M42 and M51 bimetal band saws are both common tools used to cut metal materials, and their main difference lies in their material composition and performance characteristics.
M42 Bimetal Band Saw is composed of a high speed steel (HSS) cutting edge and a high strength steel backing plate. It uses 8% Co added to the cutting edge to improve cutting efficiency and wear resistance.M42 Bimetal Band Saw is suitable for cutting harder materials such as stainless steel, alloy steel and tool steel. It has good heat resistance and cut quality for high speed cutting.
M51 bimetal band saw is a further improved product based on M42. It adopts 10% higher Co content and adds other alloying elements to improve the hardness and wear resistance of cutting edges.M51 bimetal band saw is suitable for cutting harder and more wear-resistant materials, such as high-alloyed steel, titanium alloy and wear-resistant steel, etc. It has longer cutting life and good heat resistance and cutting quality. It has longer cutting life and higher productivity.
About Hardness.
Each band saw blade manufacturer does not have a strict uniform standard for M51 and M42. In fact, the hardness of M42 tooth tip is HRC 67 to 68, and the hardness of M51 tooth tip is HRC 68 to 69. The backing material is spring steel to ensure the flexibility of the saw blade.
About the range of use.
M42 bimetal band saw blades are more commonly used and are generally capable of cutting almost any material. Due to the cost of use, M51 bimetal band saw blades are only used when encountering hardness of metal materials, such as bearing steel, stainless steel, tool steel and other special steels. For irregularly shaped cutting materials such as thin-walled pipes, hollow tubes and other profiles, usually people use the tensile teeth or flat teeth of the tip is M42 material.
