Tooth per inch (TPI) controls chip load, cut finish, and blade life when you cut metal on a band saw. At DEKOLY, the rule is simple: match length first, then choose TPI for the material. A perfect TPI on the wrong length never reaches the cut.
Match Length First, Then TPI
Confirm your saw’s blade length and open the matching DEKOLY length collection. Only after the blade fits the wheels should you pick tooth pitch for solid bar, tube, pipe, or sheet. This avoids returns and keeps tension settings consistent across shifts.
6 TPI — Solid Bar and Heavy Sections
Coarse 6 TPI blades move more chip per tooth and suit solid bar, thick plate, and heavier structural sections. Fewer teeth in the cut means each tooth takes a larger bite—ideal when the workpiece is thick enough that several teeth stay engaged without overloading a fine pitch.
Use a steady feed. If teeth chatter or strip, slow the feed or step up to a slightly finer pitch for that alloy.
8/12 TPI — Tube and Pipe
Tube and pipe put intermittent contact on the blade: teeth enter wall, then empty space, then wall again. Variable or dual pitches in the 8/12 range help bridge that gap. They reduce tooth stripping on thin walls while still clearing chips in thicker schedules.
For mixed tube sizes on one machine, variable pitch is often more forgiving than a single coarse or fine count.
14–24 TPI — Sheet and Thin Wall
Sheet metal, thin-wall tubing, and light profiles need more teeth in the cut so no single tooth takes too deep a bite. Ranges from about 14 to 24 TPI keep the cut smoother and protect teeth from stripping on light sections.
Too coarse on thin material leaves a rough edge and can break teeth. Too fine on thick solid stock packs chips and overheats the gullets—match pitch to thickness.
Variable Pitch Tips
- Variable pitch (for example 8/12 or 10/14) spreads vibration frequencies and often runs quieter with less harmonic chatter.
- Keep at least two to three teeth in the material whenever practical; adjust TPI if the wall or bar thickness violates that rule.
- Coolant or cutting fluid, where your process allows, extends bi-metal life and clears chips from fine-pitch gullets.
- Replace blades before teeth are fully rounded—dull blades push operators to overfeed and wreck the next blade early.
Shop Metal-Cutting Blades
Browse the DEKOLY metal cutting collection after you know your length. Common lengths for shop and production saws include:
Questions on TPI for a specific alloy or OD? Contact DEKOLY. Check shipping when stocking multiple pitches for the crib.
