Sharpening band-saw-blades.  BACK TO TRAINING 

The links to subjects are on the left column.  mark@earthbilly.com

This photo shows a new 1-1/2" saw-blade and a used saw-blade on top... to illustrate the potential life expectancy of your blades. The used blade started out the same width as the blade below, but has been sharpened 35 times. The used blade finally broke, but only after cutting 17,000 board feet of oak.

One factor to prolong blade life is to change blades often, after 10 to 12 logs of tie size or smaller. A sharp blade will cut so much faster than a dull blade, the time needed to change blades is negated, or your yield per hour COULD GO UP. If you get less than 10 to 15 sharpenings before the blade breaks, its time to find the reason and correct it. Blade breakage can be caused from sawmill alignment issues, sharpening issues, and most often running a dull blade to long.

Another view of 35 sharpenings. You should expect this out of your saw-blades, if you sharpen yourself.

I have a lot to say about sharpening. If you are breaking blades after 3 to 5 sharpenings, we can help you. Blades normally break with wear, but with proper sharpening and usage, blades should last 20 to 30 sharpenings and cut thousands of board feet of lumber. Anyone who tells you that blade breakage after 5 sharpening is acceptable, only wants to sell you more blades. If you are having troubles with breakage, we need to determine what is wrong and get you lined up to get full usage of your hard earned money buying blades. I will add my full sharpening technique in photos and explanations soon. If you need help now...  mark@earthbilly.com