Re-Sawing

[rrich]

A while ago I got a Griz band saw. (A rather nice one) I also ordered a couple of TW blades from Griz at the time. All this time I've been using either the manufacturer's supplied blade or the 1/4" TW blade. The band saw has been used for mostly utilitarian task in the shop. Some non straight cutting of plywood, some rough cutting of curves for templates but no really serious cutting.

Today I had to re-saw some white oak. I needed 1/4" thick pieces for one of those stupid projects that you swear, never again. I had some S2S/SLR white oak. I installed a 3/4" TW re-saw blade. I set the fence at about 11/32" and cut away. Next was to feed the pieces through the planer.

The garage door was open and the lights in the shop were off. By eye I could not tell which side needed to be planed. I could feel it but not really see it.

The Griz band saw and TW blade are absolutely amazing.

(The re-saw blade is 3 TPI but that's all that I remember.)

[Beamer]

Affirmation of that saw, there. Big beefy cast iron wheels, i believe, are one of the biggest factors in smoothing out a cut

[wisardd1]

Mar 12, 2010 12:03:45 GMT -6 Beamer said:

Affirmation of that saw, there. Big beefy cast iron wheels, i believe, are one of the biggest factors in smoothing out a cut

And in the dark!

[Joe Lyddon]

... and no drift!

For a minute there, I thought you were going to say you planed the wrong side! ;D ;D

[Doug B]

Man, I thought I was cheap! But at least I turn the lights on ;D

TW blades are awesome. I love them. I had a 3/4" TW blade that I put on my 14" Ridgid BS and cut the heck out of a lot of firewood type pieces to get pen blanks and other spindle type blanks. It finally got so dull I was about to toss it out, when over at the other forum I saw a post by Woodmangler about how to sharpen a BS blade with a dremmel. I tried it and low and behold it gave me a whole bunch more use of that blade. I finally replaced it, but that single blade sure cut up a bunch of gnarly dirty "found" wood for me. <edit> I should mention that the 3/4 3 TPI blade from TW is really not very well suited for my little Ridgid BS, and I would not recommend using that blade on a BS like mine except for what I used it for. <end edit>

I wonder if that old thread can still be found...that was pretty handy. I might have to go look for it if I ever get some time.

Congrats on your precision sawing in the dark (and stealth Grizzly BS gloat) Rich!

[Ruffnek]

Plus one on the Grizzly bandsaw (mine isn't even the cast iron wheel version) and on the TW blades, too...when they are new. I'll be interested to hear your impression of them after you have done some serious re-sawing.

As I posted here previously, I had gotten frustrated with the TW blades dulling prematurely. (BTW, Suffolk recommends a TW 3/4", 3-tpi AS-S (alternate set-special) blade for resawing with the 17" Griz)

New, they cut great and leave a great surface but I just haven't been getting the wear out of them that I think I should be getting.

I've got a 3/4" Highland blade on my saw now and it's the first blade I have used where I didn't have to adjust for drift. I may have gotten lucky with the set-up b ut that sucker cuts perfectly straight. I'll see how long it holds a sharp edge on the teeth.

I also got in an order of Lenox Diemaster bi-metal blades that I am going to try. The reviews I've read tout them as holding an edge 7-8 times longer than a carbon steel blade. I'll see.

[rrich]

Come on guys...

The house across the street is light colored. The driveway is concrete. The wall of the shop are bright white gloss. During daylight hours I almost never turn the lights on. I just wish that I was on the north side of the street.

[fshrmn43]

Mar 12, 2010 16:42:46 GMT -6 Ruffnek said:

I've got a 3/4" Highland blade on my saw now

Yeah, I just ordered a Highland blade myself, the WoodSlicer 1/2" resaw blade with a 3-4 tpi variable pitch design in which uneven spacing between the teeth nearly eliminates vibration. We will see I guess........ hopefully it works as advertised.

[Ruffnek]

Apr 21, 2010 6:39:55 GMT -6 fshrmn43 said:

Mar 12, 2010 16:42:46 GMT -6 Ruffnek said:

I've got a 3/4" Highland blade on my saw now

Yeah, I just ordered a Highland blade myself, the WoodSlicer 1/2" resaw blade with a 3-4 tpi variable pitch design in which uneven spacing between the teeth nearly eliminates vibration. We will see I guess........ hopefully it works as advertised.

I just this past weekend took the 3/4" Woodslicer off of my saw. The set-up was so good that I hated to change anything. But, i needed to cut some bowl blanks and I wasn't about to do it with that still-sharp Woodslicer.

I put on a 3/8" lenox bi-metal and I was immediately impressed with it, too. It's a thicker blade than the TW blades and even though new, the cut was so effortless that I was surprised.

I'll see how long it stays sharp.