CPM Steel and Band Saws SUCK!

D

Don Powell

Joined
Sep 21, 2001
Messages
265
YES! You might say that I am a bit unhappy with my attempts to cut out CPM S90V blades with my band saw. I ordered a new Starret M 42 Bi metal blade. Took about a week to get it. Sawed a few pieces of mild steel, to break it in. Sawed out five pieces of .050 titanium liners. Sawed two one inch pieces of S90V to send to flinger. Sawed out two S30V, yes S30V blades. THEN I tried to cut out my S90V blades to send to rlinger. After one inch of cut, the blade stopped cutting. I examined it, it was very dull. I have a variable freq drive and 1HP motor on this saw. I was running this saw at a crawl and cutting very slow. I called the supplier, another $29.00 for a another one. They said,"use cooling" and I was probably placing side pressure on the titanium, cutting the radius, and over heating the blade. Well after waiting another week, put the 2nd new blade on, cut five inches and the blade is dead. Long lived the blade? HEll no! The blade didn't last 15 min.
What do you guys do?
 
It could be that you're cutting too slow. I use the same blades, and have cut out a few S30V w/o a problem (so far). I bear alot down as I cut. I'm just wondering if maybe too slow a feed will cause work hardening and then blade dulling? Blade lube may be in order for this stuff, too.
Just a thought.
 
I don't know why, so don't ask...If you cut out titanium with a band saw blade, don't use it for blade steel. I think it was Randall Gilbreath that told me this decades ago. I don't and can cut dozens and dozens of S steel blades out and put the other one on and cut the same amount of titanium liners and bolsters out, but if I try to cut both, I get squat..:(
Never found anyone that could explain it to me, but it sure works.

Maybe this should be Tip #9 :)
 
Don, I like "Lenox Die-master 2" blades better. They are cheaper too. They require a break-in period and the teeth get torn off from thin Ti but they cut and cut on everything else. You may want to use a drop or two of cutting oil. Remember to get the finest TPI available.
 
Thanks, Bruce, Kit, and mike. The piece of S90V, that I have, is 2 1/16" wide and I did't want to waste any. This stuff is expensive. This is why I wanted to cut it on the band saw. Kit, the first blade I used to cut Ti, the second I didn't. I may have an answer, however. I don't know why I didn't think of it. I had my son take it to work and grind .010" off each side with the big belt grinder, they have. It could be work hardened. The blade went through the S30V just fine. I bought the blade from Pro Bandsaw in CA. My blade is 80", and every one can supply the 24 tpi in 1/2". Where to you think I can get the Lenox? Now I have to go to the chop saw.
 
Yeah you are probably work hardening the steel by feeding it so slow. I had that happen to me at work once trying to cut stainless. Ol' boss wasn't too happy that I junked a $60 blade on the automatic saw.
 
I have 1 bandsaw and use it to cut everything. I went through the dulling out process many times before I went to strictly friction cutting. I put a larger pulley on the saw. I use the lenox 1/2" 14TPI Bi metal blades through MSC. My blade doesnt have any teeth on it at all! I get alot of use out of it before it finally breaks. I make about 20-30 knives a year and get at least a year between blades. It cuts Ti literally like butter, as fast as you can push it through. The CPM's go a little slower but it's no problem. The downside is that it leaves some pretty sharp edges on the back side of the cut and you have to be real carefull not to get any of your fingers near because it goes so quick. I use a brass push bar for most of the cuts. This isnt for everybody but it works for me.
 
Thanks Guys. My main problem is to find a supplier that sells the Lenox bi-matal blades in 80". Jim I thought that I needed 24 tpi because I normally cut 1/8" steel and this was the first time that I cut Ti, which was .050. I didn't think I would have the recommended number of teeth in the cut with 14 tpi. I will check these suppliers.
 
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