Bandsaw Blade Storage

Peter James replies: If you don’t have wall space, I would recommend that you become comfortable with flipping the blades into the 3 loops that they come in from the manufacturer. One big advantage is that the metal is always being bent in the direction that it is in when it passes over the wheels. A 150″ blade will make three 16″ loops, just about what the diameter of your machine wheels.

Jon Siegel replies: I agree with the manufacturer that folding the blades into thirds will not over-stress them in any way. Nearly all bandsaw blades are packed and shipped this way. Your 150″ blades will fold into a 16″ circle—very close to the diameter of your wheels. Folded blades need to be secured with twist-ties so they don’t spring open unexpectedly. One way to store them that does not take up wall space is to use the large plastic-coated screw-in hooks sold in most hardware stores, and hang them from the ceiling.

Garrett Hack replies: My bandsaw blades are about that length and I twist them into a coil of five loops and hang them near my bandsaw. This is the way they arrive from Lennox, and uncoiled and in use I have never noticed any issues with stress. No welds have ever broken. Twist them into a coil of three, make one of the loops longer, and then twist again into five.