OCtoolguy Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 I know this is sort of off the wall but something occurred to me this afternoon while I was out in my shop. I am working on a project and have decided to try out some different blades. But, I didn't want to put the used blades back in the blade container with the new ones like it. So, my question is, what do you do with a blade that is used but still good. I do throw the worn out ones away but I was just wondering what you all do. Also, how do you keep track of which blade you are using at any given point in time? I was trying my darnedest to try to identify them by looking at them and even with a magnifying glass, I can't see which blade is which. I know if I was only doing marquetry it would simple as I would only be using 2/0 blades but I have about 10 different blade types/sizes and it's almost impossible to identify which one is which. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Ray Smudger 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KurtP Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 I have a block of wood that I attached a piece of metal too and then I stuck some magnets to the metal. I marked each magnet with a different blade size and I stick the slightly used blades to the magnets. Travis, OCtoolguy, Smudger and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 I just use the blade till i have to push hard to get it to work,then throw out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlin Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 Kurt that is great I might have to steal that idea. ***Merlin*** Scrolling Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrolling Steve Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 Since I use FD blades , I keep some I mark the plastic pack used and put the gently used one in those........I do like your system Kurt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 i KEEP MY BLADES IN A PLASTIC TUBE . DIFFERENT TUBE FOR DIFFERENT SIZES, AND i ALSO HAVE A TUBE FOR EACH SIZE OF SLIGHTLY USED BLADES BUT THEY ARE ALWAYS EMMPTY OR MAYBEE WITH ONE USED BLADE, MOST OF THE TIME I USE A BLADE TILL IT GETS DULL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edward Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 I just toss my blades once the start struggling on the wood, no sense on ruining a project. edward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustLarry Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 For the slightly used blades I wrap a small piece of painter's tape on them and slip them back in the plastic pouch they come in. I keep my blades in a plastic storage box divided in compartments for each type blade and keep the blades in the pouch they come in.. On top of the blades is the red pouch (now empty) that Mike sent his sample pack in. When I am cutting I place the pack of blades I am using from on top of the red pouch and close and secure the lid on the box. Secure the lid on the box?, Yes, cause when I knocked the box over and spent lots of time re-sorting the packs I learned to secure the lid. When I need new blade, open up, pick up pouch on top and get new blade. I keep a few used blades on magnet stuck to box fan next to saw. These come in handy to pull out that stubborn saw dust that sometimes wants to stay in the cut. Also good to remove small slivers or pieces that want to stay in the cut. Also great to add a dab of glue under pattern when piece wants to lift up. Also good to pull out the excess glue from cut when too much of a dab was used - I am probably the only one that uses too much of a dab though. Some times, not often, but some times I have changed to a new blade when just a little more cutting was needed to finish. This new blade still has some life in it, and when the next project will use another size or type blade, I put the painter's tape on the blade and place it back in the pouch with the new ones. Next time I need that type blade, I take out the one with the tape. Should never have more than one taped blade in pouch at any time. Lucky2 and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry1939 Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 I store blades in empty drinking water bottles. Print the size & type on a strip of paper & scotch tape it to the bottle. Place a rubber band around the top & bottom of the bottle & put slightly used blades on the outside of the bottle, under the rubber bands. For the blade that I am using, I return that bottle to the rack upside down. The rack is attached to the wall and is "sort of a spice rack." The front is low enough that I can read the labels. Works good for me. jerry OCtoolguy and LarryEA 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneMahler Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 I like Kurt's idea. I was laying them on my bench with a small piece of tape on them with the number on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multifasited Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 I have a magnet outside each marked tube on my carrosel holder ,still not perfect as I have caught something on the tip and pulled some off ,then I have to get the digital calipers out ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted May 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 Thanks for all the great input and ideas. I only ask this question because I was working on a marquetry project when something else popped up and I wanted to try it. It was going to be in much thicker wood and would require a different blade. I bought one of those 60 tube racks from Amazon and I have a ton of unused tubes at this point so I have a lot of places to put used blades. I was just wondering what others were doing. Now I have all kinds of ideas. I am going to build one of those circular racks for my blades that was mentioned above and maybe epoxy a magnet to the outside of the tubes that I'm using to put the used blades on the outside of the tube. I like that idea. Once again, thanks for all your wonderful ideas and for indulging this curious newbie. Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 (edited) I put my slightly used blades right back with the new blades. When I have to replace a worn out or broken blade, I will use those first it I see them. If not I will use them when they do come up. I don't see the need to separate them. Edited May 13, 2015 by Scrappile LarryEA and Lucky2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted May 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 Scrappile, you are probably correct. Makes sense that if they are still usable, it makes no difference as to when you use them. You may have saved me and others a lot of headaches. Thanks. Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Scroller Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 I've got some magnetic tape stuck on the side of my saw magnifying glass arm and stick them to that. Scrolling Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryEA Posted May 13, 2015 Report Share Posted May 13, 2015 Paul (Scrappile) is more my style. I like Jerry (1939)'s idea best. I'll need 10 -15 bottles. Kurt's way is well organized and so is Ike's. Kevin and Edward gently stress test blades till they are done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgman Posted May 14, 2015 Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 My feeling is once the blade has been mounted in the saw, it is a used blade. I do not use used blades! I buy blades by the gross. That averages out to about $0.23 a blade. That's 23 cents! It's not worth it to me to put a used blade in, and then have to change it because it's not sharp enough. So, if it's used, it gets tossed. I use plastic tubes for blade storage. I have a wooden rack with holes drilled in it to hold the tubes. I used a lablel maker to identify what's inside. As you can see by the picture, the tube on the table tells me what blade is mounted in the saw. I buy my tubes at http://www.sloanswoodshop.com OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted May 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 DGman, you are probably right but at this point, I'm still trying to figure out how to insert the blades correctly. I am messing with a lot of different blades and don't have enough experience yet to know when a blade should be thrown away or kept. And if I'm in the middle of doing one type project and suddenly want to cut out something of a different type or thickness, I would have to change out the blade for the correct size or type of blade required. It would be a shame and very wasteful to just throw a blade away for no reason. That's why I asked the question. Lot's of good info so far. Thanks. Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatie Posted May 14, 2015 Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 I have tubes like Dans, that I hang up. Inside each tube is a shortened drinking straw, that I have taped over the bottom, I put my barely used blade in there, so that it is with the same size blades Marg KurtP and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted May 14, 2015 Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 (edited) I guess I have a question. I guess I do not understand why you "save" used blades. If they are dull they should go in the trash, if they are still good enough to cut with, why not just use them, next time you need that size/type blade? What are they being saved for? Just curious. Edited May 14, 2015 by Scrappile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Scroller Posted May 14, 2015 Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 I guess I have a question. I guess I do not understand why you "save" used blades. If they are dull they should go in the trash, if they are still good enough to cut with, why not just use them, next time you need that size/type blade? What are they being saved for? Just curious. Paul my answer to your question would be I stick them there because I use different blades for different jobs and woods and swap the blades and keep the odd knackered one for pushing a hole through holes where the blade won't go through properly. I can't answer for any others which I'm sure will add to that. Roly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted May 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 Scrappile, to answer your question all you have to do is read what I wrote. I never said anything regarding "worn out" blades. I clearly wrote that a blade that was being used but still having life left in it, how do you keep track of what it is, size, tooth configuration, etc. so that you can save it for when you come back to the project you were working on when you changed to something else. I realize they are pretty cheap but so am I. I throw away the ones that have become dull or show signs of heating up. They go into the can. But, why throw away a blade that still has a lot of life left in it? That's all I'm asking and how best to keep them organized? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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