DeWalt 14 TPI Bi-Metal Portable Bandsaw Blades (3-Pack)

Why these blades earned a spot in my portaband kit

Portable band saws are only as good as the blade you put on them. Over the past few months I’ve run a 3-pack of DeWalt’s 14 TPI bi-metal blades through a mix of jobsite and shop work—electrical rough-in, light fab, and some repair cutting. I wasn’t expecting miracles from a single tooth pitch, but these blades handled an impressively wide range of metals with minimal drama and predictable wear.

Build and materials

On paper, these check the right boxes for a general-purpose metal blade:

• Matrix II high-speed steel cutting edge with roughly 8% cobalt
• Tooth hardness around Rc 65–67 for edge retention
• Flexible alloy-steel backer to resist fatigue and band breakage
• 32-7/8 inch length, 0.020 inch thickness
• 14 TPI straight pitch

In practice, that spec translates to what I’d call a “calm” blade: it resists heat, doesn’t screech at higher band speeds, and tracks reliably without kinking. Matrix II with cobalt isn’t exotic, but it’s proven. The teeth are hard enough to hold up under intermittent cuts without chipping, and the softer backer takes the bending abuse that portable saws dish out.

I pay a lot of attention to the weld on portable blades because a sloppy joint telegraphs chatter and shortens life. All three in the pack I used had smooth welds, properly ground, with no lump to knock the guides. No premature failures at the weld.

Fit and setup notes

These are 32-7/8 inch blades—the common compact-portaband size. They fit my compact saws without drama. If you’re running a larger deep-cut band saw, double-check your manual; many of those want 44-7/8 inch or 35-3/8 inch blades. It’s easy to grab the wrong length if you bounce between saw sizes.

As for tension, I ran them at the saw’s recommended setting and left the speed mid-to-low for stainless and higher for mild steel. I always “break in” a new metal-cutting blade with light feed pressure for a few cuts; it rounds the microscopic tooth tips and noticeably extends life.

Cutting performance

A 14 TPI blade is a sensible middle ground for portable work. Thin-wall conduit doesn’t get hooked, and medium stock still clears chips well enough to avoid overheating. Here’s how these blades behaved across common materials:

• EMT and galvanized conduit (1/2 to 1 inch): Clean entry, little to no snagging even on thin-wall. Burrs were light and consistent. These blades shine here.
• Copper and brass tubing: Smooth cuts with less feathering than I typically see from coarser pitches. No tooth loading issues at a moderate speed.
• Black pipe and gas line (up to schedule 40, 1 inch): Predictable and straight. Keep the feed steady and let the teeth do the work—the cut stays cool.
• 1/2 inch rebar: Not the fastest, but absolutely manageable. If the rebar is rusty or gritty, a quick wipe helps. Expect steady, controlled progress rather than blazing speed.
• Unistrut and angle iron (1/8 to 3/16 inch wall): Very good. The 14 TPI keeps the start gentle on the thin edge and stays stable when you roll into the thicker leg.
• Solid bar stock (~1 inch mild steel): It will do it, but you’re better off with a coarser or variable-pitch blade if this is your bread and butter. The cut is straight; the pace is just slower.

On stainless, I slowed the band speed and kept pressure light. The cobalt/Matrix II edge handled it without burning, but again, speed isn’t the selling point; control and tooth survival are.

I didn’t notice tooth stripping on interrupted cuts (slotted channel, threaded rod) so long as I avoided slamming into the work. Portable saws can encourage aggressive feeding; backing off a hair pays dividends here.

Cut quality and control

If you’ve ever fought a blade that wants to “walk” on first contact, you know how much a predictable tooth pitch helps. The constant 14 TPI had a gentle start on thin and plated materials, which meant fewer jumpy entries, fewer scuffs, and less rework. The kerf was consistent across the pack, and tracking stayed true with minimal guide adjustments.

Heat management was solid. I rarely use cutting fluid with a portable band saw, but on longer cuts I’ll occasionally touch a wax stick to the blade. These didn’t demand it. Teeth kept their color and bite, even after back-to-back conduit bundles.

Durability and life

I burned through the first blade deliberately to understand limits: conduit bundles, a handful of black pipe, several lengths of 1/2 inch rebar, and a small stack of strut. By the time it dulled, the teeth were uniformly worn without significant chipping. I did lose a couple of tips hitting a buried screw in painted angle, but the band stayed functional and tracked straight.

The 0.020 inch thickness is appropriate for compact portabands—flexible enough to wrap small wheels without prematurely fatiguing. If your work leans heavily toward thick solids, you might prefer a thicker band on a larger saw, but that’s a task mismatch rather than a fault of these blades.

Across the pack, life matched what I expect from quality bi-metal blades: not magic, but not disposable either. The alloy backer seems to do its job—no breaks, no sudden failures.

Where they fit in the lineup

There are times I’d reach for a different blade:

• Heavy solids and frequent thick cross-sections: a coarser 10 TPI or variable 10/14 TPI will be faster and less prone to glazing.
• Intricate work or very thin sheet: an 18–24 TPI can be safer against tooth snag.
• Deep-cut saws: you’ll need the correct length; these won’t stretch.

For everyday jobsite metal—conduit, pipe, strut, rails, light fab—the 14 TPI sweet spot is real. Variable pitch blades can be a touch more forgiving on mixed thickness, but they also tend to be pricier and not always better on thin-wall. These DeWalt blades strike a good balance.

Practical tips for best results

• Break-in matters: the first few cuts at light feed will extend the life noticeably.
• Let the blade set the pace: if the saw bogs, you’re pushing too hard. Heat kills teeth faster than anything.
• Slow down for stainless: lower band speed, steady pressure, and patience.
• Keep material clean: sand or grit will dull teeth shockingly fast.
• Verify length: 32-7/8 inches is standard for many compact portabands, but not all.

Value

A three-pack is exactly the right quantity for most small crews or a few weeks of intermittent metal work. I like having spares on hand so I don’t compromise a job because a blade died mid-task. Pricing tends to track other reputable bi-metal options; the differentiators here are consistency and dependable welds.

There’s also a 90-day return window, which is useful insurance if you accidentally buy the wrong length. Still, it’s better to confirm compatibility up front.

The bottom line

I recommend these DeWalt 14 TPI portable bandsaw blades for general metal cutting on a compact portaband. They cut cleanly across the most common jobsite materials, resist heat, and wear evenly. The Matrix II/cobalt tooth edge holds up under typical abuse, and the alloy backer keeps the band from fatiguing prematurely. If you spend your days chewing through thick solids, choose a coarser or variable-pitch blade and possibly a larger saw. But for conduit, pipe, strut, light angle, and the occasional rebar, this 3-pack delivers exactly what you want: predictable starts, straight cuts, and solid life at a sensible price.