Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 14, 2003 12:38am | #1

   Steve, here's a text copy from an earlier thread where I pitched in to clarify the difference between "stabilizers" and blade "stiffeners."  It has relevance to your question:

   "At the risk of causing a riot here, I'm going to wave the terminology flag:  a blade stiffener and blade stabilizers are not the same thing, though the terms are often interchanged.

   Stabilizers come in pairs, used one on either side of the blade.  A stiffener is a single large disk that goes between the stock arbor washer and the blade.  Stabilizers will position the blade at a different place on the arbor than it has "normally" occupied, so various things need to be adjusted to compensate (splitter, zero-clearance inserts, for examples).  A stiffener placed on the washer side of the blade will not create these differences."

   If you'd like to read the entire thread, go here.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

2. 
   garth | Jan 14, 2003 03:04am | #2

   IMO with the new blades a full kerf blade, that is 1/8", does not need either.

   Scott T.

3. 
   jako17 | Jan 14, 2003 03:18am | #3

   STeve  If you use any washer that is bigger than the stock arbour flange or washer use two of them as some stiffeners ,stabilisers have a raised flange pressing against  the blade .Therefore if you use one on the outside and the original arbour flange on the inside it wiil try to distort the blade.Using a pair you have opposing forces

4. 
   SawdustSteve | Jan 15, 2003 11:18pm | #4

   Hi Forestgirl...   Thanks for the info.  I always assumed a stiffener and a stabilizer were the same thing.  I guess I should spend more time reading the postings here at Knots and less time in the shop.   As I was told sooo many times...'If you don't ask, you won't learn'

   SawdustSteve

1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 16, 2003 06:00am | #5

   Well Steve, I've got you talkin' to yourself, so that must count for something, LOL!  Tell you what, maybe we can meet in the middle -- you spend a little more time reading the boards and I'll spend less time reading magazines and more time workin' in the shop.  This time of the year, it's a bit uninviting out there!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)