I lucked into a PorterCable Porta Band Saw for $10 at a yard sale :-)
Locally I can get Milwaukie or Lenox blades for it. They are from
Lowes and HD, and I don't know the model #'s of the Lenox blades.
Any experience out there on either blades?
Also tooth count? I will mostly be cutting 1/8" to 1/4" steel.
Thanks

Pirate wrote:
I lucked into a PorterCable Porta Band Saw for $10 at a yard sale :-)
Locally I can get Milwaukie or Lenox blades for it. They are from
Lowes and HD, and I don't know the model #'s of the Lenox blades.
Any experience out there on either blades?
Also tooth count? I will mostly be cutting 1/8" to 1/4" steel.
Thanks

The lennox variable pitch blades are pretty exciting.

I don't know. I got a Milwaukee PortaBand as a gift 3 or 4 years ago
and I am still on the first Milwaukee blade. I have used Lennox hole
saws, though and they cut pretty well. I really push them in my
application. Starret has worked the best for me there.

Pete Stanaitis

On Mar 16, 5:07*pm, spaco wrote:
I don't know. *I got a Milwaukee PortaBand as a gift 3 or 4 years ago
and I am still on the first Milwaukee blade. *I have used Lennox hole
saws, though and they cut pretty well. *I really push them in my
application. *Starret has worked the best for me there.

Pete Stanaitis

Thanks for the replys.
I was at HD and bought a 2 pack of the Milwaukie 24 tpi blades. Test
cut in 1/8 angle was impressive.
Thanks again

On Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:52:30 +0000 (UTC), Cydrome Leader
wrote:

Pirate wrote:
I lucked into a PorterCable Porta Band Saw for $10 at a yard sale :-)
Locally I can get Milwaukie or Lenox blades for it. They are from
Lowes and HD, and I don't know the model #'s of the Lenox blades.
Any experience out there on either blades?
Also tooth count? I will mostly be cutting 1/8" to 1/4" steel.
Thanks

The lennox variable pitch blades are pretty exciting.

I've been very satisfied with the Milwaukee blades. They recommend a
14/18 blade for 5/32" to 5/16". It doesn't take much of an angle to
make the cut 5/32" when cutting 1/8" stock. The recommended blade for
up to 5/32 (which includes 1/8) is 24 tpi. The downside of using that
in 1/4" stock is just that it cuts more slowly than a 14/18.

The Lenox blades may be just as good, I've not tried them.

On Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:01:19 -0500, Don Foreman
wrote:

On Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:52:30 +0000 (UTC), Cydrome Leader
wrote:

Pirate wrote:
I lucked into a PorterCable Porta Band Saw for $10 at a yard sale :-)
Locally I can get Milwaukie or Lenox blades for it. They are from
Lowes and HD, and I don't know the model #'s of the Lenox blades.
Any experience out there on either blades?
Also tooth count? I will mostly be cutting 1/8" to 1/4" steel.
Thanks

The lennox variable pitch blades are pretty exciting.

I've been very satisfied with the Milwaukee blades. They recommend a
14/18 blade for 5/32" to 5/16". It doesn't take much of an angle to
make the cut 5/32" when cutting 1/8" stock. The recommended blade for
up to 5/32 (which includes 1/8) is 24 tpi. The downside of using that
in 1/4" stock is just that it cuts more slowly than a 14/18.

I forgot to note that most of my work is also 1/8" to 1/4" steel, and
the blade I have in my saw most days is a Milwaukee 14/18. I've worn
out several considerably more expensive blades on my vertical bandsaw
but haven't yet worn out a Milwaukee blade.

"Pirate" wrote in message
...
I lucked into a PorterCable Porta Band Saw for $10 at a yard sale :-)
Locally I can get Milwaukie or Lenox blades for it. They are from
Lowes and HD, and I don't know the model #'s of the Lenox blades.
Any experience out there on either blades?
Also tooth count? I will mostly be cutting 1/8" to 1/4" steel.
Thanks

Tooth count.

Rule of thumb when sawing is to have no less than two teeth in the cut at
all times.. That prevents shucking teeth, which ruins a blade instantly.
By sharp contrast, too many teeth in contact results in the gullet being
filled with chips, preventing the blade from cutting properly. A small
variety of blades is a good investment, although if you will be restricted
to no larger than 1/4" steel, you will be well served with a 24 pitch blade.

