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Resharpening Bandsaw Blades and Band Tension - Informal Poll

Hello to the group,

Many of you are familiar with my bandsaw re-sharpening protocol:

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Over the years, I have saved several thousand dollars by using this protocol in my studio and have averaged around 8-10 re-sharpenings per band on my steel bands. Some turners who contacted me have stated they are getting the same amount of re-sharpenings per band as me (8-10) and others are only averaging (4-5) per band. While trying to determine why there was a disparity, I began wondering about the band tension and whether leaving the band tensioned on the bandsaw was one of the reasons some turners were seeing a lower number of re-sharpenings.

Several turners who were averaging 4-5 re-sharpenings per band indicated that the reason they stopped re-sharpening the band was due to the presence of stress cracks. Of course, if these are EVER present in the band, it should not be re-sharpened, per the protocol - it should be thrown out for safety reasons, regardless of the length of time it has been used.

However, I never leave the band tensioned on my bandsaw... At the end of the day, or when I know I will no longer be using the bandsaw, I de-tension the band. I've always done this since I've owned the bandsaw, about 8 years. When I stop re-sharpening my band, it is because the tooth is getting small, not because of stress cracks. In fact, I have only ever had two bands in 8 years ever develop a stress crack. I'm lucky I guess...

Leaving the band in constant tension over time can produce stress cracks according to the band manufacturers, not to mention be hard on the spring, tire crown, etc. So my question is to ask your help to take an informal poll:

If you are re-sharpening your bands using my protocol:

1.) How many re-sharpenings are you averaging per band?

2.) Do you de-tension the band every day, or leave it under constant tension?

Of course, other factors can be at work here that determine the maximum number of times the band can be re-sharpened (abrasive wheel used, heavy handed, or light touch, etc.), but it would be interesting to find out if this seems to have any effect or not... Thanks in advance for your help and all the best to you and yours!

Reply to
Steve Russell
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Hello again Steven.

Apropos your poll:

I do not resharpen any of my bandsaw blades, difficult to find the time!

I ALWAYS remove the tension from both the belt and the blade on my bandsaw.

Regards, Peter.

Reply to
Peter Charles Fagg

I have not resharpened any blades at this time but I always detension my saws after I'm done cutting for the day. Thank you for the link to your sharpening protocol. Marc

Reply to
marc rosen

My time is at a premium and generally more valuable than the cost of a bandsaw blade, thus I do not sharpen them. But I believe it is safe to say that I use my bandsaw far less than a production turner such as you, so my blades don't wear out nearly as rapidly.

I have never de-tensioned my blades, but I will undoubtedly begin doing so today. Years ago I spoke with a venerable boat builder who used a monstrous bandsaw extensively for cutting mahogany and teak. He told me that de-tensioning a bandsaw blade will cause it to "age" prematurely. I had my doubts, but who was I to question a person of his extensive experience and knowledge? While I haven't experienced early 'aging' with my blades, de-tensioning makes sense and will become a standard protocol in my shop now.

Thanks for your ongoing advice, Steve. Contributions such as yours make life easier for hacks like me.

Max

Reply to
Maxprop

I haven't made a habit of detensioning my blades. I always thought that the biggest problem here was getting flat spots on your wheels. As far as reshapening goes, I have it done for me. A 150 inch Lennow bi metal 1 1/4 with teeth 3/4 inch apart, costs about $9 to get sharpened. As far as blade breakage, it seems to be related more to having the blade guide properly positioned, and the blade guide clost to your work. I have had the blade guides loosen up, mostly the thrust one, and that combined with not lowering the guide did cost me at least one blade. robo hippy

Reply to
robo hippy

I sharpen mine only on the inside of the hook. It seems that sharpening from the top only makes the point sharper and using a correct diameter diamond hone on the inside also sharpens the point as well as the shoulders and these are the two places where cutting takes place. It seems similar to the way I sharpen a chainsaw, only from the inside. I have never counted the number of sharpenings on a blade. If I'm in the mood I sharpen, if not I change blades.

Reply to
Gerald Ross

Hello to the group,

Thanks for the emails and replies to my informal poll... :-) It appears that most of us re-sharpen our bandsaw blades and a significant percentage de-tension the bandsaw every day. Although the sampling was small in number, it was nonetheless illuminating. Thanks and best wishes to all of you in all of your woodturning endeavours!

Reply to
Steve Russell

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