Blade Life

[woodduck]

Hi all .I think I just had a brilliant idea,well brilliant for me.I was going through a fair amount of blades on my latest project & thought I might try to get some more life out of the blades seeing you use only a 3/4" section of the blade I cut 3/4" off the blade with a pair of side cutters & remounted the blade after backing off the tension Knob at the rear of the saw & bingo it works just fine ,twice the life out of a blade.I am also including some pictures of my new workshop ,it is small but I feel like a king in his castle

[Rob]

Wow that's an organised workshop, you put me to shame!  Looks like you are making good use of your space though.  Enjoy as much time in there as you can. 

 

Rob

[dgman]

Nice shop! It looks comfortable!

There are a lot of ways to extend the life of blades. For me, it's using clear packing tape on top of the pattern. Some folks use blue painters tape on the wood blank, then glue on the pattern on top of that. The tape lubericates the blade which helps prevent burning and the blade will last longer because it stays cooler.

If you cut the blade to move the teeth up or down, your still using an old used blade!

For me, blades are cheap. When they get dull, I toss them.

[orangeman]

Cutting 3/4" off a blade would not work on my current DeWalt 788. There is only 1/8" of blade above and below the blade clamps. I've been using DeWalt 788s for 10 years now and this is the smallest clearance I have ever seen.

[Scrolling Steve]

You did a great job getting the most out of a small space there Peter!....Nice shop!

[terrylee]

That is nice looking shop and I also you packing tape.I been using for years.it dose cool the blades 

[kywoodmaster]

Great looking shop. Wish I could get my mine looking like that. I use crown tooth blades saw till dull flip over for new blade. Pgt blades last a lot longer if you can use the aggressive cut.

Edited November 24, 2015 by kywoodmaster

[Lucky2]

Nice an tidy looking little shop, looks like a person could have a good time in there. As for clipping the blade, I usually get enough use out of my blades that there is no need to do so. Plus, if you cut 3/4" off of the bottom, aren't you changing the way the blade works? On reverse type blades there is only a few teeth that cut on the upstroke, cutting 3/4" from the bottom of the blade would remove those teeth.

Len

[woodduck]

Nice an tidy looking little shop, looks like a person could have a good time in there. As for clipping the blade, I usually get enough use out of my blades that there is no need to do so. Plus, if you cut 3/4" off of the bottom, aren't you changing the way the blade works? On reverse type blades there is only a few teeth that cut on the upstroke, cutting 3/4" from the bottom of the blade would remove those teeth.

Len

You are quite right Len but I seldom use reverse type blades.

[amazingkevin]

Hi all .I think I just had a brilliant idea,well brilliant for me.I was going through a fair amount of blades on my latest project & thought I might try to get some more life out of the blades seeing you use only a 3/4" section of the blade I cut 3/4" off the blade with a pair of side cutters & remounted the blade after backing off the tension Knob at the rear of the saw & bingo it works just fine ,twice the life out of a blade.I am also including some pictures of my new workshop ,it is small but I feel like a king in his castle

Nice Man Cave,Flip up table's hanging on the wall could help you.Nice to have a pl;ace to hang your hat! :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

[lawson56]

I will have to give that a try.Great Little Shop.Were a Kindred Spirit I guess ya can say,My Shop is small too 10x12.Thanks for the info.

[ike]

Blade life isn't a problem with me. I usually change blades with each piece I cut. On my  DeWalt I usually set  the speed at a #4 or #5. The blades usually last for whole project . unless it is a large project. then change when it begins to get a little harder to cut with then I change the blades are cheep and I don't want to ruien a project  with a dull blade.Blades are cheep at $6 a dozen unless you use box store blades which don't hold up like Olson's or Flying Dutchman's..

[LarryEA]

Nice shop! Even clean. You can move around. 

For my Deltas, I just move the blade up or down in the clamps.

[bobscroll]

You have a great shop to work in Jim! Well sorted,

Bob       

[ike]

I was reading your post again . so when I went into the shop today I put in a new blade. I cut study for 2 .hours and 10 minutes before the blade was getting dull. I was cutting a shooting star nativity scene. there was 63 holes in it  I don't think that was bad. I was using an Olson's # 5 R blade at a #4 1/2 on the speed restate on my DeWalt 788  type 1 saw. no complaints on 60 cents to cut it.

[Rob]

Woodduck, I have also heard of people using a false table to get more life out of a blade.  I haven't tried it myself but it would be easier than shortening the blade and no need to muck about with tension.

 

Rob

[bandaideman]

Must be as King of your castle you hold a lot of audiences with your people because I don't see any  dust on the floor and Walls. No time to cut?. I wish I could keep mine that clean. Nicely laid out great little place.

[woodduck]

Must be as King of your castle you hold a lot of audiences with your people because I don't see any  dust on the floor and Walls. No time to cut?. I wish I could keep mine that clean. Nicely laid out great little place.

Thanks mate you would find a bit of dust there now,the pictures were taken just after I had moved in.

[Jim Finn]

I have also cut off the bottom of some of my blades.  My saws will adjust to this shorter blade well.  I usually do not use reverse blades because I do not do fretwork at all......not yet.