Your band saw is most likely capable of doing a ton of different things for you. What you really need to know is how to properly prepare your band saw for these tasks. Most of the time, you might need to consider that you will need to change your bandsaw blade to accommodate your task.
This is not always the case but for some specialty uses or certain materials, it could be the case. The blade thickness matters in these cases because you need to be able to handle the material and the challenge of the cut you are making. One of those challenges can be resawing.
Resawing basically allows you to take a single piece of wood and shape it or saw it down to a smaller measurement. It’s not unlike cutting a 2 x 4 into a 2 x 2, for example. You can make thinner sections and be able to use those thinner sections for a lot of different projects.
When you are resawing, you need good bandsaw blades to be able to handle the task. In this guide we will share with you the best band saw blade for resawing with a few different options that you can put to use. We will share what to look for and guide you through some options.
Ultimately, when it comes to choosing bandsaw blades for resawing, you need to look for wider blades and a small kerf. You probably also should be sure the blade is made from a strong material. These are all factors that we took into consideration in this guide.
We Think You’ll Like: Best Band Saw Blades in 2022 – Reviews & Buyers Guide
Table of Contents
The Best Bandsaw Blades for Resaw Blade Needs
Resaw bandsaw blades are sometimes labeled as such but that is not always the case. Sometimes, you can look at the bandsaw blade and determine on your own whether or not the blade width and other details will work.
In this part of our guide, we will share our top picks for resaw bandsaw blade options. Each review of the best bandsaw blade for a resawing blade will share an overview, a score for the key features, and some pros and cons to consider.
Let’s take a look!
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1. Best Overall: Timber Wolf Blades Resaw Bandsaw Blade
This first blade from Timber Wolf is a wood slicer blade that is very popular amongst resaw blades. The blade width and the blade thickness work well to bring you a quality saw blade for resawing that can be quite reliable. You can purchase just a single resaw band blade and expect it to last for your needs for quite some time.
These carbide tipped blades are made with alloy steel backer. The blade thickness measures 3/4 of an inch wide. The tooth style is a Positive Claw style for a smoother cut. Timber Wolf is one of the best blade producers out there. The teeth per inch measurements are 2-3 and that number might vary slightly just because of the style of the tooth.
These blade tracks are durable and reliable. They are made with thicker stock so they can manage the challenging task that a blade for resawing is required to handle. While cutting wood might seem straightforward, straight cuts are absolutely essential and this Timber Wolf Blades Resaw Bandsaw Blade can absolutely help with that.
Key Features (on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best)
- TPI: 10
- Materials: 10
- Band Width: 10
- Kerf: 10
- Timber Wolf makes a variety of quality blades
- Made in the USA
- Best overall choice blade for resawing
- This is an alloy steel but carbide tipped blade
- The tooth material and design is ideal for a few things and perfect for resawing
- You have to be careful with the blade tension in order to not affect the speed capabilities or metal fatigue capacity.
Why We Like It
Timber Wolf has proven that they can make the ideal blade and this band saw blade falls into that category. With a blade guide, you will find that it provides you all of the quality of an expensive blade. It’s well-made and has a great tooth count and style.
2. Budget Pick: Olson Saw Band Saw Hook Saw Blade
If you want the right blade for the right price, this might be a great option for cutting lumber. This resawing wood blade is affordable and reliable. It’s a long blade and the tooth material is sturdy as well, using alloy steel. While it’s not thick stock, it does have great heat resistance and is really easy to work with. The mild steel gives you some versatility and precision that you need in a blade for resawing.
Olson Saw Band Saw Hook Saw Blade is not one of the thicker blades and is only about 1/2 and inch but this is thick enough for a straight cut and resaw. The per inch TPI is 3 so you can handle deeper gullets with the tooth count and still have smooth cuts from the blade work in the process. This blade is known for less noise and smoother cuts without spending an arm and a leg.
The Olson bandsaw blade has more teeth than some comparable blades and offers a long life as well. It can handle mild steel, soft to mild woods, plastic, and non-ferrous metal materials on the bandsaw. You can use the blade on any 2-wheel bandsaw or a resaw bandsaw and not have any issues when used appropriately.
