Band Saw Blade Metal Application Guide
How to use band saw selection guide.
1) Locate the shape of the material your cutting from this chart. Follow the column down until you find the width, diameter, or average width of cut for the material being cut. This will give you the tooth selection.
2) Next determine the material to be cut using the chart below. Then locate the machinability group number located to right side.
3) Then using the machinability group number refer to Machinability group chart to determine the blade type needed for standard cutting or high performance cutting. Make necessary adjustments to sq. in./Min. per tooth and blade selection.
Table of Contents
- Carbon steels
- Free machining carbon steels
- Carbon alloy steels
- Tool steels
- Stainless steels
- Nickel based alloys
- Titanium alloys
- Miscellaneous metals & materials
- Machinability group chart
| Material Designation | Machinability group number | Blade speed (SFPM) | Square inches per minute |
| 1008-1035 | 1 | 320 | 15 |
| 1040-1064 | 1 | 230 | 8 |
| 1065-1095 | 1 | 190 | 6 |
| 1513-1536 | 1 | 330 | 16 |
| 1541-1572 | 1 | 330 | 8 |
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Free machining carbon steels
| Material Designation | Machinability group number | Blade speed (SFPM) | Square inches per minute |
| 1108-1132 | 1 | 330 | 16 |
| 1137-1151 | 1 | 260 | 9 |
| 1212-1213 | 1 | 340 | 16 |
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Carbon alloy steels
| Material Designation | Machinability group number | Blade speed (SFPM) | Square inches per minute |
| 1320-1345 | 1 | 210 | 8 |
| 3115-3150 | 2 | 235 | 8 |
| 3310-3315 | 2 | 210 | 5 |
| 4017-4042 | 1 | 275 | 7 |
| 4130-4150 | 2 | 250 | 7 |
| 4317-4340 | 2 | 225 | 6 |
| 4608-4621 | 2 | 220 | 6 |
| 4812-4820 | 2 | 190 | 4 |
| 5045-5135 | 2 | 240 | 8 |
| 5140-5160 | 2 | 230 | 6 |
| 50100-52100 | 2 | 165 | 5 |
| 6117-6152 | 2 | 220 | 6 |
| 8615-8645 | 2 | 220 | 7 |
| 8647-8660 | 2 | 190 | 4 |
| 8715-8750 | 2 | 230 | 6 |
| 9255-9262 | 2 | 190 | 4 |
| 9310-9317 | 2 | 165 | 3 |
| 9437-9850 | 2 | 210 | 5 |
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Tool steels
| Material Designation | Machinability group number | Blade speed (SFPM) | Square inches per minute |
| A2, A3, A8, A9 | 3 | 190 | 5 |
| A4-A6 | 3 | 160 | 5 |
| A7-A10 | 4 | 80 | 4 |
| D2-D5 | 4 | 100 | 3 |
| D3, D4 | 4 | 85 | 3 |
| D7 | 4 | 75 | 1.5 |
| O1, O2 | 3 | 200 | 7 |
| O6, O7 | 3 | 190 | 8 |
| H10-H14 | 3 | 190 | 6 |
| H21-H42 | 3 | 155 | 5 |
| L2-L6 | 3 | 185 | 7 |
| L7-S1 | 3 | 190 | 6 |
| M1 | 3 | 140 | 5 |
| M2, M3 | 3 | 110 | 3.5 |
| M4, M10, M15, M41, M47 | 4 | 85 | 2 |
| M6, M7 | 3 | 120 | 5 |
| M30, M36 | 4 | 100 | 2 |
| T1, T2 | 3 | 120 | 3.5 |
| T4, T5 | 4 | 100 | 2 |
| T6 | 4 | 90 | 2 |
| T8 | 4 | 75 | 2 |
| T15 | 4 | 75 | 1.5 |
| S2-S7 | 3 | 140 | 3.5 |
| W1-W5 | 3 | 200 | 7 |
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Stainless steels
| Material Designation | Machinability group number | Blade speed (SFPM) | Square inches per minute |
| 201, 202, 301, 302, 304, 304L, 304N, 305 | 3 | 115 | 5 |
