DeWalt 27 in 18 TPI Portable Band Saw Blade (3-Pack)

I put the DeWalt 27-inch 18 TPI blades to work across a week of electrical rough-in and light fabrication, swapping them onto a compact cordless band saw for everything from EMT and IMC conduit to angle iron, copper, and threaded rod. By the end of the week, I had a clear sense of where these blades shine, where they’re merely fine, and how they stack up as a daily driver for a portable band saw.

What these blades are designed to do

These are bi-metal blades, 27 inches long, 1/2 inch wide, and 0.020 inch thick, with 18 teeth per inch. In practice, that means:
- The flexible backing tolerates the tighter wheel radius of compact saws without fatiguing early.
- The hardened cutting edge holds up against common ferrous and nonferrous metals.
- The 18 TPI tooth count is a general-purpose choice—aggressive enough for medium-thick stock, yet fine enough not to shred thin-wall tubing.

They’re sold as a 3-pack, which for jobsite use is the right quantity: one in the saw, one in the pouch, one in the gang box. This blade length is standard for many compact/portable band saws, so fitment isn’t limited to one brand.

Build and fit

Out of the sleeve, the welds were straight and the set felt even across the band—no high spot that “thumped” on the wheels, and no visible undercut at the joint. The blade tracked square on my saw with minimal guide adjustment. That 1/2-inch width is a sweet spot for portable saws: wide enough to resist twisting as you start a cut on round stock, but not so wide that the blade protests tight radii around the saw’s wheels. At 0.020 inch thick, the band offers reasonable beam strength without being brittle.

If you’ve fought with compact saw blades that pop off under tension or wander under load, these are a relief. With proper tension, they stayed on the wheels and stayed straight, even on a dozen quick cuts back-to-back.

Setup and break-in

I always break in bi-metal blades. Two or three minutes of light cutting on mild steel at moderate speed does wonders for edge life. With these, I ran a dozen gentle cuts on scrap 1-inch EMT, keeping feed light and letting the teeth seat. That small investment paid off—edge wear was gradual and even, and tooth tips stayed intact.

Blade tension matters. I tensioned to the saw’s indicator and then gave a slight additional turn to remove flutter. Tracking was set so the blade rode centered on the wheels, and the thrust bearing was adjusted to kiss the back of the band only under load. Once dialed, I didn’t need to revisit these settings.

Cutting performance

• EMT/IMC conduit: On 3/4-inch EMT, cuts were quick—typically 2–3 seconds with a clean, burr-light edge. IMC took longer but stayed smooth without chatter. The 18 TPI tooth count is well matched to thin-wall tubing: enough teeth in contact to avoid grabbing the far wall, yet open enough gullets to clear chips.
• Copper pipe: Clean and quiet. Copper can load teeth, but chip evacuation remained good. I wiped the blade between runs and never needed lubricant.
• Threaded rod (3/8 and 1/2 inch): These blades sail through mild steel all-thread. The cut face stayed square, and the threads didn’t gall badly at the kerf.
• Angle iron and unistrut: On 2x2x1/8 angle and standard strut, the blade tracked straight with minimal tooth bounce. The finish was usable without additional dressing.
• Solid bar: On 3/4-inch mild steel bar, the blade got the job done, but feed pressure needed moderation to avoid overheating. If you’re cutting a lot of solid stock, a 14 TPI version would be faster.

I avoided very thin sheet metal with this tooth count. You can do it, but the 18 TPI can still be grabby on sheet under about 1/16 inch unless you back it up. For that work, a 24 TPI blade is kinder.

Accuracy and finish

Portable band saws aren’t finish tools, but blade quality still shows in cut geometry. With these blades, I consistently got square faces when I kept the shoe fully supported and let the teeth set the pace. The kerf was typical for a 0.020-inch band with a standard raker set—narrower than a recip saw’s kerf and with far fewer burrs. Most cuts didn’t require more than a quick swipe with a deburring tool.

Durability and life

The headliner here is edge durability paired with break resistance. The flexible body handled repeated starts on round stock without cracking at the weld or throwing teeth. After a couple hundred cuts—mostly conduit and strut, some angle, and a handful of solid stock—the first blade still cut straight. It slowed slightly on heavy material, as expected, but there were no chipped sections or stripped tooth runs.

A few practices helped:
- Break-in, as noted.
- Moderate band speed on thicker stock to avoid blueing.
- Stable work support—pinched blades die young.

In short, I didn’t baby these and they held up.

Ergonomics and noise

These blades run quietly compared to abrasive methods and cleaner than a recip saw. Less vibration translates to easier alignment and less fatigue. On a cordless compact saw, I especially appreciated the reduced spark shower and near-zero kickback compared to a cutoff wheel.

Comparisons

Against other general-purpose compact band saw blades I use (notably offerings from Milwaukee and Lenox), these DeWalt blades hold their own on speed and feel, and they edge ahead on weld consistency in the batch I tested. Tooth wear rate was competitive. If you’re brand-agnostic, your decision may come down to local availability and price per blade; performance-wise, these are absolutely in the top tier for 18 TPI compact blades.

Limitations

• Not the right pick for ultrathin material. If sheetmetal is your daily diet, grab a higher TPI blade.
• Not the fastest on large solids. A coarser tooth count will clear chips better and run cooler.
• The 0.020-inch thickness is a good all-rounder, but if you consistently cut thick solids with a compact saw, a thicker band (where compatible) can add beam strength.

None of these are flaws; they’re simply the realities of an 18 TPI general-purpose blade.

Tips for best results

• Break in the blade with light cuts for the first few minutes.
• Match speed to material: slower for thick stock, faster for thin-wall tubing.
• Keep the work fully supported to prevent pinching and twisting the band.
• Let the teeth do the work. Excessive feed pressure shortens blade life and increases wander.
• Keep your guides properly adjusted; sloppy guides ruin otherwise good blades.

Value and the 3-pack factor

The 3-pack format matters more than it sounds. Portable band saw work is often stop-and-go, and having two fresh backup bands on hand means you never get stuck mid-task. Packaging kept the welds protected, and coiling/uncoiling was uneventful. If you’re outfitting a team or splitting a pack between a shop and a service truck, this is the right unit size.

Bottom line

The DeWalt 27-inch 18 TPI blades are a reliable, no-drama choice for compact band saw users who cut a mix of conduit, strut, light structural steel, and nonferrous pipe. They track well, cut cleanly, and hold an edge across a realistic job mix. You can find specialty blades that outperform them at the extremes—finer for sheet, coarser for heavy solids—but as a general-purpose band for portable saws, they’re exactly what I want in the case: consistent welds, predictable performance, and solid life.

Recommendation: I recommend these blades as a primary 18 TPI option for electricians, plumbers, mechanical trades, and metal fabricators working with compact band saws. They balance speed, cut quality, and durability, and the 3-pack format keeps you productive. If your work skews heavily toward very thin sheet or thick solid bar, supplement with a higher or lower TPI blade, respectively; otherwise, this is the set I’d buy again for everyday metal cutting.