Machinery Repairman

Figure 4-5.—Tiltable (contour) metal-cutting bandsaw.
help you understand band tool terminology for saws,
files, and polishing bands.
Saw Bands
A saw band has the following characteristics
which are illustrated in figures 4-6 through 4-8.
PITCH: The number of teeth per linear inch.
WIDTH: The distance across the flat face of the
band. The width measurement is always expressed in
inches, or fractions of an inch.
GAUGE: The thickness of the band back. This
measurement is expressed in thousandths of an inch.
Figure 4-6.—Pitch, width, and gauge.
4-5
Figure 4-7.—Set and side clearance.
SET: The bend or spread given to the teeth to
provide clearance for the body or band back when you
make a cut.
SIDE CLEARANCE: The difference between
the dimension of the band back (gauge) and the set of
the teeth. Side clearance provides running room for
the band back in the kerf or cut. Without side
clearance, a band will bind in the kerf.
SET PATTERN: One of three distinct patterns
(raker, wave, and straight) in which teeth are set.
Raker set bands are generally used for solid cross
section work. Wave set bands are used to cut hollow
materials, such as pipe and tubing, and for other work
where there is a great deal of variation in thickness.
Straight set bands are not used to any great extent to
cut metal.
TEMPER: The degree of hardness of the teeth,
indicated by the letters A and B, temper A being the
harder. Temper A bands are used for practically all
bandsaw metal cutting work.
Figure 4-8.—Set pattern.