Custom Welded Bandsaw Blades for Australian Workshops

For mild steel, structural sections and general workshop cutting, an M42 bi-metal bandsaw blade is the standard choice. It handles solid bar, RHS/SHS and pipe at everyday cutting rates and is the most economical grade for day-to-day fabrication work.

Stainless work-hardens as you cut, so it needs a tougher blade. An M51 bi-metal bandsaw blade holds its edge in stainless, tool steel and harder alloys far longer than M42, making it the right grade for stainless fabrication.

Both are bi-metal blades, but M51 has a higher cobalt and tungsten content in the tooth edge, so it stays sharp at higher cutting temperatures. Use M42 for mild and structural steel, and step up to M51 for stainless, tool steel and harder alloys. For very abrasive or exotic materials, a carbide bandsaw blade outlasts both.

Start with material and section: mild steel takes M42 bi-metal, stainless and harder alloys take M51, and abrasive or exotic material needs carbide. Then match TPI to your section size — keep at least 3 teeth in contact. Our bandsaw blade selector walks you through both steps in under a minute.

Check your machine's manual or spec plate first — most list the required blade length. If it's missing, lay the old blade flat in a loop and measure around the outside edge with a tape, or mark a point on the blade, roll it one full revolution along the floor and measure the distance. Note the width and tooth pitch as well, then send us the spec and we'll weld an exact replacement.

The rule is at least 3 teeth in contact with the material at any time. For thin-wall tube and pipe (under 3 mm wall), use 10–14 TPI; for solid bar up to 50 mm, 6–10 TPI; for large solid sections over 100 mm, 3–4 TPI variable. Coarser pitches clear chips faster in heavy sections; finer pitches prevent tooth strip-out on thin walls. Our bandsaw blade selector gives you a specific TPI recommendation for your section size.

Yes. Every blade is custom welded into a loop at your exact machine length at our Melbourne workshop — from small vertical saws to large twin-column production machines, in M42, M51 and carbide grades.

Replace the blade when cuts start to wander or drift out of square, cutting takes noticeably longer, the blade squeals despite correct feed and speed, or you can see stripped or chipped teeth. Running a dull blade risks scrapping material and overloading the machine. If you know your spec, you can reorder the same blade in minutes.

The most common causes are a dull blade that pulls to one side, incorrect blade tension (too loose lets the blade deflect under load), worn or mis-set blade guides, and misaligned guide bearings. Check blade tension and guide alignment first. If the blade is dull or the teeth are chipped, replace it — a sharp blade on a well-set machine cuts straight without forcing.

Blade breakage usually points to one of four causes: over-tensioning (blades fatigue quickly if stretched too tight), too-fast feed rate (forcing the blade causes tooth snap-off and weld stress), wrong TPI for thin material (fewer than 3 teeth in contact lets teeth hook and break), or a wheel diameter that is too small for the blade width. Check your machine's minimum wheel diameter spec for the blade width you're running, reduce feed pressure, and verify tension with a gauge. If breakage continues after correcting these, contact us — the blade spec may not suit your machine.

Yes. We weld blades in Braeside, Melbourne and dispatch Australia-wide, with quotes provided within 24 hours. Melbourne workshops get local support; Sydney orders arrive overnight and Brisbane in 1–2 business days.