Harold

"Harold & Susan Vordos" wrote in message
.. .

"Pirate" wrote in message
...
I lucked into a PorterCable Porta Band Saw for $10 at a yard sale :-)
Locally I can get Milwaukie or Lenox blades for it. They are from
Lowes and HD, and I don't know the model #'s of the Lenox blades.
Any experience out there on either blades?
Also tooth count? I will mostly be cutting 1/8" to 1/4" steel.
Thanks

Tooth count.

Rule of thumb when sawing is to have no less than two teeth in the cut at
all times.. That prevents shucking teeth, which ruins a blade instantly.
By sharp contrast, too many teeth in contact results in the gullet being
filled with chips, preventing the blade from cutting properly. A small
variety of blades is a good investment, although if you will be restricted
to no larger than 1/4" steel, you will be well served with a 24 pitch
blade.

Harold

You're right about tooth count but its a PITA to change blades on my saw. As
I normally cut thick stuff, I have a 8 pitch blade in it. When doing thin
stock I turn up the speed and slow down on the restrictor for feed. Seems to
work. Not saying I've never caught a tooth, but it is rare and saves a bunch
of time.

Karl

On Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:37:51 -0500, "Karl Townsend"
wrote:


"Harold & Susan Vordos" wrote in message
. ..

"Pirate" wrote in message
...
I lucked into a PorterCable Porta Band Saw for $10 at a yard sale :-)
Locally I can get Milwaukie or Lenox blades for it. They are from
Lowes and HD, and I don't know the model #'s of the Lenox blades.
Any experience out there on either blades?
Also tooth count? I will mostly be cutting 1/8" to 1/4" steel.
Thanks

Tooth count.

Rule of thumb when sawing is to have no less than two teeth in the cut at
all times.. That prevents shucking teeth, which ruins a blade instantly.
By sharp contrast, too many teeth in contact results in the gullet being
filled with chips, preventing the blade from cutting properly. A small
variety of blades is a good investment, although if you will be restricted
to no larger than 1/4" steel, you will be well served with a 24 pitch
blade.

Harold

You're right about tooth count but its a PITA to change blades on my saw. As
I normally cut thick stuff, I have a 8 pitch blade in it. When doing thin
stock I turn up the speed and slow down on the restrictor for feed. Seems to
work. Not saying I've never caught a tooth, but it is rare and saves a bunch
of time.

Karl

Blade change on a Milwaukee saw takes about 15 seconds.

Don Foreman wrote:
On Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:37:51 -0500, "Karl Townsend"
wrote:


"Harold & Susan Vordos" wrote in message
.. .

"Pirate" wrote in message
...
I lucked into a PorterCable Porta Band Saw for $10 at a yard sale
:-) Locally I can get Milwaukie or Lenox blades for it. They are
from Lowes and HD, and I don't know the model #'s of the Lenox
blades. Any experience out there on either blades?
Also tooth count? I will mostly be cutting 1/8" to 1/4" steel.
Thanks

Tooth count.

Rule of thumb when sawing is to have no less than two teeth in the
cut at all times.. That prevents shucking teeth, which ruins a
blade instantly. By sharp contrast, too many teeth in contact
results in the gullet being filled with chips, preventing the blade
from cutting properly. A small variety of blades is a good
investment, although if you will be restricted to no larger than
1/4" steel, you will be well served with a 24 pitch blade.

Harold

You're right about tooth count but its a PITA to change blades on my
saw. As I normally cut thick stuff, I have a 8 pitch blade in it.
When doing thin stock I turn up the speed and slow down on the
restrictor for feed. Seems to work. Not saying I've never caught a
tooth, but it is rare and saves a bunch of time.

Karl

Blade change on a Milwaukee saw takes about 15 seconds.

