Replies

1. 
   hammer1 | May 07, 2009 06:09pm | #1

   There is a professional sharpening service near me. They do most of the pro shops in the area. I wouldn't try sharpening a carbide saw blade. They are too expensive to mess up and they may not cut the way they are supposed to. Occasionally I'll touch up a router bit with a small diamond file but they are better done with the correct equipment, like the saw blades. The same shop does handsaws, by hand, scissors, knives as well as industrial cutters for a variety of industries.

   A good sharpening service will maintain the proper geometry for your cutters. They will be conservative in removing material and keep their eye open for any issues. They can also replace teeth. Bad sharpening services will grind down your carbide and may not maintain the geometry and balance. It's worth finding where the businesses take their work. It's inexpensive compared to replacement and you should be able to get many sharpenings out a blade. If you don't have any near you, you can mail your stuff to lots of good places.

   http://www.alphacarbide.com/index.html

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

2. 
   | May 08, 2009 01:31am | #2

   Pete,

   You might want to try Forrest Saw Blades sharpening service. I send my Forrest and Freud blades to them and have been very happy with the service. Prices are reasonable and posted on the web. I recently sent them my 40T WWII and my 60T Freud chop saw blade for sharpening, they had to replace three tips, the cost including return shipping and tax was $65.

   Bob, Tupper Lake, NY

1. 
   habilis | May 08, 2009 02:20am | #3

   Yeah, I've been looking at those services. The local Woodcraft has offers similar. I'm getting a nice collection of blades I need to do something with. Any diff between local and the big shops. Getting the distinct impression this is not something most are doing at home.

1. 
   dynamwebz | May 08, 2009 04:20am | #4

   I bring my blades to woodcraft. I have never been disappointed. A 6 mile ride and worth it.

3. 
   FrankDrackman | May 08, 2009 04:25am | #5

   I wasn't satisfied with any of the local services so I switched to Ridge Carbide Tools. Great customer service and quality sharpening.  Turn around is usually about a week.

   http://www.ridgecarbidetool.com/

4. 
   Eef | May 09, 2009 12:56am | #6

   pete,

   up until about 5 years ago, i was permitted to send all of my carbide tipped blades and cutters to the school district sharpening service.  now the district sharpeners are not allowed to sharpen carbide.  i was told that very toxic fumes are produced in the process.  i have used local walk-in services near my home.  i have never been disappointed. 

   eef

1. 
   saschafer | May 09, 2009 05:21am | #7

   The toxicity comes from cobalt in the binder that cements the carbide grains together. It's not super toxic, but it's the kind of thing you wouldn't want to be exposed to occupationally.-Steve

1. 
   Eef | May 10, 2009 01:57am | #9

   steve,thanks for that info. i do miss the service. it was guilt free and free!
   wouldn't want anyone to suffer from those toxins though.
   eef

5. 
   JohnWW | May 09, 2009 03:56pm | #8

   Pete,

   Local shops can be great or terrible, so they are an expensive gamble. I send blades back to the manufacturer for resharpening whenever possible. Ridge and Forrest both do excellent work with their own and competitor's blades.

   John White
   Shop Manager for FWW, 1998-2007

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | May 11, 2009 04:46pm | #10

   Any memory of what Ridge charges for a 40 T blade. One of my 40 T is the Infinity Super General which has the 30* degree ATB and side grind like the Freud Fusion. Even though I have used the same local sharpener for 20 + years on standard 20 & 24 T rip blades with flat tooth design and 40 with standard ATB design... I am not sure he really understands that side grind and may try them.

   Thanks...

   Sarge..

   Edited 5/11/2009 9:48 am ET by SARGEgrinder47

1. 
   JohnWW | May 11, 2009 07:58pm | #11

   Sarge,Sharpening a saw with a complicated grind takes very sophisticated machines, the computer controlled grinders that the manufacturers use cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The complex teeth can't be resharpened on the simpler older machines that many sharpening shops have.Here's a link to Ridge Carbide's page on sharpening costs:http://www.ridgecarbidetool.com/sharpening.phpI have had good results with both their blades and sharpening services.John W.

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | May 13, 2009 01:23am | #15

   Thanks John as I an aware of that side grind being unique. And I do believe my sharpener is not aware as he tends to be old school and the reason I ask about Ridge.. I have used a Ridge 2000 and am aware of the quality product. I have also purchased from Carbide . com and aware of their lines of quality blades. I believe both my Amana 20 T Euro rippers made by Dimar in Israel were purchased there.

   Just never gone outside town for blade sharpening so far but this side grind warrants it IMO.

   Again.. thanks...

   Sarge..

2. 
   JerryPacMan | May 12, 2009 03:37pm | #14

   Sarge, below is a link to help you out with costs.

   http://www.ridgecarbidetool.com/sharpening.php?osCsid=d7202d3023a79650a5f7b07cbf4bef67

    

     

   Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans.

   When your ship comes in... make sure you are not at the airport.

6. 
   tomwalz | May 11, 2009 08:04pm | #12

   Saw sharpening info. 

   http://www.carbideprocessors.com/sawsharpening.htm

   This should help you tell the difference between a  good shop and a bad one.

    

   Tom 

    

1. 
   habilis | May 11, 2009 10:29pm | #13

   Thanks to all! I knew you'd have researched this and be patient enough to answer for the a question for the umpteenth time. Lots of info for me to do more homework. Tempted to try Woodcraft because they're local and it's nice to deal directly with a solid, breathing human being. The internet is great for research and where else can I draw on so much experience, but I still like human contact(not to imply you're not). Ah, you know what I mean. At the same time, if I deal with a different person every time I walk in, most of that is lost.
   So, I'll research the prices; try local and start trying the big guys. Maybe Forrest, gotta hope they've got it covered.
   Learned a long time ago that a good sharp blade makes all the difference. Ever more so with finer detail and expensive wood.Again, staying away from the platinum, fetish zone; what blades do you like? Been happy with Forrest and Freud.Thanks again. Oh yeah I'll keep in mind that for complicated teeth safest to go to manufacturer. More to learn about teeth.