Key Features (on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best)
- TPI: 10
- Materials: 9
- Band Width: 9
- Kerf: 10
- Smooth finish thanks to more TPI
- Reliable and affordable blades
- Versatile to handle a variety of functions
- Requires less horsepower to maneuver
- The kerf is smaller so your saw can work towards an accurate cut
- You will not be able to work at a high speed for some of the harder wood materials
- May not handle rip cuts as well but does handle resawing fine
Why We Like It
We love this bandsaw blade resaw blade because it is affordable and has a lot of great uses. It’s no wood slicer but if you know the capabilities, you will find it works well and is smooth for cutting wood and some other materials as well.
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3. Best Value: DeWalt Portable Band Saw Blade for Resawing
This next option is a great value for the money and could be an expensive blade if you were to compare it to other similar options. This best bandsaw blades option is built for portable saws. It is a hard back blade made with cobalt. This is a DeWalt band saw blade. DeWalt Portable Band Saw Blade for Resawing does fit other models but we recommend checking their portal to be sure it will fit your portable saws sizes.
This blade is great for resawing wood because it is made with high speed steel (cobalt) that can handle just about any material and can work fast as a blade for resawing. It makes straight cuts and is definitely the best blade for the money on the market. The teeth per inch is 14/18 and you get a full 3-pack of blades. Remember these are portable bandsaw sizes so check out your inch and saw to ensure it will work.
The kerf is nice and small and all of those teeth per inch really work wonders at a high speed on the bandsaw. It also helps with fatigue resistance and can be ideal when less horsepower is at play since it is such a tough design.
Key Features (on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best)
- TPI: 10
- Materials: 10
- Band Width: 10
- Kerf: 10
- An awesome bandsaw blade for the money
- Carbide materials offer fatigue resistance
- Make an accurate cut fast thanks to those teeth in every inch of the kerf
- High speed steel edge that is Matrix II
- This resaw bandsaw blade is build for durability and wear
- May only fit certain bandsaw blade length designs so be sure to check your model before you buy the saw blade
Why We Like It
Carbon steel is often overrated as being the best but when it comes to a resaw blade, you really can’t get much better than cobalt. It can handle a lot of materials. This particular blade is for a portable bandsaw blade and it’s rated just as well as the ever popular wood slicer.
4. Hellbender Bi metal Longevity Saw Blade
These resaw blades are interesting because it is a bi metal band saw blade with flex back and sturdy teeth. Hellbender Bi metal Longevity Saw Blade is built for longevity and heavy work with specially bonded materials. This allows you to use it on wood on the saw but you can also use it on metalworking and things like fabrication as well.
These blades are laser welded and the tooth numbers have an incredibly small kerf so you really get precision. It’s 10/14 per inch in the kerf, giving you the ideal amount of teeth to work quickly and yet still have heat resistance, be able to handle deep gullets, and work on higher speed capabilities like high speed steel does.
Your band saw will be ready to get to work with this thick stock blade. The alloy steel backer on the saw blade really gives you a well-finished resawing blade that holds up against its duties any day.
Key Features (on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best)
- TPI: 10
- Materials: 9
- Band Width: 10
- Kerf: 10
- Unique bi metal design on the saw blade gives you added longevity
- Ideal overall blade width for resawing
- Saw blade is built to be durable
- With this saw blade on your band saw, you have versatility at your fingertips
- The tooth count of the blade per inch lets you move on your bandsaw with speed and precision
- The weld is noticeable, which may require some adjustment to your blade tension to accommodate the saw blade
- The saw blade quality seems to be a little inconsistent in quality
Why We Like It
This is not your average saw blade but it offers you a good versatile band saw option for quick work and a lasting blade. This best bandsaw blade will hold up and can handle a lot of tough materials with ease, which sets it apart from some of the competition.
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Buyer’s Guide
Now that you’ve seen your options, let’s take just a moment to consider what makes a saw blade the best bandsaw blade for resawing needs. Not just any bandsaw blade will do so take a look at these details.
Bandsaw Blade Width
When it comes to a resaw project, the width of the band saw blade matters. Your blade needs to be a minimum of a 1/2 an inch to really resaw accurately and properly. These wider options on the blade are also more likely to fill your inch to teeth ratio needs on the blade, which is another matter that is essential here.
The reason a wider blade tends to work better when you use a band saw to resaw is because the blade will most likely need to work through rip style cuts and hard wood or hard materials. A blade made wider and more inch capacity will work much better on the saw for these purposes.
The Teeth
The next thing you need to consider for your saw is the teeth. Look at the per inch number as well as the kerf measurements here. Remember that the more you have per inch as far as tooth count, the better the blade will be for the task on your band saw.
