Been reading some stuff posted to this group about UHMW
polyethylene.

Using a band saw, should I use a wood cutting blade instead of metal
cutting blade? Use inserts to make sure the cut doesn't close behind
the blade? Any other cautions?

It looks very useful for my purposes, but of course I don't want it
damaging my tools or injuring me.

Thanks.

On Mar 24, 12:39*am, John Doe wrote:
Been reading some stuff posted to this group about UHMW
polyethylene.

Using a band saw, should I use a wood cutting blade instead of metal
cutting blade? Use inserts to make sure the cut doesn't close behind
the blade? Any other cautions?

It looks very useful for my purposes, but of course I don't want it
damaging my tools or injuring me.

Thanks.

You don't want too fine a tooth. You also want a bit of rake on your
blade.
I cut it successfully with a 6 tpi ripper

John Doe wrote:
Been reading some stuff posted to this group about UHMW
polyethylene.

Using a band saw, should I use a wood cutting blade instead of metal
cutting blade? Use inserts to make sure the cut doesn't close behind
the blade? Any other cautions?

It looks very useful for my purposes, but of course I don't want it
damaging my tools or injuring me.

Thanks.



Just on tip. I cut some on my band saw one time. When I was finished,
my garage looked like it had snowed. Make sure you turn on the dust
collector. :-)

Wayne

On 24 Mar, 15:42, NoOne N Particular wrote:

Just on tip. I cut some on my band saw one time. When I was finished,
my garage looked like it had snowed. Make sure you turn on the dust
collector. :-)

On mine I have to turn _off_ the dust collector. A raked blade
generates a lot of "polyethylene wool" and it clogs any sort of hose -
especially if you've a saw with a finger-stopper grating on the
extraction port.

On Mar 24, 12:47 am, Robatoy wrote:
On Mar 24, 12:39 am, John Doe wrote:

Been reading some stuff posted to this group aboutUHMW
polyethylene.

Using a band saw, should I use a wood cutting blade instead of metal
cutting blade? Use inserts to make sure the cut doesn't close behind
the blade? Any other cautions?

It looks very useful for my purposes, but of course I don't want it
damaging my tools or injuring me.

Thanks.

You don't want too fine a tooth. You also want a bit of rake on your
blade.
I cut it successfully with a 6 tpi ripper

I've found that a bandsaw makes a lousy cut - I use a table saw when
ever I can (but for small pieces, the bandsaw is safer, of course.

If you're cutting anything thicker than 2", a small wedge at the back
is a good precaution in case the material does close up after the
cut. I've seen a bansaw balde stopped instantly when the plastic
grabbed it suddenly. Left a kink in the blade that was impossible to
straighten. Black UHMW seems especially bad for that, although I have
seen it on white as well.