Blade Life 2

[cossoft]

Again posting from a position of complete ignorance, I mainly cut MDF and wondered how long a blade might last?  I feel that it's best to quantify "how long" in linear meters /feet.  I use fairly cheap Silverline blades, and change them approximately every 1m of cut.  I don't know why.  I typically don't use lubrication.  How far would the experienced guys go?

[amazingkevin]

Probably a minimum of a hour in 3/4" plywood less than 11 ply and lots of times over 3- 4 hours Mdf is nothing butb glue so your time will vary.Mdf is very hazardous to your health from the glue dust

.

[dgman]

I don't measure blade life in terms of time or distance. I change blades when the blade no longer cuts the way I want it to. It might last an hour, or it might last ten minutes.

[ike]

I learne a long time ago that the cheap blades are not that cheap, because they don't cut as good ar last as long as a quality blade.such as FD or Olson blades..

[Sycamore67]

I do not think in terms of how many feet a blade will cut. Like others, I change when the cutting starts becoming more difficult. I find different c especially in blade life from piece to piece and type of wood. Cutting red oak there is a different between quarter and plain sawn wood.

 

I will often change if I a starting a new cutting if the blade is just starting to dull. A sharp blade cuts cleaner and more accurately.

[Lucky2]

Paul, this is a question that there is no accurate answer to, blade life depends a lot on what your cutting. You state that you usually cut MDF, well with MDF it can depend on what type or how much glue was used in making the product. I've had blades break as soon as they hit the wood, but, I've also had blades cut until there was no teeth left. Based on these experiences, how could I ever answer your question correctly. They last as long as they last, there is no set amount of inches or centimeters assigned to any blade. Can you only imagine how many warranty claims there would be, if the blades were assigned length of inches they will cut? Bottom line, get what you can out of a blade, and be happy with what you got.

Len

[heppnerguy]

some good answers here, but probably none that really answer your question because as you should realize by now, there are too many variables that make it impossible to really answer your question. Try different blades like a little larger blade with less teeth per inch and see how that works for you. I have never cut MDF  because of all the warnings about it, that I have read in many places. So for this one, you are on your own my friend, and have come up with an unanswerable question. Only surmises and guesses for this one.

 

Dick

heppnerguy

[ike]

Get a dust mask when cutting MDF It is a  hazard to your lungs. I use a mask that you use for fiberglass.

Edited December 14, 2015 by ike

[Sparkey]

Same as others. I change the blade when it doesn't cut like I want it to. You will be surprised how long a good blade will last.