What Blade Size Does A Sawmill Use?

Band sawmills use a range of blade sizes depending on the mill type, log diameter, and whether it’s a portable or industrial setup.

Here are the most common ranges:

Portable band sawmills

Blade width: 1.25" to 1.5" (32–38 mm)

Blade thickness: 0.035" to 0.055"

Blade length: about 144" to 167"

Tooth pitch: usually 7/8" to 1-1/4"

Common example:

1.25" × 0.042" × 158" blade

Industrial band sawmills

Larger stationary mills often use much wider blades:

Blade width: 4" to 14"+ (100–350 mm)

Blade thickness: 0.080" to 0.140"

Blade length: several meters long

These are designed for higher feed rates and larger logs.

Blade selection depends on

Maximum log diameter

Horsepower of the mill

Hardwood vs softwood

Desired cut accuracy

Production speed

Typical tooth profiles

7° hook — general-purpose hardwood

10° hook — softer woods / faster cutting

4° hook — frozen or very hard wood