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  #1   Report Post  
mac davis
 
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Default All bandsaw blades are not created equal..

Well, it took almost a week, but I managed to screw up my 1st bandsaw blade..

Made a stupid mistake and tried to cut something that wasn't quite flat-bottomed
without using a fence or jig.. jammed the work and tweaked the new Ridgid 1/2"
blade..

Went to 5 different places in the Fresno/Clovis area and found that almost
NOBODY stocks blades for a 14" (93 1/2"), and the ones that do think that 3/8"
is a massive blade..

Ended up for now with a 1/2" Vermont American from Lowes... (ordered 3 blades
online last night)

I know that the Ridgid that I bought wasn't a "top of the line" blade, but it
felt better, ran smoother and seemed to cut better than the V.A. blade..

Also, I had to use a sharpening stone on the weld, to keep it from tearing up
the saw... didn't need to do that with the Ridgid blade..

Of course, one blade does not a test make.. I could have bought either an
exceptional Ridgid blade or a very bad VA blade..


mac

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  #2   Report Post  
Leif Thorvaldson
 
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Default


"mac davis" wrote in message
...
Well, it took almost a week, but I managed to screw up my 1st bandsaw
blade..

Made a stupid mistake and tried to cut something that wasn't quite
flat-bottomed
without using a fence or jig.. jammed the work and tweaked the new Ridgid
1/2"
blade..

Went to 5 different places in the Fresno/Clovis area and found that almost
NOBODY stocks blades for a 14" (93 1/2"), and the ones that do think that
3/8"
is a massive blade..

Ended up for now with a 1/2" Vermont American from Lowes... (ordered 3
blades
online last night)

I know that the Ridgid that I bought wasn't a "top of the line" blade, but
it
felt better, ran smoother and seemed to cut better than the V.A. blade..

Also, I had to use a sharpening stone on the weld, to keep it from tearing
up
the saw... didn't need to do that with the Ridgid blade..

Of course, one blade does not a test make.. I could have bought either an
exceptional Ridgid blade or a very bad VA blade..


mac

====Check out http://suffolkmachine.com/ . They have excellent discussions
on bandsaws and blades. Use their Timberwolf blade and it is excellent.

Leif


  #3   Report Post  
Patriarch
 
Posts: n/a
Default

mac davis wrote in
:

Of course, one blade does not a test make.. I could have bought either
an exceptional Ridgid blade or a very bad VA blade..


I have never had a VA product with which I was really pleased. To me, it
is truly an 'emergency' and/or 'disposable' brand.

Patriarch,
who has screwed up a bandsaw blade somewhat spectacularly. Always make
sure you reapply the tension to the blade. DAMHIKT
  #4   Report Post  
David Wade
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I've bought a variety of blades over the last several years. I now just
go to the local industrial saw shop, point at a sample on the counter,
and say "Make me two". As an example, a year ago I temporarily mounted a
second riser block on my Delta and needed a 116.5" blade. I stopped in
on my way back from lunch. In ten minutes I was on my way with two
blades at a total cost under $20. At these prices I prefer to replace
blades quicker rather than spending the dollars for a premium blade that
lasts longer.
David
mac davis wrote:
Well, it took almost a week, but I managed to screw up my 1st bandsaw blade..

Made a stupid mistake and tried to cut something that wasn't quite flat-bottomed
without using a fence or jig.. jammed the work and tweaked the new Ridgid 1/2"
blade..

Went to 5 different places in the Fresno/Clovis area and found that almost
NOBODY stocks blades for a 14" (93 1/2"), and the ones that do think that 3/8"
is a massive blade..

Ended up for now with a 1/2" Vermont American from Lowes... (ordered 3 blades
online last night)

I know that the Ridgid that I bought wasn't a "top of the line" blade, but it
felt better, ran smoother and seemed to cut better than the V.A. blade..

Also, I had to use a sharpening stone on the weld, to keep it from tearing up
the saw... didn't need to do that with the Ridgid blade..

Of course, one blade does not a test make.. I could have bought either an
exceptional Ridgid blade or a very bad VA blade..


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

  #5   Report Post  
vernon
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Try the Olsen blades, dollar for dollar they are really good. they also make
great scroll saw blades. Can sometimes be found at Home Depot.


"mac davis" wrote in message
...
Well, it took almost a week, but I managed to screw up my 1st bandsaw
blade..

Made a stupid mistake and tried to cut something that wasn't quite
flat-bottomed
without using a fence or jig.. jammed the work and tweaked the new Ridgid
1/2"
blade..

Went to 5 different places in the Fresno/Clovis area and found that almost
NOBODY stocks blades for a 14" (93 1/2"), and the ones that do think that
3/8"
is a massive blade..

