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. If you’re looking to sharpen your band saw blade, you have two options: manually sharpen the blade yourself or use a mechanical sharpening machine. MANUALLY SHARPEN YOUR BLADE. Manually sharpening your band saw blade might seem like an overwhelming task considering the sheer number of teeth, but it’s actually a relatively simple process and costs far less than purchasing a mechanical sharpener if you don’t plan on sharpening blades very often.
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.
“Life is too short to be sharpening your own bandsaw blades” is what a co-worker remarked when asked him if he sharpens his own blades. My first attempt at sharpening was to go at it with a cut-off disk on a Dremel tool and the blade still in the saw. For resaw blades with fewer teeth, resharpening makes much more sense.
Early in my career, when a new saw blade dulled and started to cut waves, I would try things like adding tension to the blade, slowing down my feed rate or even adjusting my blade guides. If I could just get an edge back, I could keep cutting with the same blade and not have to mess with sending the blade off to be sharpened, and I would save $7. So, off I went, looking for a way to sharpen blades on my own. First off, no matter how good you get with the sander, the blade will not be as good as a new one or one that has had a full factory grind and set because this grinding is changing the geometry of the already finicky blade.
Given the number of teeth on a bandsaw blade, the cost to have a sharpening service sharpen a blade quickly adds up. The minimal set of the teeth on the blade of a Wood Slicer would be hard to replicate by a sharpening service. As far as using the Wood Slicer, we suggest to our customers that when they are finished with their resawing task, remove the Wood Slicer blade from the saw and hang it on the wall – ready to be installed again for the next resaw task.
“I make and sharpen my bandsaw blades all the time. The last blade I’ve put together was a couple of years ago and since then I re-sharpened it 4 times and after each sharpening the blade is cutting better than when new and I simply didn’t have to change it yet. I use a dremel like in that article sent by Grepper but I use a diamond burr for chainsaw sharpening. That allows me to touch up the gullet side of the teeth as well not just the back which maintains the shape of the teeth. My blade is 100” and sharpening takes at the most 10 min. It seems though that your blades don’t last very long for you, maybe it is a good idea to make sure the blade is set up properly and tacks well, also make sure you are not to heavy on feeding, once they get too hot they quickly lose their efficiency as the temper of the teeth is gone. Of course you will not be able to re-sharpen the blade indefinitely, the teeth will become smaller and their shape will change beyond the point where they will be able to do proper cutting work, that would be the time to change the blade.
how to sharpen a bandsaw blade by hand Related Question:
Is it worth it to sharpen bandsaw blades?
Since a carbide-tipped bandsaw blade will cost well over $100, spending a third of the cost of the blade (or more) to get it sharp and working like new again can make financial sense. However the majority of bandsaw blades, the Wood Slicer included, are not worth spending money to have sharpened.
How many times can you sharpen a bandsaw 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.
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.
Can Diablo blades be sharpened?
To ensure your Diablo cutting tool continues its high performance standards, please contact one of our approved “Authorized Sharpening Service Centers”.
How do I know if my bandsaw blade is sharp?
Get a 6 tooth per inch blade. When it gets dull,it will begin to not cut easily,and will sort of jerk along through the wood as you apply pressure. A sharp blade cuts without urging.
Why is my bandsaw burning the wood?
A majority of issues with wood burning is because of a dull saw blade. These blades may not be sharp enough to efficiently cut the wood, and thus create enough friction to heat and burn the wood. What is this? Dull blades make it more challenging to cut, which causes friction as you pass the wood through.
What can I do with dull saw blades?
You can use a hand file, crank sharpener or automatic sharpener on saw blades you’re going to sharpen yourself. While automatic sharpeners will get the job done faster, they can also be rough on your blade’s teeth. They might overheat or lose the correct angle of the teeth they are sharpening.