Replies

1. 
   BarryO | Aug 17, 2004 07:22pm | #1

   Buy this book:

   http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/070406.asp

   I have th 16" Grizzly as well.  I was bewildered by choice of tooth pitch, etc., until I got "The Bandsaw Book".

1. 
   billballeza | Aug 18, 2004 06:22am | #3

   I wholeheartedly agree with forestgirl. The Timber Wolf blades are nothing short of superb.. and probably the very best available.

   Suffolk has spent many years in research and development and produces a blade that moves through wood like you wouldn't believe.

2. 
   forestgirl | Aug 18, 2004 04:40am | #2

   I can highly recommend Timber Wolf blades from Suffolk Machinery.  I use them exclusively on my Grizzly 14" saw.  It can be extremely confusing trying to understand blade selection by reading, because there are so many choices.  I'd suggest you call Suffolk (1-800-234-7297), and ask for a tech guy to walk you through the selection process.  Have a list ready of the type of cutting you expect to do, and he will help you select the blades you need.

   Be sure and ask for a catalog (such as it is) because there will be a chart or two and other written info that will help.  When you get the blades, be sure and use their "flutter test" to establish the correct tension for the blade (rather than relying on your tension gauge).

   I have a resaw blade, and general purpose (large profile) cutting blade and a narrow blade for small-radius cutting.  They cut like pleasant dreams.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

3. 
   emerckx | Aug 19, 2004 02:24am | #4

   I "third" the recommendation for Timberwolf blades. The guys at Suffolk machinery will get you dialed in to exactly the blade you need when you tell them what you want to cut.

   Mike

1. 
   oswaldt | Aug 19, 2004 03:40am | #5

   Thanks for all the advice folks. I'm going on a vacation for a week but will be calling about Timberwolf blades when I return.

2. 
   Michmesquite | Aug 19, 2004 03:41am | #6

   Ok, I vote against Timberwolf blades.

   I do a lot of resaw work on very hard wood (Lyptus) and honestly the Olson blades that came with the MiniMax outlast the Timberwolf 2 to 1 and gave a much cleaner kerf.

   I have since switched to a 1" Lennox carbide blade (no going back). Check out Iturra. I think they now sell a Lennox 1/2" carbide blade.

   I also have seen a Wood Slicer first hand resaw some Purple Heart and it did a great job._________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell 

1. 
   ScottPost | Aug 19, 2004 04:04am | #7

   Put me down as another vote against the Timberwolf. My experience mirrors the recent test by FWW - the Timberwolf is a mediocre blade at a slightly higher than average price. I've tried a half dozen of them and have been underwhelmed. I find that nearly all of the low to medium priced blades perform about the same, so I just buy whatever is handy for my general purpose blades. My saw won't handle a carbide blade, so I use a 1/2" Woodslicer for resawing. It's about double the cost of the lower cost bands but cuts extremely smooth with a lot less effort.

1. 
   Ardmore | Aug 19, 2004 05:54am | #8

   Who sells the Wood Slicer blades?  Also, I've got a 20" Grizzley.  What is the determining factor as to whether it will accept/use a carbide blade?

1. 
   Michmesquite | Aug 19, 2004 06:30am | #9

   Highland Hardware sells the Wood Slicer for about $30.

   Until a couple of months ago, a 1" Lennox carbide would fatigue and fail early on a 16" and sometimes a 20". Lennox recommended a minimum 24" BS.

   Lennox recently started selling an enhanced blade that is noticiably softer than their previous carbide blades and should not fatigue on as small a BS as a 16"._________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell 

4. 
   81treehouse | Aug 26, 2004 03:32am | #10

   Timberwolf changed by attitude toward bandsaws.  Go with them and you won't regret it.

5. 
   stephengaal | Aug 27, 2004 06:58pm | #11

   I have a Laguna Tools 16HD, which is a pretty hefty bandsaw.  It has a 3 HP, 220V motor and can resaw up to about 12".  It has a very rigid frame.  It is rated to 1 1/4" blades.  I never use anything more than 1/2" to resaw.  On a smaller less beefy bandsaw, I don't think you will get enough tension on the blade to be happy using 3/4" blades.

   Stephen J. Gaal

6. 
   MatthewSchenker | Aug 27, 2004 07:11pm | #12

   oswaldt,

   I have a Jet 14" bandsaw and I have been using Timberwolf blades, with great success. The blades stay sharp a LONG time and they are very reliable. My favorite is their 1/2" variety. But I also have a 1/8" blade for doing curves.

   Recently, I purchased a Woodslicer bandsaw blade from Highland Hardware. They are at http://www.tools-for-woodworking.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=295.

   I haven't had an opportunity to use the Woodslicer yet. I am curious to compare the Woodslicer to the Timberworlf, just to see which is better. I'll report back when I do the test!

   But for now, Timberwolf is great.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 8/27/2004 12:11 pm ET by Matthew Schenker

1. 
   CharlieD | Aug 28, 2004 12:56am | #13

   The WoodSlicer is great out of the chute, but I found the blade life to be frustratingly short. I mentioned this to the rep at the MiniMax booth at a recent WW show, and was told that the WoodSlicer is a modified meat blade. Can't verify that, but it sure didn't last long.

   Charlie

   I tell you, we are here to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different. --K Vonnegut

7. 
   MyTacoma | Aug 28, 2004 09:51pm | #14

   I keep a variety of blades in my shop. I have bunch of Olsons for general use and throw them out soon as they show sign of wear. For small resawing I use the Blade Runner blade sold by Iturra Design. It's the same blade as Woodslicer sold by Highland Hardarware. It's about $10 or $15 cheaper. For major resaw I use 3/4" Lenox carbide-tipped blade. I try to be really careful with this one since it costs $145. I would recommend getting a tension gauge from Iturra since p.s.i. can vary between each blade.

1. 
   CraigC | Aug 29, 2004 03:41pm | #15

   I too recommend the 'Bandsaw Book'. And, after 'farting around' for awhile I've come to the same conclusion for my 60's Delta 20 inch: Cheap carbon blades, a Woodslicer, and a Lennox 3/4" carbide. I commonly resaw 12" tropical hardwood.

1. 
   MyTacoma | Aug 29, 2004 09:06pm | #16

   I believe somewhere in the book it lists the type of blades he commonly uses. I think for consistant resawing of dense exotics a carbide blade is essential.