The effect of bandsaw roll-tensioning and bandmill axial forces on the stresses in the blade, on the interaction of the blade with the bandmill and on the stiffness and cutting accuracy of the sawblade are examined. The stresses due to roll-tensioning are measured and their effect on frequency and stiffness determined. The effect of the blade-wheel geometry on the stresses in the cutting region are analyzed showing how the stresses, frequency and stiffness of the sawblade relate to its cutting accuracy. Empirical relationships are developed that enable the stresses due to roll-tensioning to be estimated. Analytical methods accurately predict the effect of roll-tensioning on blade torsional frequency and lateral stiffness. A model was developed that successfully predicts the effect of overhang on the stress in cutting region of the blade. Both analytical and experimental results confirm that rolling in the centre 60% of the sawblade will increase blade stiffness while rolling outside this region will reduce it. Cutting accuracy is shown to be strongly related to lateral tooth stiffness, and it is also shown that optimum increases in stiffness and improved cutting accuracy are obtained by confining the roll-tensioning to be close to the blade centre-line.