Ended up for now with a 1/2" Vermont American from Lowes... (ordered 3
blades
online last night)

I know that the Ridgid that I bought wasn't a "top of the line" blade, but
it
felt better, ran smoother and seemed to cut better than the V.A. blade..

Also, I had to use a sharpening stone on the weld, to keep it from tearing
up
the saw... didn't need to do that with the Ridgid blade..

Of course, one blade does not a test make.. I could have bought either an
exceptional Ridgid blade or a very bad VA blade..


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing





  #6   Report Post  
Rick Cox
 
Posts: n/a
Default

My local Wood store stocks Proline 93 1/2 blades and they are around $14 or
so. I had bought a Rigid and used rigid blades and was ready to pitch it.
The proline 1/2 skip tooth (i think) cuts like butter.
Well worth the money to me.

"mac davis" wrote in message
...
Well, it took almost a week, but I managed to screw up my 1st bandsaw
blade..

Made a stupid mistake and tried to cut something that wasn't quite
flat-bottomed
without using a fence or jig.. jammed the work and tweaked the new Ridgid
1/2"
blade..

Went to 5 different places in the Fresno/Clovis area and found that almost
NOBODY stocks blades for a 14" (93 1/2"), and the ones that do think that
3/8"
is a massive blade..

Ended up for now with a 1/2" Vermont American from Lowes... (ordered 3
blades
online last night)

I know that the Ridgid that I bought wasn't a "top of the line" blade, but
it
felt better, ran smoother and seemed to cut better than the V.A. blade..

Also, I had to use a sharpening stone on the weld, to keep it from tearing
up
the saw... didn't need to do that with the Ridgid blade..

Of course, one blade does not a test make.. I could have bought either an
exceptional Ridgid blade or a very bad VA blade..


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing



  #7   Report Post  
George
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"mac davis" wrote in message
...
Well, it took almost a week, but I managed to screw up my 1st bandsaw

blade..

Made a stupid mistake and tried to cut something that wasn't quite

flat-bottomed
without using a fence or jig.. jammed the work and tweaked the new Ridgid

1/2"
blade..

Went to 5 different places in the Fresno/Clovis area and found that almost
NOBODY stocks blades for a 14" (93 1/2"), and the ones that do think that

3/8"
is a massive blade..

Ended up for now with a 1/2" Vermont American from Lowes... (ordered 3

blades
online last night)


Could be worse. Couple years back I let myself run down to one blade, then,
when it snapped, went to the only place within 150 miles likely to have
blades. They didn't have a single 93 1/2" blade! All kinds of weird
lengths, though. Incredible.


  #8   Report Post  
mac davis
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 11:47:50 -0600, Patriarch
wrote:

mac davis wrote in
:

Of course, one blade does not a test make.. I could have bought either
an exceptional Ridgid blade or a very bad VA blade..


I have never had a VA product with which I was really pleased. To me, it
is truly an 'emergency' and/or 'disposable' brand.

you could classify this blade as emergency.. since it was the ONLY 93 1/2" 1/2"
blade I could find in 2 hours of shopping.. *g*

I can celled my web order for blades... realized that I'll be getting the riser
block and them have useless "short" blades.. lol



mac

Please remove splinters before emailing
  #9   Report Post  
mac davis
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 12:04:49 -0600, "vernon" wrote:

HD only carries Ridgid blades here, and not many... just not a "bandsaw area", I
guess...

Try the Olsen blades, dollar for dollar they are really good. they also make
great scroll saw blades. Can sometimes be found at Home Depot.


"mac davis" wrote in message
.. .
Well, it took almost a week, but I managed to screw up my 1st bandsaw
blade..

Made a stupid mistake and tried to cut something that wasn't quite
flat-bottomed
without using a fence or jig.. jammed the work and tweaked the new Ridgid
1/2"
blade..

Went to 5 different places in the Fresno/Clovis area and found that almost
NOBODY stocks blades for a 14" (93 1/2"), and the ones that do think that
3/8"
is a massive blade..

Ended up for now with a 1/2" Vermont American from Lowes... (ordered 3
blades
online last night)

I know that the Ridgid that I bought wasn't a "top of the line" blade, but
it
felt better, ran smoother and seemed to cut better than the V.A. blade..

Also, I had to use a sharpening stone on the weld, to keep it from tearing
up
the saw... didn't need to do that with the Ridgid blade..

Of course, one blade does not a test make.. I could have bought either an
exceptional Ridgid blade or a very bad VA blade..


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing





mac

Please remove splinters before emailing
  #10   Report Post  
mac davis
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 14:38:34 -0500, "George" george@least wrote:


Could be worse. Couple years back I let myself run down to one blade, then,
when it snapped, went to the only place within 150 miles likely to have
blades. They didn't have a single 93 1/2" blade! All kinds of weird
lengths, though. Incredible.

