Ask the experts
Our team of LENOX authorized welders has worked extensively with wood and metal-cutting band saw blades. With decades of collective experience, our crew has the knowledge and training to make sure that you get the best blade possible for your application. We are happy to answer your questions, so feel free to reach out with the form below, or give us a call at (800) 452-6071.
LENOX Guide to Band Sawing & FAQ
As a LENOX Certified Welding Center, we truly appreciate the expertise that LENOX brings to the band saw blade table. They are a valuable resource for information and expertise regarding band saw blades and blade tools.
We recommend reviewing the LENOX Guide to Band Sawing (PDF) for more information about your band saw blade. As a kick-starter, we’ve listed information from the Observations section of this guide (page 26-30) to answer some of the most common questions we receive about blades.*
If you have any additional questions, please contact us.
Ask the Expert
What if my blade has tooth strippage?
LENOX Observation #6
Section or sections of teeth which broke from the band backing.
Probable Cause:
A. Improper or lack of break-in procedure.
B. Worn, missing or improperly positioned chip brush.
C. Excessive feeding rate or feed pressure.
D. Movement or vibration of material being cut.
E. Improper tooth pitch for cross sectional size of
material being cut.
F. Improper positioning of material being cut.
G. Insufficient sawing fluid due to inadequate supply,
improper ratio and/or improper application.
H. Hard spots in material being cut.
I. Band speed too slow for grade of material being cut.
Section or sections of teeth which broke from the band backing.
Probable Cause:
A. Improper or lack of break-in procedure.
B. Worn, missing or improperly positioned chip brush.
C. Excessive feeding rate or feed pressure.
D. Movement or vibration of material being cut.
E. Improper tooth pitch for cross sectional size of
material being cut.
F. Improper positioning of material being cut.
G. Insufficient sawing fluid due to inadequate supply,
improper ratio and/or improper application.
H. Hard spots in material being cut.
I. Band speed too slow for grade of material being cut.
What if my blade has chips welded to its tooth tips?
LENOX Observation #7
High temperature or pressure generated during the cut bonding the chips to the tip and face of teeth.
Probable Cause:
A. Insufficient sawing fluid due to inadequate supply,
improper ratio and/or improper application.
B. Worn, missing or improperly positioned chip brush.
C. Improper band speed.
D. Improper feeding rate.
High temperature or pressure generated during the cut bonding the chips to the tip and face of teeth.
Probable Cause:
A. Insufficient sawing fluid due to inadequate supply,
improper ratio and/or improper application.
B. Worn, missing or improperly positioned chip brush.
C. Improper band speed.
D. Improper feeding rate.
What if my blade has body breakage or cracks from the gullets?
LENOX Observation #16
The origin of the fracture is indicated by a flat area on the fracture surface.
Probable Cause:
A. Excessive back-up guide "preload".
B. Improper band tension.
C. Guide arms spread to maximum capacity.
D. Improper beam bar alignment.
E. Side guide adjustment is too tight.
F. Excessively worn teeth.
The origin of the fracture is indicated by a flat area on the fracture surface.
Probable Cause:
A. Excessive back-up guide "preload".
B. Improper band tension.
C. Guide arms spread to maximum capacity.
D. Improper beam bar alignment.
E. Side guide adjustment is too tight.
F. Excessively worn teeth.
What if my blade broke and has a fracture traveling in an angular direction?
LENOX Observation #15
The fracture originates in the gullet and immediately travels in an angular direction into the backing of band.
Probable Cause:
A. An excessive twist type of stress existed.
B. Guide arms spread to capacity causing excessive
twist from band wheel to guides.
C. Guide arms spread too wide while cutting small
cross sections.
D. Excessive back-up guide "preload".
The fracture originates in the gullet and immediately travels in an angular direction into the backing of band.
Probable Cause:
A. An excessive twist type of stress existed.
B. Guide arms spread to capacity causing excessive
twist from band wheel to guides.
C. Guide arms spread too wide while cutting small
cross sections.
D. Excessive back-up guide "preload".
What if my blades gullets are loading up with material?
LENOX Observation #8
Gullet area has become filled with material being cut.
