I guess it was Matthias Wandel that popularized sharpening band saw blades using a Dremel mototool, and this is an extension of that. The jig allows you to sharpen the blade without taking it off of the machine. The band saw fence was set to put the grinding wheel centred on the blade.
I have been free-hand sharpening my bandsaw blades just by touching the top of each tooth with a Dremel tool at a slight angle. The blade fits in a slot, and the lever at left advances the blade by one tooth every time I lift it and drop it back down. With the blade on the wheels, there is just too much inertia from the wheels, which means I couldn’t advance and stop the blade as quickly, so sharpening the teeth would take quite a bit longer.
In the spirit of D-I-Ying, it is possible to hand sharpen your bandsaw blades with either simple hand tools or hand held power tools. The basic anatomy of any tooth on any wood cutting saw blade is pretty much the same, be it a circular saw blade, a jig saw blade, or in this case, a bandsaw blade. When you are sharpening any tool, bandsaw blades, circular blades, even axe blades, it is important to try and maintain the integrity of the blades original edges without changing the angles or geometry.
bandsaw blade sharpening jig Related Question:
Is it worth sharpening a bandsaw blade?
But the only way to ensure the functionality of your band saw and the quality of your final product is through using sharp band saw blades. It often makes sense to replace a dull blade with a new one, but you can sometimes get the best value out of merely sharpening an old blade instead of replacing it altogether.
How many times can you sharpen a bandsaw mill blade?
You should be able to sharpen your blade two or three times before needing to replace it, but sometimes breakage happens. Blade breakage can result from a range of situations. Common causes of blade breakage include: Dull teeth.
How long do bandsaw blades last?
On average your bandsaw blade should last 6 months to as long as a few years depending on what your cutting with it. Make sure to match your blade strength and quality to the project and material your cutting.
Can you sharpen metal bandsaw blades?
There’s a couple out there that can accommodate bands as narrow as 5/8″, but any way you rip it, you’re looking at a couple of thousand dollars for both. However, in the spirit of D-I-Ying, it is possible to hand sharpen your bandsaw blades with either simple hand tools or hand held power tools.
How many teeth per inch should a bandsaw blade have?
The general rule of thumb is: For wood and soft materials aim for 3 – 6 teeth in the workpiece. For metals and harder materials aim for 6 – 24 teeth in the workpiece.
How tight should my bandsaw blade be?
The blade should deflect no more than 1/4 in. A good place to begin is to tension the blade until the meter reads proper tension for the next wider blade. For example, if you’re tensioning a 3/8-in.
Why are my bandsaw cuts wavy?
Re: Band saw Cutting Wavy Cuts. The clasic cause for wavy lumber is pushing a dull blade past it’s limits. Sharp don’t get it. On these low powered mills, the blade gotta be razor sharp..
Why do bandsaws wander?
If the wheels are worn and do not have a distinct top to the crown then the blade will not know where to go, and may wander around. This of course can cause poor cut quality and difficulty in setting the guides.