Bandsaw blade for horn

[Mark Elliott]

I need to buy a bandsaw blade just to cut horn (and bone(antler)).   My normal blade for stocks is too aggressive for thin horn.  What tpi do the rest of you use to cut horn?   

[skillman]

I use a small bandsaw for my accoutrements. Actually I have two of them. One has 7TPI, the other has 10. The new blade I have sitting on the bench is 14. I use the saw with the 7 for almost everything. I have sharpened it twice and it is still going strong. Horn, bone, antler, and wood. Just don't get to aggressive.

Steve

[B.Barker]

I would get one with as many teeth per inch that is made for the saw. I like 18tpi and 24tpi in a hacksaw myself. Things get out of hand to quick for me with a band saw when I'm trying to do delicate work.

[Tim Crosby]

 Try 1/4-14tpi. Just go slow and kind of roll the piece into it. I find that anything more aggressive catches and is not easy to guide.

  Tim

[Hungry Horse]

 I use a 10 TPI for almost everything, including horn, antler, bone, brass, and hard dense gunstocks.

  Hungry Horse

[Mark Elliott]

Thanks for all the suggestions.   I stopped by Woodcraft and bought a 1/2" 10tpi.   It worked ok on horn and antler.  I think I will also get a 1/4" 14tpi.

[Hungry Horse]

Mark, I don’t use the 1/2” blades because they won’t cut tight enough curves, I use 1/4” X 10 tpi.

  Hungry Horse

[Mike from OK]

Has anyone noticed a problem with the blade loading up with finer toothed blades?

Mike

[Tim Crosby]

Has anyone noticed a problem with the blade loading up with finer toothed blades?

Mike

 If it does a piece of an old Crape soled shoe and cut it with it, it will take it off, a piece of soft wood works to but not as well. Works well on a disc sander too. 

   Tim   

[Hungry Horse]

I’ve cut every kind of wood you can imagine, and never had the 10 TPI blade plug up. The skip tooth blades tend to get hot and break at the weld.

  Hungry Horse

[ron w]

I would use a 1/4-14. make sure the teeth aren't raking the guides. I use hard maple guides in my bandsaw. they need to be replaced/squared up often, but they don't take the set out of the teeth, if the back bearing happens to loosen up...... and I've had that happen !. 

[Carney Pace]

Being a machinist the "rule of thumb " is at least 3 teeth engaged in the thickness of the material.
Blade loading up wax,on the blade as a preventative, candle, bees wax, or a commercial lube, comes in stick form from machine tool  suppliers.