What was strange was that I called Sears, who sells Delta and "craftsman" 14"
saws, and they (along with Orchid Supply) only carry up to 80" blades..


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing


  #11   Report Post  
Ken Moon
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"mac davis" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 14:38:34 -0500, "George" george@least wrote:


Could be worse. Couple years back I let myself run down to one blade,
then,
when it snapped, went to the only place within 150 miles likely to have
blades. They didn't have a single 93 1/2" blade! All kinds of weird
lengths, though. Incredible.

What was strange was that I called Sears, who sells Delta and "craftsman"
14"
saws, and they (along with Orchid Supply) only carry up to 80" blades..

============================
Try them online. Go to sears.com, select "tools", then search for "band saw
blades". They have several 93 inch blades for wood and metal. Craftsman,
Delta, and Olson brands.

Ken Moon
Webberville, TX


  #12   Report Post  
mac davis
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On Mon, 14 Feb 2005 05:11:02 GMT, "Ken Moon" wrote:


"mac davis" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 14:38:34 -0500, "George" george@least wrote:


Could be worse. Couple years back I let myself run down to one blade,
then,
when it snapped, went to the only place within 150 miles likely to have
blades. They didn't have a single 93 1/2" blade! All kinds of weird
lengths, though. Incredible.

What was strange was that I called Sears, who sells Delta and "craftsman"
14"
saws, and they (along with Orchid Supply) only carry up to 80" blades..

============================
Try them online. Go to sears.com, select "tools", then search for "band saw
blades". They have several 93 inch blades for wood and metal. Craftsman,
Delta, and Olson brands.

Ken Moon
Webberville, TX

probably would have worked, but I needed a blade THAT day.. *g*

I guess after the riser block, I'll be buying 105 1/2" blades???


mac

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  #13   Report Post  
Leo Van Der Loo
 
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Hi Mac

Yes most of the 14" bandsaws use 105" long blades with the riser block
installed, did I give you the E-mail address for the low tension Swedish
silicon steel Bandsaw blades ??
They have really sharp prices, the heavier .032" thick, 1/4" 3/8" or
1/2" wide 3 or 4 tooth blades are 13 cent Canadian per inch length,
that's $13.65 Canadian or approx. $11.- US for a 105" long blade and
$9.70 US for a 93" blade.
It pays to have a spare blade or two around, the blades of course only
bend or break when we are using them, but somehow only when we can't get
another one right away.
Anyway here's the E-mail address.

http://www.tufftooth.com

Have fun and take care
Leo Van Der Loo

mac davis wrote:
snip


probably would have worked, but I needed a blade THAT day.. *g*

I guess after the riser block, I'll be buying 105 1/2" blades???


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing


  #14   Report Post  
Owen Lowe
 
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Default

In article ,
mac davis wrote:

I guess after the riser block, I'll be buying 105 1/2" blades???


Right.

--
"Sure we'll have fascism in America, but it'll come disguised
as 100% Americanism." -- Huey P. Long
  #15   Report Post  
mac davis
 
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Default

On Mon, 14 Feb 2005 15:23:22 -0500, Leo Van Der Loo
wrote:

yeah, Leo.. I bookmarked it....
I got a lead last night for a highly recommended saw shop a few miles from home
that welds up blades to order, so I'll try him first..

I know already about spare blades! I've only had the saw for about 2 weeks (how
the hell did I live without it?? *g*), and have kinked one blade and "slightly"
kinked another...
Cutting bowl blanks yesterday and didn't realize that the bottom of the blank,
that was on the table top, wasn't as flat as I thought... it rocked just enough
to bind the new blade and put a kink in it.. *sigh*

I'm living with it for now.. just trying to use the saw as little as possible..
I don't want to buy any more 93 1/2" blades and my riser kit isn't scheduled to
get here until Wednesday night...
All the blades I buy from now on (and it looks like I'll order in bulk) will be
the 105's..


Hi Mac

Yes most of the 14" bandsaws use 105" long blades with the riser block
installed, did I give you the E-mail address for the low tension Swedish
silicon steel Bandsaw blades ??
They have really sharp prices, the heavier .032" thick, 1/4" 3/8" or
1/2" wide 3 or 4 tooth blades are 13 cent Canadian per inch length,
that's $13.65 Canadian or approx. $11.- US for a 105" long blade and
$9.70 US for a 93" blade.
It pays to have a spare blade or two around, the blades of course only
bend or break when we are using them, but somehow only when we can't get
another one right away.
Anyway here's the E-mail address.

http://www.tufftooth.com

Have fun and take care
Leo Van Der Loo

mac davis wrote:
snip


probably would have worked, but I needed a blade THAT day.. *g*

I guess after the riser block, I'll be buying 105 1/2" blades???


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing




mac

Please remove splinters before emailing
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