Olson

Olson saw blades are for woodworkers cutting wood, metal and fine details with band saws, scroll saws and hand saws. The useful choice is in the blade: Olson offers several band saw lines and scroll saw tooth patterns, plus a guide that separates recommended matches from blades to avoid for your material.

Olson Saw Company was founded by Albert Olson in 1918. It’s part of Blackstone Industries LLC and operates from Danbury, Connecticut. The company makes saw blades, handheld saw frames and woodworking accessories.

Band saw blades matched to the cut

Olson’s band saw lines include Hard Edge Flex Back, Wood Band and Bi-Metal Matrix II. Olson also labels Hard Back and Bi-Metal for metal. Start with the length your saw requires, then narrow the choice by material, blade width and tooth type using Olson’s selection filters.

Guessing the length is an avoidable mistake. Read the required blade length in your saw’s owner’s manual before ordering; Olson excludes returns for incorrect length or misuse.

Blade width sets a limit on how tightly you can turn. A wider blade helps you hold a straight cut, while a narrower blade follows a smaller curve. Use the tightest curve in your pattern to choose the width against Olson’s minimum-radius cutting chart.

For buyers weighing what backs the blade, Olson provides a 30-day limited warranty on band saw blade weld integrity only. That coverage applies to the joint in the blade loop.

If a blade starts wandering, check sharpness, tension and guide setup, then ease the feed pressure. Forcing a dull blade makes it harder to follow your line. Olson provides a troubleshooting table for common band saw problems; use it alongside your saw’s setup instructions.

Scroll saw blades for the edge you need

Olson offers plain-end and pin-end blades. Match the end style and length to your saw’s clamps. For inside cuts, a pinned blade needs an entry hole large enough to pass the pin.

Olson’s scroll saw choices include skip-tooth, Crown Tooth and Double Tooth patterns. Skip teeth leave more room for chips. Choose the pattern against the material and thickness using Olson’s application notes and material compatibility grid.

Olson also lists a precision-ground blade that combines skip-tooth and reverse-tooth configurations. The skip spacing gives chips room, and reverse teeth help reduce fuzz on the underside of a wood cut. That combination is useful when both faces will show.

For metal cutting, use the individual blade’s material recommendation. Olson’s guide distinguishes recommended blades, blades that can work and blades to avoid; select for the particular metal and follow your saw’s operating instructions.

Olson’s Scroll Saw Blade Conversion Kit can convert most 16-inch scroll saws to accept both plain-end and pin-end blades, with a compatible-saw list included in its product listing.

Coping saws for fitting detail by hand

Olson offers coping saw blades and frames for detail work. When coping a molding joint, the useful part is being able to follow the profile by hand and relieve the wood behind the face. Keep the visible edge intact and remove the backing that keeps the joint from seating.

Blade specifications

Blade or accessory	Specification
Regular-tooth scroll saw blades	Five-inch and six-inch lengths
Pin-end regular-tooth scroll saw blades	Three-inch and five-inch lengths
Spiral-tooth scroll saw blades	Plain ends
Precision-ground blade	PGT 5RG; combines skip-tooth and reverse-tooth configurations
Scroll Saw Blade Conversion Kit	Converts most 16-inch scroll saws to accept plain-end and pin-end blades

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Olson band saw blades good?

The selection is a good reason to consider Olson band saw blades: you can match cutting material, width and tooth type as well as length. That matters because a blade that fits the wheels can still be wrong for the cut. A wider blade helps with straight work, while a narrower blade gives you room to follow tighter curves.

Will Olson scroll saw blades fit my saw?

Olson offers blades that fit most scroll saws, but you still need to match the blade length and end style to your saw’s clamps. Plain-end and pin-end blades aren’t interchangeable unless the saw can accept both. Your owner’s manual is the place to confirm the fit.

What is an Olson coping saw used for?

An Olson coping saw is used for detail work, including following a molding profile to fit an inside corner. A coped joint lets one piece fit against the face of the other, which is useful when the corner isn’t perfectly square. The frame limits how far into a piece you can reach.

What does the Olson scroll saw conversion kit do?

The Olson scroll saw conversion kit lets most 16-inch scroll saws accept both plain-end and pin-end blades. That gives you more choice of blades, and plain ends are useful for inside cuts because you don’t have to pass a pin through the entry hole. The compatible-saw list helps you check fit; the saw’s size alone isn’t enough.