Last Updated on August 28, 2022 by Barry Gray
Bandsaws have some of the largest blades available in the entire saw class, and will need to be stored properly in order to protect the longevity of your blade and bandsaw.
You may be looking at the blade wondering how it’s possible to fold – but we’ve made it easy to follow for you, so you’ll be storing your bandsaw blades safely in the future.
If you don’t have a lot of time, feel free to read our quick overview of how to fold a bandsaw blade:
- Folding a bandsaw blade can also be known as ‘coiling’
- By folding bandsaw blades, you’re able to inspect for damages and also safely store for more space
- Safe and quick, folding a blade only requires both the bandsaw blade and a pair of gloves to protect your hands
- A simple three step process is all you’ll need – after folding once, it’ll be second nature – like riding a bike.
- Bandsaw blades are incredibly durable, so folding a bandsaw blade will not break or damage the blade in any way.
Folding A Bandsaw Blade: How & Why
Why Would You Fold A Bandsaw Blade?
Why would you want to be folding a bandsaw blade? Well, the most common reason to be folding one is simple: storage.
By folding your bandsaw blades correctly, you’ll have a lot more room to work with. In smaller workshops, creating more space is a miracle sometimes – so we know how you feel.
It’s also easy to look at a bandsaw blade before folding and to feel intimidated – as you’ve seen what this blade can do to a piece of wood, and can only imagine what it could do to your fingers. Luckily, it’s quite safe to fold bandsaw blades – as you’ll come to find out.
How Do You Fold A Bandsaw Blade?
As you can see, you don’t need anything additional apart from the blade, yourself and some gloves to do this. Of course, you can do this without gloves, but if this is your first time folding a bandsaw blade – it’s probably best to wear them until you master the art.
You may also see another term, known as ‘coiling’. With the bandsaw blade – which is essentially the same thing as folding.
Next up, we’ll be covering the steps you’ll need to follow, so you can safely fold and store your bandsaw blades.
What Do I Need?
You’ll need the following to fold a bandsaw blade:
- 1 x bandsaw blade
- 1 x pair of gloves
Steps To Follow
Okay, so we’ve covered that – let’s get into the step by step guide on how to fold your bandsaw blades.
Step 1
Firstly, you’ll want to use one hand to hold the blade in front of you, keeping the blade’s teeth pointing in the opposite direction. This is where that glove comes in handy. You should now have created a loop in front of you, with half of the blade upon the ground.
Step 2
Now that you have this loop, you’ll need to place your foot inside of it. After placing your foot inside the loop, next you’ll need to step on both the blade and the floor in order to strongly secure it onto the ground.
We’ve nearly finished up folding and we’ve only just begun!
Step 3
The last step.
Once you have the blade securely held against the ground with your foot, and as you’re still holding the top of the blade – it’s time to fold. To do so, you’ll need to simultaneously lower your hand as you slowly get lower towards the ground, and also rotate your hand whilst doing so.
As you begin to rotate and slowly bend towards the ground, you’ll notice that the blade has begun to coil. By the time you reach a point of a total 360 whilst rotating your hand, the blade will form into three separate coils. This is how you fold a bandsaw blade.
Pretty simple, isn’t it? It doesn’t take a great deal of time to fold, and once you’ve understood the steps, you’ll be able to fold bandsaw blades quickly and safely moving forward.
The Round-Up
Now, you should have a greater understanding of how to fold bandsaw blades, and you should be able to fold them safely without injuring yourself or damaging the blade.
Once you’ve followed these steps a few times and have folded a couple of bandsaw blades, it’ll become quite easy to do and very natural – similar to when you were learning how to ride a bike.
Of course, this is just one method of folding them, and there are a few alternative ways in which you can do so. However, this is the easiest option – and also the safest.
So now we’ve ran through a step by step guide on how to fold bandsaw blades, I’d love to hear what your thoughts are.
Do you have any alternative methods you follow? Or perhaps you have some helpful tips for other readers?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Related Questions
I won’t break my blades from folding them, will I?
Definitely not! Bandsaw blades are quite strong, and the way the blades fold are completely common for this type of saw blade.
As you can fold them, this proves both the flexibility and strength of the blade.
Of course, before folding them – it’s always a good idea to inspect your blade for any rust or damages before folding, so you’re able to maintain them in the best possible way.
How do I make sure I don’t injure myself doing this?
It’s relatively safe to fold a bandsaw blade. I say relatively, as accidents can occur – yet it’s up to you to prevent them.
Wear thick, cut-resistant gloves if you have some, and always make sure you’re not gripping the teeth of the blade.
Even when not in motion, the blade can cause some serious damage, so it’s best to be patient and play it safe to prevent any nasty injuries from occurring.
