Hollow formed band saw for industrial band mill

In an industrial band mill, wherein a driven band saw is mounted on a plurality of wheels, each of which is substantially flat and has a front edge, and at least one of which may constitute a driving wheel, wherein the band saw has inner and outer sides and further has a pair of edges, at least one of which has cutting teeth formed thereon, wherein the edge with the cutting teeth overhangs the respective front edges of the wheels, and wherein means are provided for moving the wheels in a direction substantially away from one another, the improvement wherein the band saw is substantially free of pre-stress in its manufacture prior to use, the band saw being concavely formed on at least its inner side and substantially from edge to edge thereof, wherein the band saw has a cross-sectional thickness which is substantially non-uniform throughout and which decreases substantially uniformly from edge to edge towards the approximate center of the band saw, such that there is reduced mass at the center of the band saw between the edges thereof, wherein a non-uniform radial gap exists between the band saw and each of the wheels when the band saw is first mounted on the wheels, and wherein when the wheels are moved away from one another, the band saw will be stretched and the inner surface of the band saw will become substantially flush against the respective wheels in the operative position of the band saw on the band mill, thereby eliminating the necessity for stressing the band saw by roll tensioning or the like during the manufacture thereof;

• and whereby the reduction of mass replaces the expansion otherwise required by roll tensioning.