Unless said saw is set up in a fixture that turns it into a vert saw with a
small table . Then changing blades becomes a PITA . Mine usually wears a
10/14 bimetallic ? from HF - Morse brand and about 20 bucks for 3 blades
..
--
Snag
"90 FLHTCU "Strider"
'39 WLDD "PopCycle"
BS 132/SENS/DOF

On Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:52:16 -0500, "Snag"
wrote:

Don Foreman wrote:
On Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:37:51 -0500, "Karl Townsend"
wrote:


"Harold & Susan Vordos" wrote in message
.. .

"Pirate" wrote in message
...
I lucked into a PorterCable Porta Band Saw for $10 at a yard sale
:-) Locally I can get Milwaukie or Lenox blades for it. They are
from Lowes and HD, and I don't know the model #'s of the Lenox
blades. Any experience out there on either blades?
Also tooth count? I will mostly be cutting 1/8" to 1/4" steel.
Thanks

Tooth count.

Rule of thumb when sawing is to have no less than two teeth in the
cut at all times.. That prevents shucking teeth, which ruins a
blade instantly. By sharp contrast, too many teeth in contact
results in the gullet being filled with chips, preventing the blade
from cutting properly. A small variety of blades is a good
investment, although if you will be restricted to no larger than
1/4" steel, you will be well served with a 24 pitch blade.

Harold

You're right about tooth count but its a PITA to change blades on my
saw. As I normally cut thick stuff, I have a 8 pitch blade in it.
When doing thin stock I turn up the speed and slow down on the
restrictor for feed. Seems to work. Not saying I've never caught a
tooth, but it is rare and saves a bunch of time.

Karl

Blade change on a Milwaukee saw takes about 15 seconds.

Unless said saw is set up in a fixture that turns it into a vert saw with a
small table . Then changing blades becomes a PITA . Mine usually wears a
10/14 bimetallic ? from HF - Morse brand and about 20 bucks for 3 blades
.
I think a 3-pack of Milwaukee blades is less than 20 bux at Depot.

Don Foreman wrote:

I think a 3-pack of Milwaukee blades is less than 20 bux at Depot.

I'll be checkong that out ! I've been happy overall with the Morse blades
from HF, but the selection of TPI is limited - they only carry that one type
.. My son the autoparts man got me some (DeWalt) from his store , they were
only available in 18 TPI . Be nice to have more of a selection .

--
Snag
"90 FLHTCU "Strider"
'39 WLDD "PopCycle"
BS 132/SENS/DOF

Snag wrote:
Don Foreman wrote:

I think a 3-pack of Milwaukee blades is less than 20 bux at Depot.

I'll be checkong that out ! I've been happy overall with the Morse
blades from HF, but the selection of TPI is limited - they only carry
that one type . My son the autoparts man got me some (DeWalt) from
his store , they were only available in 18 TPI . Be nice to have more
of a selection .
--
Snag
"90 FLHTCU "Strider"
'39 WLDD "PopCycle"
BS 132/SENS/DOF

So I went by the local Home Depot , picked up a package of the Milwaukee
blades . Turns out it's fifteen bucks for two blades , which is a bit higher
initial cost then the Morse ($7.50 vs $6.67). The write-up on their website
makes it sound like these blades can do everything but wash the dishes ...
we'll see .
The biggest problem I have is catching/binding the blade while cutting an
irregular shape (like cutting sprues off castings) , putting a kink in it .
To be fair in my comparison , I bought the same pitch blades I've been using
.. I'll see if these last longer , they claim 3X the life of a standard blade
..
--
Snag
"90 FLHTCU "Strider"
'39 WLDD "PopCycle"
BS 132/SENS/DOF

On Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:50:03 -0700 (PDT), Pirate
wrote:

I lucked into a PorterCable Porta Band Saw for $10 at a yard sale :-)
Locally I can get Milwaukie or Lenox blades for it. They are from
Lowes and HD, and I don't know the model #'s of the Lenox blades.
Any experience out there on either blades?
Also tooth count? I will mostly be cutting 1/8" to 1/4" steel.
Thanks

YOU SUCK!!!!


Gunner


"First Law of Leftist Debate
The more you present a leftist with factual evidence
that is counter to his preconceived world view and the
more difficult it becomes for him to refute it without
losing face the chance of him calling you a racist, bigot,
homophobe approaches infinity.

This is despite the thread you are in having not mentioned
race or sexual preference in any way that is relevant to
the subject." Grey Ghost