Replies

1. 
   highfigh | Mar 05, 2005 05:24pm | #1

   Look for a sharpening service in your area and ask if they sell blades, too. There's one here in Milwaukee who makes BS blades up as needed because he buys the blade stock in bulk. I bought a couple and the back edges are eased over right out of the box. No exposed edges to rust, very smooth and cuts like butter. A lot less expensive than any of the other blades I have seen and after seeing the Timberwolf display at the Woodworking Show last weekend, the cut is at least as good. I have the Grizzly G0555 saw and can resaw white oak to <1/16".

   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
1. 
   woodhoarder | Mar 05, 2005 06:13pm | #2

   What is their name? I am also in the Milwaukee area, and that sounds like a great source.

   Thanks.

1. 
   highfigh | Mar 05, 2005 06:55pm | #4

   Mr B's Blades. Just off Bradley Rd, east of 76th St. He's in the white pages. Also sharpens circular saw and other blades, although I haven't had him sharpen anything other than my planer knives(which I haven't installed yet).
   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

2. 
   hamelech | Mar 05, 2005 06:14pm | #3

   Snap,

   I bought a 1/2" Wood Slicer from Highland Hardware, and am very pleased. I have a 14" Powermatic Artisan Model 44, and the Wood Slicer was a dramatic improvement over the (naturally) cruddy stock Powermatic blades. Thick stock cuts like buttah, cut quality is quite good, and all the racket that the saw made on the old blades completely disappeared. The saw just quietly hums in a machine-like fashion.

   A good note about HH; when I Internet-ordered the custom size of 102" for $35, HH noticed my error, and reduced the price to $30, as 102" is a stock part number they carry. Kudos for your customer service!

   For ripping and gentle curves, I have no issue with the 1/2" width. Wood Slicers come 3/4" as well, but I have not bought one, since 1/2" suits my general purpose method of work.

   My buddy owns a 24" Powermatic, and I'm lobbying for him to try Wood Slicers. He frequently grumbles about the stock Powermatic blades, and can't stomach the price for buying a carbide tipped blade - he could afford the castle, but not the cost of the firewood to heat it.....

   Cheers.

3. 
   Peter36 | Mar 05, 2005 08:16pm | #5

   I agree with highfigh. I live beside a town of 80,000 people and there are 2 maybe even 3 places that repair and sell bandsaw blades. I buy my blades from them [90 1/2"] and they cost me anywhere from $14-$18 each. They have all different configurations and they custom weld them to length. They run very smoothly and work as well as the ones I have bought from Lee Valley.  Peter

4. 
   walnutjerry | Mar 06, 2005 05:04am | #6

   I just recently updated my bandsaw and went to a 16" saw with 12" resaw capacity. I visited the Timberwolf blade booth at the same show showing the bandsaw. I ordered the blades when I got back home. I did call the Sullfolk Machine Co. and talked to them about what I was doing-----types of wood I am using , etc. They were extremely helpful in blade selection.  I put one of the four different blades on my saw today to cut tenon shoulders in red oak. I got good parallel cuts in material 3 1/2" high with a relatively smooth cut for a 3TPI blade. Quite adequate for the face of a tenon. Setting the tension on the TW blades is a little different than other blades I have used, but I had no problem following the procedures described by the vendor at the show. I got 4-128 1/2" blades (3/16, 1/2, 3/4, and 1") for about 75.00 including shipping. I actually ybought 3 and got the fourth free  for doing so. I will evaluate more as time goes on and I use the TW blades in other projects. As for the first cuts? I am pleased with the results I got.

   Wish you the best in your choice of blades!!     Jerry