Starrett 16304 Bi-metal Bandsaw Blade 6-10 Tpi

Product Description

The STARRETT 16304 is a bi-metal welded bandsaw blade from the Intenss PRO series, designed for high-cycle cutting of ferrous and non-ferrous metals in professional shop and production environments. At 106 inches in length and 3/4 inch wide, it runs on standard vertical and horizontal metal-cutting bandsaws sized for that blade loop. The blade is 0.035 inches thick with a flexible back and a positive rake angle, delivering aggressive yet controlled cuts. The variable 6-10 TPI pitch reduces harmonic vibration and helps clear chips efficiently across a range of material thicknesses. Tooth material is High Speed Steel (HSS) fused to a flexible alloy steel backing — a construction that resists tooth stripping under interrupted cuts and side load.

This blade suits licensed machinists, millwrights, fabricators, and metal shop technicians working in both production and maintenance-repair settings. The variable pitch and raker tooth set make it effective on structural steel, tubing, angle iron, aluminum extrusions, copper, and other non-ferrous stock. Straight tooth form and a positive rake angle favor clean entry into the workpiece and promote consistent chip formation. It is not designed for contour cutting. Typical applications include straight cuts on bar stock, plate, and structural shapes where blade longevity and cut quality are the primary concerns.

Key Features

• Bi-metal construction — High Speed Steel teeth bonded to a flexible alloy back for extended blade life
• Variable pitch 6-10 TPI reduces vibration and noise during the cut
• Raker tooth set promotes efficient chip clearance on solid and structural stock
• Positive rake angle supports aggressive feed rates on ferrous and non-ferrous metals
• Flexible back resists fatigue cracking through repeated flex cycles on the bandsaw wheel
• Welded loop — 106 inches (8 feet 10 inches) ready to install, no field joining required

Compatibility

Designed for metal-cutting bandsaws that accept a 106-inch blade loop with a 3/4-inch blade width. Suitable for cutting ferrous metals and non-ferrous metals as specified by the manufacturer.

Installation Notes

Blade installation should be performed by a qualified machinist or shop technician familiar with bandsaw tensioning and tracking procedures. Power down and lock out the machine before removing the old blade or installing the new one. Set blade tension and tracking per the saw manufacturer's specifications before making a cut — improper tension accelerates blade fatigue and weld failure. Allow the blade to break in at reduced feed pressure for the first several cuts to seat the tooth geometry.