Replies

1. 
   RickL | Aug 19, 2008 02:14pm | #1

   You have any metal working skills???  Most woodworkers are better off buying blades made to size. Welding takes special equipment and skills. Blade welders are expensive. Silver brazing is much more affordable but again not something necessarily easy to learn on your own. Buy a ready made blade and when it's dull try using one of the brazing kits to practice on. I'd recommend you buy your initial blade as close to the max so you can have room to reduce the size as you practice the brazing. The actual running on the machine will see how your braze holds out 

2. 
   PADDYDAHAT | Aug 20, 2008 04:26am | #2

   j. I am an accomplished coppersmith and I would not consider it worth my time to silver braze a blade. I would rather buy a perfect electric welded blade that is guaranteed by an expert . Paddy

1. 
   joinerswork | Aug 20, 2008 08:57pm | #3

   Hi Paddy,

   I would, too. But it sure is handy to be able to silver-solder a broken blade if it saves ya a trip into town!

   Ray, not a fast brazer, and not a slow one.  More of a half-fast one.

1. 
   PADDYDAHAT | Aug 20, 2008 11:39pm | #4

   Ray, me too, that's why I buy two blades at a time. It is such a PITA to set up to do one joint.

   The welding station on the side of the old DO-ALL machine shop band saws was great. You just cleaned up the ends, butt them together in the clamps, dial in the weld and press the button, grind the seam flat on the rotary stone and rehang the blade.

   Paddy the lazy...err, the industrious

1. 
   joinerswork | Aug 21, 2008 12:40am | #6

   Ahh, you must be pretty prosperous, buying more than one blade at a time.  Me, I gotta wear one clear out, before I can justify a brand-new one. I bet you buy eggs by the dozen, too.

   Ray

    

2. 
   heartwould | Aug 20, 2008 11:52pm | #5

   The elder of my two sons partially paid for his college expenses by welding blades during Summers at Woodmizer. When he first started, the old pros laughed about how many times he would get cut by the blades as he took the sharpened blades from the assembly line and had to whip the ends around together on the spot welder, then burnish the weld and hang them on a rack. When he had enough blades to fill a box, he had to learn the hard way the fine art of folding the blades.
   My son is now the chairman of the Spanish department at a local high school, but his arms still bear the scars of his Summers at Woodmizer.
   So, my hat is off and my first aid kit is at the ready for all of you industrious folks who want to make or repair your own band saw blades. Be careful.