Probable Cause:
A. Too fine of a tooth pitch – insufficient gullet capacity.
B. Excessive feeding rate producing too large of a chip.
C. Worn, missing or improperly positioned chip brush.
D. Insufficient sawing fluid due to inadequate supply,
improper ratio and/or improper application.
Gullet area has become filled with material being cut.
Probable Cause:
A. Too fine of a tooth pitch – insufficient gullet capacity.
B. Excessive feeding rate producing too large of a chip.
C. Worn, missing or improperly positioned chip brush.
D. Insufficient sawing fluid due to inadequate supply,
improper ratio and/or improper application.
What if my broken blade shows a twist in its length?
LENOX Observation #20
When a broken band lying on a flat surface displays a twist from one end to the other, this indicates the
band flatness has been altered during use.
Probable Cause:
A. Excessive band tension
B. Any of the band conditions which cause the
band to be long (#18) or short (#19) on tooth edge.
C. Cutting a tight radius.
When a broken band lying on a flat surface displays a twist from one end to the other, this indicates the
band flatness has been altered during use.
Probable Cause:
A. Excessive band tension
B. Any of the band conditions which cause the
band to be long (#18) or short (#19) on tooth edge.
C. Cutting a tight radius.
What if my blade has body breakage or cracks from the back edge?
LENOX Observation #5
The fracture originates from the back edge of band. The origin of the fracture is indicated by a
flat area on the fracture surface.
Probable Cause:
A. Excessive back-up guide "preload" will cause back
edge to work harden which results in cracking.
B. Excessive feed rate.
C. Improper band tracking – back edge rubbing heavy
on wheel flange.
D. Worn or defective back-up guides.
E. Improper band tension.
F. Notches in back edge from handling damage.
The fracture originates from the back edge of band. The origin of the fracture is indicated by a
flat area on the fracture surface.
Probable Cause:
A. Excessive back-up guide "preload" will cause back
edge to work harden which results in cracking.
B. Excessive feed rate.
C. Improper band tracking – back edge rubbing heavy
on wheel flange.
D. Worn or defective back-up guides.
E. Improper band tension.
F. Notches in back edge from handling damage.
What if my blade has heavy wear and/or swagging on its back edge?
LENOX Observation #12
Heavy back edge wear will have a polished appearance or abnormal grooves worn into surface.
Swaging of corners can also occur.
Probable Cause:
A. Excessive feed rate.
B. Excessive back-up guide "preload".
C. Improper band tracking – back edge rubbing
heavy on wheel flange.
D. Worn or defective back-up guides.
Heavy back edge wear will have a polished appearance or abnormal grooves worn into surface.
Swaging of corners can also occur.
Probable Cause:
A. Excessive feed rate.
B. Excessive back-up guide "preload".
C. Improper band tracking – back edge rubbing
heavy on wheel flange.
D. Worn or defective back-up guides.
What if my blade has chipped or broken teeth?
LENOX Observation #4
A scattered type of tooth breakage on tips and corners of the teeth.
Probable Cause:
A. Improper break-in procedure.
B. Improper blade selection for application.
C. Handling damage due to improper opening of
folded band.
D. Improper positioning or clamping of material.
E. Excessive feeding rate or feed pressure.
F. Hitting hard spots or hard scale in material.
A scattered type of tooth breakage on tips and corners of the teeth.
Probable Cause:
A. Improper break-in procedure.
B. Improper blade selection for application.
C. Handling damage due to improper opening of
folded band.
D. Improper positioning or clamping of material.
E. Excessive feeding rate or feed pressure.
F. Hitting hard spots or hard scale in material.
What if my blade has uneven wear or scoring on its sides?
LENOX Observation #11
Wear patterns are near gullet area on one side and near back edge on opposite side.
Probable Cause:
A. Loose side guides.
B. Chipped, worn or defective side guides.
C. Band is rubbing on part of the machine.
D. Guide arms spread to maximum capacity.
E. Accumulation of chips in side guides.
Wear patterns are near gullet area on one side and near back edge on opposite side.
Probable Cause:
A. Loose side guides.
B. Chipped, worn or defective side guides.
C. Band is rubbing on part of the machine.
D. Guide arms spread to maximum capacity.
E. Accumulation of chips in side guides.
For more great information about band saw blades from LENOX, visit their website.
*FAQ information sourced from LENOX Band Saw Blades.
