Metal cutting bandsaw blade..HELP!!

raylaconico

raylaconico

Joined
Jan 30, 2004
Messages
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Where do you guys get your bandsaw blades? I have a Harbor Freight metal cutting bandsaw and their blades don't last very long. I was wondering if there was a place on the web where I can get better blades than the ones they sell at Harbor Freight. I think it's 64.5" blades. Thanks.
-Ray Laconico
 
If I'm not mistaken, HF also sells a bi-metal blade in that size. MikeO tried them and was pleased with the performance on his 64 1/2" saw.
 
:) Carbide.com they will make up any size you need in bi-metal or otherwise. The Lenox Diemaster (bi-metal) is a good blade.
 
There is a shop I buy mine from in Portland, OR. He makes them up himself and has been in business a zillion years. I was having trouble with teeth breaking out now and then on the blades he sold me. He advised me that when I put on a new blade to start with a one inch round piece of mild steel and slowly cut through it. Do this a couple of times before you go after a carbon steel piece that is rectangular in cross section. I don't know exactly what this does but it does seem to help to keep the teeth from breaking out later. Maybe it slightly rounds the teeth and keeps them from catching and breaking. Dunno
 
Regarding my post above about saw blades. He also advised me when using bi-metal blades on carbon steel to use big teeth and high speed. This goes against everything I have been told about selecting saw blades. I tried it and it works. Maybe something similar to using carbide tools where you use high speed to keep the tool from catching and breaking. Again, Dunno.
 
I got mine from Texas Knifemakers Supply and it's lasted over 2 years (almost time for a new one, though). It's been cryo-treated too.
 
How many TPI is good for cutting cutlery steel (440c or ATS 34) about 3/16 - 1/4" thick (for profiling knives)? Thanks! Band saw is 4X6 vertical/ horizontal about 1/3 to 1/2 HP.
 
Try Wholesale Tool. They have top quality American made blades or the cheaper ones as well. Anything for your grinders, drills, mills and etc. Speedy deliverys too.
 
For a local resource, a saw sharpening service is often a good bet. That's where I get mine and they have a wide variety of blade stock on hand. If they don't have it they can get it quicklly. I usually get a bi-metal variable pitch blade for my 4x6 as it cuts just about everything and lasts a long time. They also make up whatever I need for my old Deta woodworking bandsaw.

Allen
 
Kit got it right! I've been getting bi-metal from different sources for years. Expensive. picked a few at HF to try. Low expectations proved to be unfounded. Work just fine, at about half the cost. Mike
 
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