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Post by keithcat on Mar 28, 2009 15:46:17 GMT
I have one of the smaller band saws a Chester H80, which uses 1300x 0.63x 12.5mm size blades. Up to now I have been getting these from ChesterUK them selfs at around £8each. Who would be a better supplier.I would prefer better blades than cheaper. Also how tight should I be running the blades, as tight as I can get it or just tight enough to stay on.
Thanks
MIke
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Post by engineernut on Mar 28, 2009 16:57:34 GMT
I buy my blades from Axminster tools. The blades get a fair bit of use on all type of metal and do not have to be replaced that often. I think the last one lasted about 2yrs? The teeth are well oiled when cutting.
I set blade tension as the least possible for it to work properly.
Also the cutting pressure is the same principle. When I purchased the band saw there was a picture in the instructions to give the ideal cutting pattern.
No point in having it to tight, only putting unneeded stress on blade.
Also make sure that drive wheel is tracked/aligned properly. Thats to make sure blade is in middle of drive wheel.
I use 24tpi blades.
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Post by ppplant on Mar 30, 2009 17:52:34 GMT
Why not make your own blades? Bandsaw blade can be bought off the internet from a number of suppliers, in rolls. I bought a 50 foot roll of genuine Record blade from a tool stall at Lincoln steam rally several years ago, enogh , I think, for about 12 blades for my Burgess bandsaw. Take 1 of your old blades, cut it and measure the overall length and then cut a new piece from the roll to the same length. The 2 ends to be joined should be cut at an angle and chamfered, to give the longest and widest joint possible. Make a jig to hold the 2 ends together, but not quite touching, and silver solder them together. Practice on an old blade to learn how little solder you need, as too much will jam the blades in the guides as it revolves. Despite my lack of engieering skills I managed to master this and it saves a lot of money, also cuts blood pressure, as you always need a new blade when the shops are shut.
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Post by spamcanman on Mar 30, 2009 18:05:58 GMT
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Post by engineernut on Mar 30, 2009 18:07:50 GMT
Why not make your own blades? Bandsaw blade can be bought off the internet from a number of suppliers, in rolls. I bought a 50 foot roll of genuine Record blade from a tool stall at Lincoln steam rally several years ago, enogh , I think, for about 12 blades for my Burgess bandsaw. Take 1 of your old blades, cut it and measure the overall length and then cut a new piece from the roll to the same length. The 2 ends to be joined should be cut at an angle and chamfered, to give the longest and widest joint possible. Make a jig to hold the 2 ends together, but not quite touching, and silver solder them together. Practice on an old blade to learn how little solder you need, as too much will jam the blades in the guides as it revolves. Despite my lack of engieering skills I managed to master this and it saves a lot of money, also cuts blood pressure, as you always need a new blade when the shops are shut. If one goes through a lot of blades then could be useful. But as I only have to replace blades very rarely and the last pack of 3 cost about £21 not really worth it for me.  |
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Post by drjohn on Mar 31, 2009 1:12:25 GMT
pplant, I never thought of doing an angled cut for the join, I always do a straight one, but it makes sense especially if the way the cut is angled, the back of the join goes through the workpiece before the teeth bit. Might give less of a di-dum-di-dum as the not so good joins do ;D I've been making mine for years and even put a section in the workshop bit of my website to show Ron how to do it. So I'll see if I can master the chamfering of the slanted cut in the restricted space I have available. Mind you, in all the years I've made blades, I only had one fail at the joint, and that was the other week - I'd joined it with new cadmium free silver solder !   I learn something most days here DJ P.S. I use my bandsaw a great deal as I don't get laser cut parts! |
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Post by keithcat on Mar 31, 2009 18:23:02 GMT
Thanks for all the replies guys. I think that I am going to try making my own blades. That is if I can find the right size stock.
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Post by ppplant on Mar 31, 2009 21:11:09 GMT
my son in law and I were searching the web recently, and found a nuber of suppliers with a wide range of sizes of blade.
drjohn, I have also only had 1 blade fail, but not at the joint, I was shown how to make the joint by either ALBERT [see this forum] or by Roddy Morris of Chinley, I cant remember which, but I claim no credit for myself.
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Post by albert on Apr 1, 2009 17:33:07 GMT
Hello,
May I just add to ppplant input the angles are achieved by using the bench grinder,just work out which angle to grind first as it is too easy to grind the wrong angle. Any excess solder can be filed away before removing the blade from the jig.
Another thing as you start a new blade cut it to the maximum length the machine will allow,this gives spare blade should it break prematurely for re-grinding.
Albert
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