Bandsaw

For the most durable, high-quality bandsaw blades you need a wet blasted finish

Manufacturers demand high-quality bandsaw blades for the numerous benefits that contribute to improved cutting performance, efficiency, and overall cost-effectiveness in various cutting applications. Key advantages of a high-quality blade include:

If you are already familiar with the need for high-quality blades then jump to the benefits of wet blasting bandsaw blades.

Precision cutting - High-quality blades are designed and manufactured to tight tolerances, resulting in accurate and precise cuts. This is particularly important when cutting intricate shapes or working with materials where precision is crucial.
Smooth surface finish - A high-quality blade produces smoother cuts with minimal surface imperfections. This is essential for applications where the quality of the cut surface matters, such as in woodworking or metalworking projects.
Extended blade life - Premium blades are constructed from high-grade materials that offer better wear resistance and durability. This leads to a longer blade life, reducing the frequency of blade replacements and the associated downtime and costs.
Reduced material waste - Improved cutting accuracy and reduced blade vibration from a high-quality blade can lead to less material waste. Precise cuts mean less material needs to be removed in secondary operations, resulting in cost savings.
Faster cutting speeds - High-quality bandsaw blades are designed to handle higher cutting speeds without compromising the cut quality. This can lead to increased productivity and shorter project completion times.
Reduced material waste - Improved cutting accuracy and reduced blade vibration from a high-quality blade can lead to less material waste. Precise cuts mean less material needs to be removed in secondary operations, resulting in cost savings.

Faster cutting speeds - High-quality bandsaw blades are designed to handle higher cutting speeds without compromising the cut quality. This can lead to increased productivity and shorter project completion times.
Lower energy consumption - Bandsaw blades that cut efficiently due to their quality can require less energy to perform the cutting operation. This can result in cost savings and a smaller environmental footprint.
Less downtime - With their extended blade life and reduced instances of blade breakage or wear-related issues, high-quality bandsaw blades result in less downtime for blade changes and adjustments.

Versatility - Premium blades are often designed to handle a wider range of materials and cutting applications. This versatility can be valuable in a workshop or production setting where multiple materials need to be cut.
Reduced vibration - High-quality blades are typically better balanced and have superior tension-holding capabilities. This results in reduced vibration during cutting, which can improve both cut quality and operator comfort.
Consistency - Quality blades are manufactured with consistent metallurgical properties and blade geometry. This leads to more predictable and repeatable cutting results, which is important for batch production and maintaining uniform product quality.
Minimised heat generation - Well-designed blades with proper tooth geometry and material selection can generate less heat during the cutting process. This is particularly advantageous when working with heat-sensitive materials.
Safer operation - A high-quality blade with reduced vibration has less tendency for blade deflection, and more reliable performance contributes to a safer working environment for operators.

As a manufacturer of bandsaw blades, you will be familiar with the issues that can result in poor-quality blades, overly sharp teeth that chip, cracking in the gullet between saw teeth and a surface that will not readily accept anti-oxidation treatments or branding.

But there is a well-proven technology to resolve these issues:

Wet blasting finishes bandsaw blades to the high quality demanded by manufacturers.

Wet blasting, also known as wet abrasive blasting or vapor blasting, is a surface finishing process that involves using a mixture of water, abrasive media, and compressed air to clean, deburr, and finish a variety of materials. Learn how the wet blasting process works by visiting our ‘What is wet blasting?’ page. When it comes to finishing bandsaw blades, wet blasting can offer numerous benefits:

Improved surface finish - Wet blasting can provide a consistent and uniform surface finish on blades. It creates a smoother and more polished surface compared to dry blasting, resulting in a blade with reduced roughness and improved aesthetics.
Deburring and edge Smoothing - Blades can often have sharp edges and burrs from the manufacturing process. Wet blasting can effectively remove these burrs and smooth out sharp edges, resulting in safer handling and potentially better cutting performance.
Honing cutting teeth - Wet blasting can accurately hone bandsaw blade cutting teeth to a specific radius, reducing heat build-up in the tip of the teeth and the likelihood of chipping, micro-cracking, or premature wear. This contributes to extended blade life and better performance. It also eliminates the need for the blade to be ‘worn in’, allowing it to be used at full production speed from new.
Peening the gullet between teeth – Peening strengthens the gullet between the blade’s teeth, a common area of blade weakness. It significantly reduces tensile stress to help eliminate blade fatigue.
Aesthetic finish and a finish for coatings – Wet blasting produces a clean aesthetic finish on blades and can also produce a reactive surface with the optimum surface roughness (Ra) for maximum coating adhesion. Coatings could range from oils to paints, including branding.
Material preservation - Wet blasting is generally considered to be a gentler process compared to dry blasting. This can be particularly important for bandsaw blades, as the wet blasting process is less likely to remove excessive material or cause micro-fractures that could weaken the blade's structure.
Contaminant removal - Wet blasting can effectively remove contaminants like oils, dust, and debris from the surface of blades. This can be crucial for ensuring proper adhesion of coatings subsequently applied to the blade’s surface.
Environmentally friendly – Wet blasting does not use harmful chemicals that are difficult to dispose of and it is a process that recycles blast media and water for even greater efficiency.
Health and safety - Wet blasting generates less dust and airborne contaminants compared to dry blasting methods, creating a safer and cleaner working environment for operators. Our wet blasting machines typically run below the noise levels that require ear protection.

The benefits of wet blasting bandsaw blades

1. Edge Honing of the teeth
2. Aesthetic enhancement
3. Removing burrs, cleaning heat marks and heat scale
4. Peening of the gullet and teeth braze points
5. Reactive surface for the application of the brand name and anti-rust treatments
6. Washed and dried, ready for inline branding, treating and packaging in-line loop bandsaws

One of our customers recently conducted tests on their reciprocating saw blades to determine how coating preparation was affected by switching from dry blasting to wet blasting.

They found blade life was increased by 3.5 times and cutting speed was increased by 100%.

Our Profelis wet blasting machine, details below, has been designed for the rapid in-line finish of bandsaw blades. Watch our video to learn how the Profelis works and its many benefits.

Smarter, cleaner and more durable bandsaw blades with the Vapormatt Profelis wet blasting machine

Wet blasting gives you more efficient, more seamless and more effective production. And for high-precision wet blasting, there’s only one name you need to know: Vapormatt.