Bandsaw blade lasted 6 blades!

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DanF

DanF

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Last year I broke my last in stock blade and grabbed a HF replacement until the “good” blade arrived. When the Starrett arrived the HF was going strong so I left it in place until this past weekend when it finally gave up the ghost.
Took the still-nib Starrett out and installed, lasted all of six blades.
Ordered 2 Diemaster 2’s to try, but will put another HF temporary on until they arrive. Hoping for another year on them but I know that’s historically improbable. Still, the old one beat the Starrett by a mile!
 
I buy the bi metal blade at HF from Super cut about 30 bucks

It cuts better and lasts far longer then Starrett blades. I have also had them last a year.

If the HF blades break within three months they will give you a new one, try that with Starrett.
 
I also run the HF blades. I've tried Starrett and many other brands, but never noticed ant real increase in life or performance. They all kinda suck. I just look at it as another consumable and run them till they start knocking.
 
Out of curiosity.... how do you have them fail? Physically break? Teeth broken off? Just dull and stop cutting?
 
Cushing H. said:
Out of curiosity.... how do you have them fail? Physically break? Teeth broken off? Just dull and stop cutting?
Click to expand...
Typically, I think it is a break at the weld. Teeth wearing out is not really a failure. Like E. Carlson notes, when it’s getting ready to go you hear/feel a knocking/ vibration as the weld passes by the guide wheels.
 
I should specify im talking about portaband blades. The TPI depends on what I'm cutting but the failure is usually the same. The blade develops a crack. Suprising thing with me is its almost never at the weld. When I start feeling it knocking I run the blade slow and find it before I junk the blade. If its just missing a tooth I tend to run it a bit longer due to laziness.
 
DanF said:
Typically, I think it is a break at the weld. Teeth wearing out is not really a failure. Like E. Carlson notes, when it’s getting ready to go you hear/feel a knocking/ vibration as the weld passes by the guide wheels.
Click to expand...
Cause ... I’m running a blade from HF that developed that knock very early on ... but I’ve kept running it, and it keeps cutting.... so is that really a failure?
 
Cushing H. said:
Cause ... I’m running a blade from HF that developed that knock very early on ... but I’ve kept running it, and it keeps cutting.... so is that really a failure?
Click to expand...
Not yet, but seems to be an early indicator of something amiss
 
One thing that can kill a blade fast is using a blade with too few teeth for the stock thickness. You need two teeth in the cut all the time. Less and the incoming tooth smacks hard as it jumps forward. This will kill the teeth, increase blade heating, and eventually make the blade break. Stainless and tool steels are far harder on the blade than carbon steel is. Pushing too hard also greatly shortens a blades life.

1/4" stock needs 8TPI to 12TPI.
For 1/8" you need 16 -20TPI.
If it is 1/16" 24TPI would fine.

14-18 TPI is a good general choice unless you do a lot of thin stock.
 
I got this information from a Lenox salesman:
https://www.sawcalc.com/break-in-instructions

Our bi-metal blades were lasting 10-14 days. When we used the break in procedure, the blade life for the same blades increased to 3 months.

Over several years, we changed our break in procedure to the following:
1) Find a clean dry 2x4 made from fir, pine or hemlock.
2) Clamp the 2x4 and adjust the blade speed to very slow. We like one cut in about 30 minutes.
3) Blade speed of 60-100 FPM.
4) Cut one slice (about 30 minutes) and the blade is broken in.

The latest iteration of the process allows blades to be broken in with nobody watching the saw.

Chuck
 
I forgot to mention, if a bandsaw blade breaks within the first few cuts, return the blade for a replacement. We've had entire batches of blades where the weld breaks immediately or after a few cuts. The manufacturer always replaces the blades.

Chuck
 
Chuck - are you talking about portasaw blades? I have heard of (and do) break in my blades ... but have never heard of doing so with wood....
 
Good info. Will try breaking in my next new bandsaw blade.
 
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