Cutting O1

Patrickknives

Patrickknives

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Dec 13, 2006
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I was cutting some flatground 5/32 O1 stock when the bandsaw blade (24tpi) just skimmed over the stock. I checked the blade and it was ruined, I was not sure if it was in poor condition before I started or not. I made 4 cross cuts no problem and when I went to cut out the blade shape it stopped. I bought a new blade (14 tpi), cut a little and it stopped. Checked the blade and it is still sharp but I did not want to push it so I stopped.

Is it possible to have several hard spots in flatground O1 stock??
 
can you use a hacksaw or a cut off wheel to cut out the length of the piece-then grind the piece into your pattern? thank you
 
Patrickknives said:
I was cutting some flatground 5/32 O1 stock when the bandsaw blade (24tpi) just skimmed over the stock. I checked the blade and it was ruined, I was not sure if it was in poor condition before I started or not. I made 4 cross cuts no problem and when I went to cut out the blade shape it stopped. I bought a new blade (14 tpi), cut a little and it stopped. Checked the blade and it is still sharp but I did not want to push it so I stopped.

Is it possible to have several hard spots in flatground O1 stock??
Click to expand...

If you have a single speed saw it could be running to fast for cutting 01 .
 
What type of bands are you using. If they are carbon bands then they may be wearing out O1 is really tough. Second what SFM are you using? if it is too fast it will take the teeth right off the band. I would recommend a HSS tooth blade. THere are a several good brands lennox and sterret to name a couple. I have lennox bimetal blades and have had great luck cutting O1,1095,w-2,5160,L-6 etc.
 
i have hit a hard spot in a bar of O1 before, but it didn't damage the saw at all, just took a little extra push and a little extra patience to get through that spot. it could have been not totally annealed or something, i don't know...

i didn't feel it while grinding at all though.
 
"not totally annealed" that's a problem seen in other steels too , a good possibility.
 
possibly using a bandsaw speed that's waaaaaaaaaaaaay too fast? I've cut tons and tons of 01 and have never experienced that.

I'm thinking to possibly work harden 01 or A2, etc etc, you'd have to get that piece of steel rather hot and near the verge of getting RED?

Other thought: blade is a piece of crapola. Works for like awhile and isn't much use anymore. If you've killed all the teeth, the blade is either moving too fast or a blade that wasn't hardened properly or is over very poor quality.

I've used 80-220 FPM with a Lenox Diemaster 2 Blade

Was this a new piece of steel bought from a steel store?
 
Thanks for the replys, answeres, It is precision ground from a good supplier. I have cut many times before but did have some problems before. It was a carbon steel blade and I use the quickest speed. The speed is still about 200 fpm but I need to check, I went back to a 24 tpi and it cut fine with no problem. Seems like it wanted to make sure I did not get anything done that day. Does anyone have a speed chart, I would like to use it to get the right speed for my steel. I am going to order some good blades this week.

thanks
 
I think the Lenox Diemaster 2 blades are meant to be used at twice the speed of regular carbon steel blades, so if you stick to 150-200, you should still be fine. :)
 
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