My band saw blade snapped mid-cut on a whole rib section yesterday

I was breaking down a full beef rib into short ribs at the shop in Spokane. The blade just popped and whipped back, missing me but scaring me half to death. I had to stop everything, clear the area, and put a fresh 1-inch blade on before finishing the job. Has anyone else had a blade break like that, and what's your usual check to prevent it?

3 comments

3 Comments

richard5812mo ago

Ever have a blade snap and realize you were leaning way too close? I've done that, felt like an idiot dodging a piece of angry metal. Now I just check for any cracks or weird kinks before I even turn the saw on.

harperwright2mo ago

But how often does a blade actually snap, @richard581? I've used some pretty beat-up ones and they just get dull, not explode. Maybe it's only a big risk with really old metal or if you're pushing way too hard.

jesse77326d ago

Yeah I gotta disagree with you a little there, harperwright. I mean it's not super common but it definitely happens more than people think, especially with older blades or if you're cutting something with knots or nails. I had a dull blade snap on me once and it was scary how fast it happened, @richard581 is right to check for cracks. You can't always see them either, sometimes it's just a hairline thing you'd miss if you're not looking real close. And it's not just about pushing too hard, sometimes the metal just gives out. I'd rather be safe than sorry, that piece of metal can do some real damage.