Large band saws

Large Band Saws

Large band saw are used often in timber mills. When ripping lumber, a band saw with its smaller kerf, otherwise known as cut size, produces less waste than when using circular saws.

The band saw blades range in sizes from about (4" wide x 19' long x 22 ga thickness) to (16" wide x 62' long x 11 ga thickness). The saws are mounted on large mills and stretched very tight (with fatigue strength of the saw metal being the limiting factor). Large band saws need to have a deformation worked into them that will counteract with the forces and heating of operation. This process is called benching. Large band saws of the sizes above also need to be removed and serviced after every 4 hours of use. The servicing of these saw bands are the responsibility of saw filers.

The tooth gullet shape is highly optimized and designed by the sawyer and saw filer. The shape of the tooth varies according to the mill as well as the type and condition of the wood being cut. For example, frozen logs often require a frost notch be ground into the gullet to break the chips. A grinding wheel creates the shape of the tooth, which is shaped by hand, while running, with an abrasive brick. The saw filer often maintains the grinding wheel's shape by periodically re-dressing the wheel.

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