In addition, your blade may need specific materials on the tooth as well. You will find quite a variety of tooth blade materials so just know that you have options. We like to see carbide or cobalt on the tooth of the blade but something like carbon steel is also a great material on a blade. Alloy steel is similar to carbon steel and is very popular in some of the more affordable bandsaw blade options out there.
If you see carbon steel or a similar material, you’re in great shape. If you see a better material, just know your blade will be made even better and can probably handle more materials than another blade might be able to. The tooth of the blades and the inch capacity might also reduce your need for lateral guides to get a perfect cut.
Thickness of Blade
Finally, you should also look at the inch measurement for the blades thickness. This can matter as well. These are the 3 main points to consider on your blades. Here’s what you need to know, you actually want your inch measurement to be smaller on your blades for resawing purposes. This is because as they get thicker, they are more likely to have a wider kerf and in return the blades may cause you problems for a resaw job.
We recommend looking for a blade that is less than 1/4 of an inch or 1/4 of an inch at maximum measurement. These blades really do work best when you need to resaw.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Best Band Saw Blade for Hardwood?
We really prefer the Timber Wolf for the majority of projects, including hardwood. It can handle pretty much any task reliably.
What Size Bandsaw Do You Need for Resawing?
For resawing, you need good power and you need to be able to make deep cuts. We recommend going for a bandsaw that has at least 1 HP to have enough power as well as a depth of at least 10 inches to really be able to accommodate.
Can You Resaw with a 10-Inch Bandsaw?
You probably can but keep in mind that 10 inch does not mean it has a depth capability of 10 inch. This just refers to the table size typically. It’s possible to resaw on these but we recommend a 14 inch at least.
What is the Best All Purpose Bandsaw Blade?
You really can’t go wrong with the Timber Wood slicer blade. They don’t use carbon steel but they do use a quality carbide and alloy approach, with carbide tips to really perfect your blade and what it is capable of doing for you.
We Think You’ll Like: Best Band Saw in 2022 – Reviews & Buyers Guide
Conclusion
Choosing the right blade to resaw with should be a simple task and it will be for you now that you know some of the best options as well as some of the characteristics to look for. We hope that you can find an option here that will work for your needs.
Do you plan to resaw on a full-sized saw or a portable saw?
Expert Tip
The more teeth and the lower the kerf, the better off you will be in the end. If you take away nothing else from this guide, always keep this in mind when you plan to resaw.
Did You Know?
Carbide has been one of the top materials for many years because they are built to last and they really work for soft materials and hard materials alike.
Amazon Recommends:
- Perfect for slicing veneers, resawing, ripping and cutting gentle curves in kiln dry, domestic wood and softer exotics.
- . Width: 1/2 inch. Teeth per inch (TPI): 3/4. Tooth design: variable positive claw (VPC).
- Blade thickness: .025. Kerf: .039. Tooth hook angle: 6.5 degrees. Tooth set pattern: 5 raker set. Radius of cut: 2-1/2 inches.
- Depth of cut range: kiln dry wood; hardwood 1-8 inches, softwood 1-6 inches.
- Not to be used with wet wood or logs/limbs unless dried to 10%.
- 105-1406PC: 105" long x 1/4" wide x 6 TPI in Positive Claw (PC) tooth style, 105-3804PC: 105" long x 3/8" wide x 4 TPI in Positive Claw (PC) tooth style, 105-1203PC: 105" long x 1/2" wide x 3 TPI in Positive Claw (PC) tooth style
- Other Blade Specifications: 105-1406PC: .042 kerf; 6.5 degree tooth angle; 5/8" cut radius 105-3804PC: .042 kerf; 6.5 degree tooth angle; 1 1/4" cut radius 105-1203PC: .048 kerf; 6.5 degree tooth angle; 2-1/2" cut radius
- Cutting Application: curve, template, and pattern cutting, ripping, cross cutting, roughing and resawing dry wood
- Made in the USA
- Perfect for slicing veneers, resawing, ripping and cutting gentle curves in kiln dry, domestic wood and softer exotics.
- . Width: 1/2 inch. Teeth per inch (TPI): 3/4. Tooth design: variable positive claw (VPC).
- Blade thickness: .025. Kerf: .039. Tooth hook angle: 6.5 degrees. Tooth set pattern: 5 raker set. Radius of cut: 2-1/2 inches.
- Depth of cut range: kiln dry wood; hardwood 1-8 inches, softwood 1-6 inches.
- Not to be used with wet wood or logs/limbs unless dried to 10%.