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How about a little discussion on bandsaw blades

Started by handcannon, September 19, 2011, 02:40:03 AM

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handcannon

I just bought a new bandsaw. It's a lot better than the little benchtop model I've been using for the last few years. How about a little discussion on blades that you prefer such as supplier, width and TPI. I'll be using it for my day to day cutting plus cutting green blanks and re-sawing. I know choosing the right blade is important and I want to make sure I get what I need now instead of realizing later that I wish I had one.

lightsoutcalls

I have the Grizzly 14" ultimate bandsaw.  I have used Olson 1/4" 4 hook teeth per inch blades for all of my cutting.  I bought a blade that was about 3/4" for re-sawing when I first got my saw.  I never liked using it even for resawing.  It was a blade by grizzly, so that may be why it wasn't as good as the  Olson blades....   I've just never gone back to anything else after using the 1/4".  I have sawn green and dry woods from oak to maple to osage up to the 6" maximum thickness that my saw will accept.  I find maple to be the worst to saw.  For some reason it is more difficult to re-saw than osage.  The blade I use is great for ripping and cutting rounds of pot call blanks.  It also handles any re-sawing I do.
Lights Out custom calls - what they're dying to hear!


pappy

Wendell. I use Olson most of the time, I ended up running through 20 - 30 blades a year, early on in my woodworking, but I was using the cheap stuff like Vermont, Craftsman (oh yeah) and others. But, when I went to Olson, they offer such a wide variation of blades, I started seeing a huge savings by using a lot fewer blades. I also use blades from Highland Woodworking, especially for cutting blanks from the rough the 3/8" wide WoodTurner's Bandsaw Blade, with its 3 TPI, alternate set w/raker tooth pattern & stout band thickness of .032", is just the blade for the task.
The significant tooth set of this blade provides ample room to keep the blade zipping along through dripping wet, kerf-closing, growth-tensioned logs. The deep, rounded, hook-toothed gullets allow chips to be easily removed from the kerf enabling quick, aggressive cuts.
The hardened teeth (RC64-65) stand up to dulling bark & log grime (we recommend removing as much grit as possible from your stock before cutting with any blade). The 3/8" wide band allows a cutting radius as small as 1-1/2".
This is their description of the blade I use...price wise you can't go wrong either. I use a Jet 14" with a 6" riser block installed, this gives me ability to cut up 12" logs and I cut a lot of stuff. Another thing to consider is a (bi-metal) blade, the reasoning is, if you wanted to cut some plastic or aluminum, you don't change the blade when you go back to cutting wood. I do this when I am working on calls, especially duck and goose calls, when I have metal parts involved, it doesn't take but a couple minutes to change out a blade. Hope you have a great success with your new toy, pappy
my new email is paw.paw.jack@sbcglobal.net
tel...573-380-8206

misfire

I also have the Grizzly Ultiimate 14". Mainly use a 1/4 blade as well for intricate work. I do switch to a 3/4 blade when resawing thicker boards, less drift in the blade for me
Pray as if everything depends on God, work like everything depends on you

www.misfiregamecalls.net

handcannon

Good input guys. I found this bandsaw on Ebay last week while I was at work offshore. I talked to my wife about it and ended up talking myself out of getting it even though it was such a good deal and it was not across state lines for pickup. Had a lot of stuff coming up and decided the money needed to go elsewhere. Well, as soon as I get home, my wife said she had been doing some work out in my shop/mancave. I thought she done "girly-fied" my cave. Walked through the door and there was the saw. My jaw dropped. Boys, I gotta good wife!

Anyhow, it's the Grizzly 14" ultimate bandsaw too. It's got the 6" riser extension in it already. He added upper and lower Carter blade guides which he says cost $170 and extended the table bed 7" to the inside to close it in all the way to the riser. Came with a few extra things too which made it a really good buy. Only thing it did not come with is a cotton pickin blade. I hunted all around the area for a 105" blade and couldnt find nothing but a single 106"x 3/4" blade. Of course I could not take out that extra inch of slack so that $40 blade is going back. I'm gonna look around at some of these Olson blades you guys are talking about and see if I can find them online. I'm ready to play with my new toy.

KryptoniteKills

If you get the chance to buy a Timber Wolf blade from PS Wood for a decent price you should give them a try. Last week I put a new 3/4 X 3tpi Timber wolf on and after several nights of resawing and a nasty mistake that kinked my blade up....I put a new Olsen 3/4" hook tooth on and to me there is no room for debate. Timber Wolf cost more money but I think they're worth it.

Trophy_Taker

I prefer the old Timber Wolf blades.  They are now sold as Viking blades.  The best prices for these blades is from Lee Valley.
They are made in Sweden, are a low tension blade, and from my experience, last longer than most other blades and cut straighter than most other blades.  These blades are of high quality steel and are milled and hardened, not stamped.  Wide variety of blade widths and sizes to fit a variety of saws.

Matt....