Abstract: Method and apparatus for operating a band saw blade which is disposed in a continuous loop about a pair of spaced wheels in a band saw housing. One of the wheels is driven to impart longitudinal cutting movement to the blade. The blade is alternately tilted from a first to a second extreme cutting angle relative to the work. The tilting movement of the blade has a predetermined cycle so that for a major portion of each cycle, the blade dwells at its extreme angles of tilt relative to the work. One apparatus for carrying out this method is an eccentric drive which oscillates the entire housing of the band saw in the predetermined cycle. Another apparatus is a mechanism which alternately deflects the cutting span of the blade to change its angular orientation relative to the work piece in the predetermined cycle.

Abstract: Band saw blades embodying this invention are especially adapted for the cutting of hard metal work pieces of large cross-sectional size. The blades are characterized by a straight, planar sawtooth cutting edge and a tiered or stepped back edge, having alternate recessed and outer edge portions. Both the recessed and outer edge portions of the blade's back edge are generally parallel to the cutting edge of the blade and adjacent of these alternate edge portions are connected with inclined or tapered sections. The length of the recessed and outer edge portions are approximately equal; and when combined with the length of an inclined section, is about equal to the spacing of the saw guides of the band saw machine in which the blade is to be used.