI should I use for resawing?
3 TPI hook tooth in bi-metal. The coarse teeth and aggressive cutting action handle thick stock. Use bi-metal because carbon steel will dull mid-cut in hardwood.
Where can I buy 80-inch band saw blades?
Olson Saw, Timber Wolf, and other manufacturers make 80-inch blades. Available from online retailers and woodworking supply stores.
References
- Sears Parts Direct. “Craftsman 12-Inch Band Saw Owner’s Manuals.” searspartsdirect.com.
- Olson Saw. “80-Inch Band Saw Blade Guide.” Olson Saw Company.
- Timber Wolf Blades. “Band Saw Blade Specifications.” Suffolk Machinery Corporation.
- Fine Woodworking. “Choosing Band Saw Blades.” Taunton Press.
- Carter Products. “Blade Tension Guide.” Carter Products.
