Product Information
Trapezoidal tungsten carbide tips for prolonged precision cutting.
The Apex Carbide is SabreTooth’s top performing blade with unmatched service life and superior centering during cuts. Tungsten carbide teeth tips, alternating between regular and trapezoidal finishes, and a special industrial coating, reduce cutting forces, surpassing even Stellited blades. With extended durability comes heightened productivity and prolonged precision cutting, eliminating the need for frequent blade changes. Designed for single use without re-sharpening, the operating time can reach up to 20 hours or more depending on the wood species and degree of contamination in the timber.
Specifications:
• 1 1/4" Blade width
• 0.039"Blade thickness
• 7/8"(1.14 TPI) Pitch (tooth spacing)
• 10° Face hook angle
• Alternating regular and trapezoidal Tungsten Carbide tips
• Sharpening is not recommended
IMPORTANT: To ensure peak performance, productivity, and longevity of your equipment, regular blade inspection is crucial. Operational blade life will vary based on timber challenges and dirt levels. Sorry, there is no warranty on consumable items such as blades.
Sawmill Compatibility
107.5" blades are compatible with:
OS18
129" blades are compatible with:
OS23
144" blades are compatible with:
LM30, MN27, MN26, LM29, MK3, MK4, LM2K, LL24, OS27, OS31, HM126, HM130, LT10
158" blades are compatible with:
HM130MAX, LT15START, LT15, LT20, LT25/27, LT28, LT30, LT35, LT40, LT50
167" blades are compatible with:
HD38, HD36V2, HD36, LM34, OS35, H360,HFE-30, HFE-36
Portable bandsaw sawmill blades come in different profiles and materials to suit specific tasks. Key characteristics to consider include face hook angle, pitch (tooth spacing), gullet depth, and tooth set. Flex-back blades are made from flexible carbon steel with hardened tooth tips for general use. Premium blades constructed with high-speed steel or other alloys to enhance durability and cutting performance. Tipped blades feature super hard alloy tips, like Stellite or tungsten carbide, for superior wear resistance and cutting precision.
The face hook angle on a bandsaw blade refers to the tilt of the teeth relative to the blade's vertical line. A higher hook angle means the teeth are angled forward, enhancing the blade's aggressiveness for cutting, and is ideal for faster feed rates. A lower hook angle, where the teeth align closer to vertical, balance cutting speed with control, especially useful for milling harder woods and frozen logs. The choice of hook angle depends on the material type and desired outcomes, such as cutting speed and finish quality.
Tooth spacing, or pitch, on a bandsaw blade greatly influences cutting performance. Wider tooth spacing (larger pitch) enables faster cutting by removing more material with each pass, ideal for quicker cuts. Finer tooth spacing (smaller pitch) yields a smoother finish, better suited for harder materials or when a more precise cut is needed. Additionally, the pitch impacts chip clearance; larger pitches improve chip clearance, reducing the risk of clogging, which is particularly beneficial when cutting wood with high sap content.
Note: 7/8" pitch has become the most popular tooth spacing that is seen in most bandsaw sawmill blades. In the past a 3/4" pitch was commonly used for hardwoods, but many sawyers are having success with the 7/8" spacing with a less aggressive hook angle for better sawdust management or upgrading to a more premium blade option.
Gullet depth is the distance from the bottom of the gullet to the blade tip and plays a critical role in managing sawdust. A deep gullet profile has added space in the gullet which allows more sawdust to be carried before reaching capacity. This specialized feature boosts performance, particularly when milling wide boards.
The number of teeth and the angle at which they are offset is referred to as tooth set. Tooth set affects cutting efficiency, and quality of the cut. Carbon steel sawmill band blades with tempered teeth tips typically follow a Raker three tooth pattern with a uniform set distance left and right, and a third straight “raker” tooth.
Wear and tear resulting from regular use is a natural part of the life span of a band blade, which are subject to high physical loads on a daily basis. Visually inspect a blade for signs of stress, cracks in the metal, heavy wear, or damage to determine if it is safe to put back on the sawmill. When the metal gets fatigued and visible cracks are seen in the gullet, this is a serious sign to retire the blade. Tooth breakage will quickly put an unnatural end to a band blade and can happen at any point in the blade’s life. Damaged or broken teeth often result from striking a foreign object such as a rock or nail.