grsjax Posted July 1, 2015 #1 Posted July 1, 2015 Recently read an article about bandsaw blades and it mentioned using bimetal blades for woodworking. The reasoning seemed sound and the article mentioned good results. Anyone here using bimetal blades? Also what brand of blade is preferred? I have been using a no name blade that came with my bandsaw and a Delta blade I picked up on sale. Both seem adequate but I am sure there are better ones out there. GLakie 1 Quote My advice and comments are always worth what you paid for them.
GLakie Posted July 1, 2015 #2 Posted July 1, 2015 Can't say I'm familiar with those yet, but they sound like the advantage to bi-metal would be in better heat dissipation. What kind of cutting are you doing? Scroll, re-saw, ect.? Quote GEORGE Don't be bound by the limits of what you already know, be unlimited by what you are willing to learn. Member of the Nautical Research Guild
grsjax Posted July 2, 2015 Author #3 Posted July 2, 2015 Can't say I'm familiar with those yet, but they sound like the advantage to bi-metal would be in better heat dissipation. What kind of cutting are you doing? Scroll, re-saw, ect.? A bit of both. I presently mostly use a 3/8" 8 tooth blade for general cutting. Thinking of getting a 1/2" blade for serious resawing and a 1/8" 15 tooth blade for fine scroll work. Would like to know what experiance others have had with different brands. GLakie 1 Quote My advice and comments are always worth what you paid for them.
Jaager Posted July 2, 2015 #4 Posted July 2, 2015 If you have a full size band saw, I don't think you can do better than a WoodSlicer blade for serious resawing. It is a quality steel and has a thin kerf. It really does not break easily. The teeth have almost no set, so the finish is smooth. It is only for resawing however. For scroll cutting, adding a Carter Products blade Stabilizer with an 1/8 inch blade allows for acute turns and the blade is much less likely to bind and snap. For milling billets from green logs and branches ( fixing a log to carrier board that rides against the fence, keeps the log from rolling and allows the plane of the cut to be determined - is a good thing to do - right angle metal braces for 2x4 have holes for screws and are low cost) I think that buying a 100 ft coil of a 3 tooth basic grade saw blade and having a local shop weld the lot into however many blades you can get is probably the most cost effective way to go. Green wood is hard on a blade - they want to break and dull too quickly. But breaking a $4 blade is less painful and losing a $25 blade that might only last twice as long as the cheap one. GLakie and tasmanian 2 Quote NRG member 50 years Current: NMS HMS Ajax 1767 - 74-gun 3rd rate - 1:192 POF exploration - works but too intense -no margin for error HMS Centurion 1732 - 60-gun 4th rate - POF Navall Timber framing HMS Beagle 1831 refiit 10-gun brig with a small mizzen - POF Navall (ish) Timber framing The U.S. Ex. Ex. 1838-1842 Flying Fish 1838 pilot schooner - POF framed - ready for stern timbers Porpose II 1836 brigantine/brig - POF framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers Vincennes 1825 Sloop-of-War - POF timbers assembled, need shaping Peacock 1828 Sloop-of -War - POF timbers ready for assembly Sea Gull 1838 pilot schooner - POF timbers ready for assembly Relief 1835 packet hull USN ship - POF timbers ready for assembly Other Portsmouth 1843 Sloop-of-War - POF timbers ready for assembly Le Commerce de Marseilles 1788 118 cannons - POF framed La Renommee 1744 Frigate - POF framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers
Mahuna Posted July 2, 2015 #5 Posted July 2, 2015 I agree on the Woodslicer. I have a 14" Rockwell (over 60 yrs old) and keep the 1/2" Woodslicer blade on it. GLakie 1 Quote Frank Completed: Skipjack Kathryn; Dunbrody Sectional Model; Paragon (modified Mayflower) Scratch Build; Planning a Sectional Model of Dunbrody NRG Member
GLakie Posted July 2, 2015 #6 Posted July 2, 2015 Ditto on the Wood Slicer! I haven't had this band saw long enough to do much other cutting, but I've used this blade for some re-saw tests, and can say it works great and I'll be buying a couple more for spares. http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/woodslicer12resawbandsawblades705to137.aspx Canute 1 Quote GEORGE Don't be bound by the limits of what you already know, be unlimited by what you are willing to learn. Member of the Nautical Research Guild
grsjax Posted July 5, 2015 Author #7 Posted July 5, 2015 Couldn't find a woodslicer locally but I did get a Starrett bimetal 1/2" blade for a good price. Starrett has a good reputation. Will give it a try and let you know how it works. GLakie 1 Quote My advice and comments are always worth what you paid for them.
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