| 303, 303F, 303SE | 3 | 125 | 5 |
| 308, 309, 309S, 310, 330, WF11 | 4 | 85 | 2 |
| 314, 316, 316F, 316L, 316N, 317 | 4 | 75 | 2 |
| 321, 347, 348, 384, 403, 405 | 3 | 115 | 5 |
| 410, 414, 420, 420F, 431 | 3 | 140 | 5 |
| 416, 430F, 430FSE, 430SE | 3 | 170 | 8 |
| 416SE | 3 | 190 | 8 |
| 430, 446 | 4 | 85 | 4 |
| 434, 436 | 3 | 115 | 3.5 |
| 440A, B, C | 3 | 110 | 5 |
| 440F, 443 | 3 | 130 | 5 |
| 442 | 4 | 95 | 4 |
| 17-4-PH, 17-7-PH | 4 | 75 | 4 |
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Nickel based alloys
| Material Designation | Machinability group number | Blade speed (SFPM) | Square inches per minute |
| Monel | 4 | 80 | 4 |
| K Monel | 4 | 80 | 2 |
| KR Monel | 4 | 85 | 3 |
| R Monel | 4 | 90 | 4 |
| Aged Monel | 4 | 60 | 1.5 |
| Inconel | 4 | 90 | 3 |
| Inconel X | 4 | 80 | 1 |
| Hastelloy A | 4 | 100 | 2 |
| Hastelloy B, C | 4 | 90 | 1.5 |
| Hastelloy X | 4 | 70 | 1 |
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Titanium alloys
| Material Designation | Machinability group number | Blade speed (SFPM) | Square inches per minute |
| Metals with titanium as major alloying element | 4 | 90 | 1 |
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Miscellaneous metals & materials
| Material Designation | Machinability group number | Blade speed (SFPM) | Square inches per minute |
| Aluminum bronze, soft | 1 | 340 | 15 |
| Aluminum bronze, hard | 2 | 210 | 6 |
| Manganese bronze, soft | 1 | 340 | 15 |
| Manganese bronze, hard | 2 | 210 | 6 |
| Phosphor bronze, soft | 1 | 340 | 10 |
| Phosphor bronze, hard | 2 | 200 | 5 |
| Silicon bronze, soft | 1 | 340 | 10 |
| Silicon bronze, hard | 2 | 200 | 5 |
| Beryllium bronze, soft | 1 | 285 | 8 |
| Beryllium bronze, hard | 2 | 145 | 3 |
| Cast iron, class 20 | 2 | 180 | 3 |
| Cast iron, class 40 | 2 | 130 | 2.5 |
| Cast iron, class 60 | 2 | 110 | 2 |
| Structural steel, ASA 36 | 1 | 330 | 15 |
| Wood | 5, 6 | As required | |
| Plastic | 5, 6 | As required | |
| Aluminum | 5, 6 | As required | |
| Mild steels | 5, 6 | As required | |
| Low alloy steels | 5, 6 | As required | |
Machinability group chart
| Group number | Performance desired | Blade type to use | Initial change to sq.in./min. |
| Group1 | Standard cutting | Bi-metal matrix II | Reduce by 20% |
| High production | Bi-metal M42 | No change | |
| Group 2 | Standard cutting | Bi-metal M42 | Reduce by 20% |
| High production | 1)Bi-metal matrix II 2)Bi-metal M42 | No change | |
| Group 3 | Standard cutting | 1)Bi-metal matrix II 2)Bi-metal M42 | Reduce by 20% |
| High production | 1)Bi-metal matrix II 2)Bi-metal M42 | No change | |
| Group 4 | Standard cutting | 1)Bi-metal M42 2)Carbide tipped | Reduce by 20% |
| High production | 1)Bi-metal M42 2)Carbide tipped | No change | |
| Group 5 | Standard cutting | Carbon hard edge, hard back | As required |
| Production | Carbon hard edge, hard back | As required | |
| Group 6 | Standard cutting, occasional usage | Carbon hard edge, flexible back | As required |
References:
Nicholson Saw Division Application Guide, copyright 1997