All the cuttings to be done needs perfect measurements. The measurement is not majorly on the piece to be cut but on the size of the blades themselves. The size of the blades determines the nature of the work to be done.
This is a process that demands accuracy as any slight mistake will lead to wrong cuttings. It may also lead to wastage or poorly cut material. It, therefore, becomes a necessity for one to take the accurate measurements of the band saw blades.
To get more information on how to make the measurements, grab this article and read through. It will provide you with all the information that you require to do the measurements of the blades.
What is the starting point?
The steps
There are several steps to follow. They include:
- Make a mark on the blade. Use a material that will not fade away easily or quickly. This is because you may need to keep the spot marked on the blade until the task is complete. An indelible ink or a heavy-duty pencil would be fit for this purpose. Only make the necessary marks to avoid confusion later.
- From here, the next item is to determine the starting point. You will then place a piece of tape on a straight floor and determine the point that you will start. You can run another parallel set of measurements on the floor for accuracy and surety.
- Take a straight blade and place one end on the point where you marked first on the floor. Roll it till the first point that you marked touches the floor. This is one complete cycle. This cycle is enough at the moment.
- On a piece of tape, mark the second mark.
Using a feet ruler, measure the distance between the two pints on the flat floor. This should provide you with the accurate length of your bandsaw blade.
In other instances, you may find that you do not have the blade. You will, therefore, need to use a complex mathematical equation to derive the actual measurement. This is possible through the use of a predetermined formula.
This can be illustrated as follows:
- You will need to fix the pulley, and or the wheels into a workable position. Allow room for rotation of the pulley system.
- Using inches as the standard of measurement, determine the distance between the center (C) on both the upper and the lower bands.
- Maintaining the same standards of measurements, measure the radius of both wheels independently. The radius of the first wheel will be denoted as R1 while that of the second wheel will be denoted as R2. Both will have different sizes of the radius as one is bound to be larger than the other.
- Using the pie (π) as 3.142, apply the formula as follows:
(R1 x 3.142) + (R2 x 3.142) + (2 x C) = the length size of the saw blade.
This is how the measurement of the bandsaw blade can be derived mathematically. It may seem to be a complicated calculation but in the real sense, it is not. So long as you capture the correct measurements from the wheels, the application of the formula will not be complicated. If it becomes troublesome, you can always let someone with a better understanding help you out.
What is the ideal size of the bandsaw for use?
Ideally, it depends on what you want to cut and the magnitude of the work to be done. The ideal size generally would be the one with throat width ranges of between 12 to 14 inches. If you are doing commercial work however, you will need the one with up to 18 inches of throat width range. Generally, the “do-it-yourself” projects won’t require one with more 14 inches long bandsaw.
How do you determine the size of the band saw?
The band saw and the band saw blades are two different and distinct components. It is necessary to determine the measurement of both of them. For a band saw, get the distance from the throat to the blade. It has been observed over time that this measurement is twice as large as the wood that the band saw can handle.
Why is it necessary that the measurements of the blade be done on a straight flat floor?
Irregular floor or surface distorts the measurements. It tends to return longer than normal results. The flat surface provides the most accurate and real-time measurements. Chances are high that when you take the measurements on an irregular floor, you will have longer blades fitted to your band saw. The band saw can’t function with an oversize blade. It will pose more danger to the user and the surrounding environment.
Are all the band saw blades equal in size?
Definitely no Band saws differ in sizes. Others are so huge; they have to be mounted on surfaces to be used. Others are tiny, which can just be held by the hand and used. They use blades of varying sizes.
Conclusion
To measure the blade length, there are some steps to follow. They have been listed above in the article. On the other hand, if you do not have the measurement scales, you can derive the formula mathematically. It works well, give it a try.