Re: Band Saw Question, before I buy

According to Bob Kaplow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
> In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> (Rhhickok) writes:
> >>>I also got one of the carbide blades for cutting lightweight wood, lexan,
> > etc.<<

> > Speaking of Lexan, can a band saw cut Lexan (~1/8 -1/4")? If so, any particular
> > blade?  --  Richard "around here, it seems like the smaller Michaels are
> > dropping the rockets" Hickok
 
> I use mine to do so regularly. You really need to find one of the 32 tpi
> blades. My previous source no longer stocks them. I'm still on my original
> blade, and have one new one in waiting.

You don't need that many teeth on the blade.  Choose the blade and the blade
speed as if it was wood.  Too many teeth or too slow a speed makes it more
likely you'll melt things.

Move the plastic without hesitation, and you'll be fine.

For smoothest cutting, choose a blade that has at least one teeth in contact
with the material at all times.  That's as far as you have to go.  For
1/8" lexan,  12 TPI will do.  Don't use excessively wide blades either.
A 1/8 or 3/16 blade with 12-16TPI will do just about anything down to 1/8".
-- 
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.