DeWalt Bi-Metal 35.375-Inch 18 TPI Band Saw Blade

What I tested and how I used it

I’ve been running DeWalt’s 18 TPI bi‑metal portable band saw blades in a compact saw mounted to a small, shop‑made stand. The blades I tested are the 35-3/8-inch length, sold in a three‑pack, and built with a flexible back and hardened cutting edge—classic bi‑metal construction. My use case spans the usual electrical and plumbing materials (EMT conduit, copper, and brass), plus shop projects in mild steel, stainless, and the occasional chunk of plate. I also cut a lot of small-diameter rod and tube for jigs and fixtures.

If your saw takes 35-3/8-inch blades, these drop on without fuss. Tensioned properly, the blade tracks well on compact wheels, and the 0.020-inch gauge strikes a nice balance: thin enough to make tight turns and keep the kerf narrow, but not so thin that it kinks easily under normal use.

Fitment and setup

• Length: 35.375 inches (commonly labeled 35-3/8”)
• TPI: 18
• Pack: 3 blades
• Material: Bi‑metal (flexible back, hardened edge)
• Made in the USA

Out of the sleeve, welds were consistent and ran smoothly over the guides—no clicking or bump at the seam. I did a standard break‑in: low speed, light feed for a couple of minutes on mild steel tubing to seat the teeth. That step helps any bi‑metal blade last longer.

Cutting performance across materials

• Thin-wall conduit and copper/brass tube: This is where the 18 TPI really shines. It leaves clean cuts with minimal burr on EMT and copper, and it doesn’t grab or chatter on thin-walled tubing. For plumbing and electrical tasks, it’s excellent and fast enough to feel productive.

• Mild steel shapes (angle, flat bar, and square tube): On 1/8" to 3/16" wall, the blade keeps pace nicely. The tooth pitch strikes a good compromise between speed and finish; cuts are straight with light pressure, and the blade clears chips well at mid-range speeds. I didn’t have issues with wandering provided I let the blade do the work.

• Solid bar and rod: On 3/8" to 5/8" diameter mild steel and brass rod, feed pressure matters. Keep it moderate and the cut stays square without polishing the teeth. The finish on brass and aluminum is particularly tidy.

• Plate stock: I made a few slow, deliberate cuts in 1/2" mild steel plate. It’s doable with patience, and the finish is straight with a light burr that cleans up quickly. This is at the edge of what I’d call comfortable for 18 TPI on a compact saw. For frequent plate work, a coarser pitch (14 or even 10 TPI) is more efficient.

• Stainless: The blade will cut 300‑series stainless, but it’s not where it’s happiest. At low speed and with cutting fluid, it gets through small rod and thin section, but the teeth dull sooner than they do on mild steel. If stainless is a staple in your workflow, consider reserving one blade just for that or stepping to a blade marketed specifically for stainless.

• Abrasive or work‑hardened edges: I encountered a few pieces of stock with hardened shear lines. Hitting those edges cold will punish any 18 TPI blade. Chamfering or starting your cut off the hardened edge helps, as does reducing speed and using lubricant.

Cut quality, tracking, and vibration

The blade runs true at proper tension, with no tendency to climb out of the cut. I measured deviation on repeated cuts in 1" square tubing at under a degree; square enough to fit‑up without fuss. Vibration stays low when the saw speed matches the material and you maintain a steady feed. On thin stainless, a tiny touch of chatter cropped up at high speed; backing the speed down eliminated it.

Burrs are minimal in non‑ferrous metals and moderate in steel, which is typical for this TPI. Deburring with a quick file pass or a countersink is all that’s needed on the majority of cuts.

Durability and blade life

Blade life is the main reason to choose bi‑metal on a portable saw, and here the DeWalt holds up well. After a mix of cuts that included EMT, copper pipe, brass flat bar, mild steel tube and bar, a bit of 1/2" plate, and some stainless rod, my first blade was still serviceable. The first signs of wear showed up as a slight increase in feed pressure required on steel and a duller feel on stainless. Teeth stayed intact—no chipped sections or broken weld—and the blade didn’t kink or crack under normal use.

A few practices that clearly extended life:
- Break in the blade on mild steel tubing.
- Keep speeds lower on hard materials and use cutting oil.
- Avoid forcing the cut; let the teeth clear chips.
- Don’t jump directly from copper and aluminum to stainless without slowing down and lubricating.

With those habits, I got solid life out of a single blade. It’s not indestructible—no 18 TPI blade is—but it’s predictable and consistent.

Speed vs. tooth pitch trade‑offs

An 18 TPI pitch is a generalist choice. It’s ideal for thin‑wall tube, conduit, and small bar stock, and it can handle thicker sections at the cost of speed. If most of your work is:
- Sheet and very thin wall: Consider 24 TPI.
- Mixed fab work (tubing, angle, small bar): 18 TPI is a smart default.
- Frequent plate or large solid bar: Step down to 14 or 10 TPI for faster, cooler cuts.

I appreciated that this blade didn’t feel fussy across materials. It’s the kind of pitch that lets you leave one blade on the saw most of the day.

Usability in a compact setup

Mounted in a compact portable saw on a small stand, the blade behaved like a scaled‑down shop bandsaw: straight, controllable cuts with predictable feed. The narrow gauge makes radius cuts in sheet metal feasible, and starting cuts on tube without skating is easy. Noise is modest, and chip ejection is fine when you give the blade room to work.

Value and packaging

The three‑pack format is practical. Portable blades live a hard life, and having backups on hand prevents downtime mid-project. Considering the cut quality and longevity I saw, the price per blade is competitive. The packaging protects the welds and teeth, and the blades arrive straight with no set damage.

Where it could be better

• Stainless performance: It cuts stainless, but the edge dulls faster than on mild steel. That’s expected, but if stainless is routine, you may want a blade optimized for it or a coarser pitch to reduce heat.
• Heavy section efficiency: 18 TPI will get through 1/2" plate and larger solids, just not quickly. If thick stock is a daily task, this isn’t the most efficient pitch.
• Limited forgiveness with poor technique: Like most bi‑metal blades, aggressive feed on thin sheet or starting into a work‑hardened edge will shorten its life quickly.

Tips for best results

• Break‑in: 2–3 minutes at low speed, light pressure, on mild steel tubing.
• Speed: Slow for stainless and thick section; moderate for steel; faster for non‑ferrous.
• Lubrication: A dab of cutting oil on steel and stainless pays for itself.
• Tension and tracking: Check tension after the first warm‑up cut; compact saws can relax slightly as the blade seats.
• Sequence your cuts: Do softer materials first, then move to harder alloys to preserve tooth sharpness.

The bottom line

DeWalt’s 18 TPI bi‑metal portable blade is a reliable, general‑purpose option for compact band saws that take 35-3/8-inch blades. It balances flexibility with a durable edge, tracks straight, and produces clean cuts across the mix of materials most tradespeople and fabricators encounter—conduit, copper, brass, mild steel tube and bar—while remaining serviceable on occasional stainless and plate with proper technique. The three‑pack format makes sense in the real world, and the blades arrive well‑made with smooth welds and consistent set.

Recommendation: I recommend this blade for anyone who needs a dependable generalist in a compact portable saw—electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, and shop users doing mixed metal work. It offers good life, clean cuts, and solid value. If your day-to-day includes frequent stainless or heavy plate and large solids, consider adding a coarser-pitch or stainless‑specific blade to your kit alongside this one.