Thurston Saw Blades Closing

[davec]

I ordered some saw blades from Thurston for my Byrnes and Preac saws this week and got the attached letter.  They are closing.  They have stopped manufacturing and are staying open to clear out their stock.  Sad - they have been in operation for 136 years, and make great blades.  When I asked about other companies making similar products, the sales person told me about Malco (also based in RI - https://www.malcosaw.com/).  Looks like they make similar sized blades, but she could not attest to quality.

 

Dave

THURSTON CLOSURE LETTER.pdf

[PeteB]

Hi Dave - thanks for posting - reading the letter you could almost feel the pain he was feeling as he wrote - a man out of his time - the world is getting poorer every day - wont be sad when my times up just feel sorry for my kids. Cheers Pete

[Maury S]

Dave, Thanks for the heads-up.  I bought some replacement blades and had to take some "similar" ones as they are selling out.  Too bad about having to close (they can't find anyone who wants to learn the business).

Maury

[Bob Cleek]

This has become a too-frequent occurrence. 136 years and done under by, among other things, steel tariffs. 'Nuff said.

 

It isn't a phenomenon limited to modeling, but modeling is as good a "canary in the coal mine" as any. Floquil and Humbrol paints... extinct. Linen threads... on the "endangered species list." Milled modeling wood... "threatened." The list goes on and on. It's the same in full-sized traditional boatbuilding and in just about every other craft around.

 

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

[mtaylor]

I'm saddened to hear this as I have been using their blades exclusively.  I hope that for us modelers (and other users of small saw blades) that Malcosaw is up to Thurston's standards.   

[Bob Cleek]

On ‎3‎/‎21‎/‎2019 at 1:01 PM, mtaylor said:

I'm saddened to hear this as I have been using their blades exclusively.  I hope that for us modelers (and other users of small saw blades) that Malcosaw is up to Thurston's standards.   

I googled their web site. At a glance, they don't appear to have the same selection as Thurston did, but it looks like they have stuff that's close enough to get by.

[mitbok]

Wonder if Jim Byrnes has any comments about  this.  Perhaps he has a very large stock of blades and we will be ok buying 

them from him.

[Chuck]

Malco saw has some great stuff.  I have used them before. And i have used Thurston but honesyly, over the last year or so I have been very unhappy with tThurston blades.  The last two orders i got from thurston forced me to leave and try Malco.

 

The Thurston blades were so dull I figured they were used and not resharpened properly.

 

In contrast, the blades from Malco were razor sharp and cut even boxwood like butter.  I am a convert and very very happy with Malco blades.  Wish I had switched years ago.

[Bill Tuttle]

Chuck,

 

I am certainly pleased to hear this.  I have been using Thruston blades for over 25 years now.  Will check out the Malco source right now.  Thanks for the update.

[Boatsinc2000]

I've used Malco too with success.   Another mfg would be Niagara.   They make top quality tooling.  I've used their blades and was one of their distributors for 25 years in another life.  Usually sold through industrial distrbutors like MSC Industrial Direct.

 

Update - Just did some searching and it looks as though Niagara no longer sells saw blades.

 

Jeff Hayes 

HobbyMill 

Edited June 25, 2019 by Boatsinc2000

[dvm27]

I just received an order from Malco for blades for my Byrnes and Preac saws. They are beautifully made and cut through hardwood like butter. Thanks for the lead Chuck!

[Chuck]

which blade did you end up getting for general ripping of boxwood?  Did you get .030 kerf blade?  That is the one I use mostly and you can hardly tell it apart from the Thurston equivellant.

 

 

[dvm27]

1 hour ago, Chuck said:

which blade did you end up getting for general ripping of boxwood?  Did you get .030 kerf blade?  That is the one I use mostly and you can hardly tell it apart from the Thurston equivellant.

 

 

Yup...got the 0.030" and it does a great job on boxwood. Also got varied widths from 0.008" to 0.052"

[mitbok]

Greg, could you please post Malco part numbers for the blades that you ordered for Byrnes saw.

I am utterly confused with all those specs you need to order from their catalog.

[dvm27]

For the Byrnes saw I chose the 0.50" diameter hole and 3" diameter blades. Catalog numbers are:

CT303012000 - .030" thick

CT302012000, CT 304012000, CT305012000. (.020", 040" & 0.050" respectively).

Ideally you should have a separate aluminium blade insert for each size to prevent small parts from flying into the machine after cutting. They're inexpensive and worth the effort in changing with each blade.

[mitbok]

Thank you Greg,

I do have 1 or 2 virgin incerts but so far was cutting fairly long parts so did not need it.

[Gregory]

I wonder if all the Winchelsea builds have caused a run on .030 blades at Malco?

 

I ordered one, and was told there would be a 1-2 week delay while they were being produced...  ( Very nice people to work with.  Good communication. )

 

 

P.S.

At least it probably wasn't Chuck, since he is not doing the strip wood..   

Edited August 15, 2019 by Gregory

[ASAT]

On 8/15/2019 at 12:19 PM, Gregory said:

 

P.S.

At least it probably wasn't Chuck, since he is not doing the strip wood..   

 

Well..... he is for his build, and he’s probably milling all those sheets for his laser kits..... 😎

[jimbyr]

Malco  got hit pretty hard after Thurston closed and are pretty far behind in their production.   Thurston only made HSS blades,  Malco does both HSS and carbide and I believe they only have 1 machine to grind the HSS

 

Jim 

Edited August 17, 2019 by jimbyr