Do I get a prize?

G

Guy Thomas

Joined
Feb 1, 2000
Messages
1,370
For wearing out a metal cutting bandsaw blade after having my Harbor Freight metal cutting bandsaw set up for less than a day? Mind you it was the blade that came on the machine, but I turned it into a piece of toothless banding in nothing flat. Was it me, or just a cheap blade (I bought a Lennox bi-metal ahead of time to replace it but I don't want to damage it if I was at fault.)
 
What were you cutting, what speed, and how many teeth per inch? I've heard Harbor Frieght blade were crap though. If it wasnt' Bi-metal, it won't hold up on anything other than aluminum or plastic, much less steel.

Just save the old blade, fold it up and mix with some damascus.;)
 
its the saw blade,i put a LENNOX ? brand bandsaw blade (bimetal) from K&G supply. had it for about two years, it now time for a new one.
 
I did kinda the same thing, only I'm so cheap I nursed that toothless baby along for several more weeks. :D But every time it would roll around to a blank spot the remaining tooth would hook on my work and pop the blade off... I've been using a $10 blade from Home Depot, cuts okay but probably won't last too long. I'll spring for the bimetal blade next.

Dave
 
No Prize for you. Anybody can wear out the original soft tooth blade. I should get a prize for ripping off the teeth of several Lenox blades before learning to push lightly. I asked the dealer why they dont hold up to cutting annealed ATS 34 and they have never heard of ATS 34. They did say there should be at least 3 teeth in the steel or else they could be torn out by the roots. That means we need the finest tooth blade we can get. About 14-16 teeth per inch. They also said there is a break-in period for each new blade. Cut about a 1" thick bar of steel to temper the blade. I guess they are still too hard and brittle when new. Anyway I tried it and they were right, they last alot longer now. At $20 each they should.
 
I used the blade that came with the saw to cut out a profiling gauge (a profile of the finished knife with a long handle attached) from 1/8" mild steel to use while I was forging and it worked fine. I then used it to trim up the profile of a knife I forge from 1/8" 1084 and thats when all the teeth decided to take a hike. (I forgot to put it on the slowest belt setting for the 1084 which may be part of the problem.)

Bruce, thanks for the advice about pushing too hard and braking them in on some 1 inch mild steel. I have some i" square stock I need to cut anyway for the shanks of some hardy tools I'm making. These 14-18 tooth per inch Lennox bi-metal blades are expensive but If I can get them to last a long time they're worth it (I'd be ecstatic if it lasts for at least a year!)

I'm wondering though If I should cut 1/8" stock on it much at all. Seems like you'd need at least a 24 tooth per inch for it and I haven't seen any blades that fine. Do you guy's use the same blade for thin stock like 1/8" as you do for the thicker stuff?
 
Hey Guy-

EC Blackstone sells 24 tpi blades. They also sell their 14 tpi blade for $16 that, I think, holds up and cuts just as well as any of the other big names.

I haven't tried forging 1/8" stock yet, I figured it was too thin...I guess I have to try it now... :)

Nick
 
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