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Will be picking up my new saw this week and want to get some blades pre ordered down in the city as well.
Do you guys think this is sufficient to get me started?

5/8" x 3 TPI resaw blade
1/2" x 4 TPI silicon blade (other option is 3 TPI)
3/8" x 6 TPI silicon blade (other options 3 and 4 TPI)
1/4" x 10 TPI silicon blade (is this okay to cut abalone? Smallest my saw can go)

Thanks!

Ed-
If 'the city' is Toronto, check out http://www.tufftooth.com/ if you haven't already.
They provide excellent mail-order service as well.

For blade selection - on my 14" 'general purpose' bandsaw, I use a 1/4-6tpi blade most of the time. For cutting molds and general 'rough work' (cutting up scraps for woodstove, etc) it's 1/4-3 or 1/4-4. For 'resawing' (before I had my bigger saw) I used 5/8-3 'lil Ripper' blades.
On the 16" saw, I keep a 1" carbide band on there all the time, so far.
I've never tried cutting shell on the bandsaw. Shell is nasty stuff- when I use it, I buy it pre-cut or use a jeweller's saw.
Cheers
John

John, appreciate the info. Yes, I am getting these from R&D (tufftooth). I may getting a couple 1/4" then.

I just watched Chris Paulick's video on abalam cutting and he uses a 1/16" 24 TPI blade so I guess that is a big NO for the 1/4".

Hey Edward

That seems like a lot of blades to me only to get started. I personnally only use 2:

a 3/16 10 tpi Viking blade from Lee Valley for about 95% of the work;

a 3/4 4 tpi resaw blade that I get from a local steel manufacturer.

The 3/16 Viking blades does everything from rough shaping the heel to cutting 2mm thick purfling stips. I go through about 6 of these per year. Considering the amount of work they see, that is a pretty good deal.

As for cutting abalone with a bandsaw, I have never done it either so I can't comment.

I hope this helps.

Pat

Ed-
I've never used Abalam but I think it may be a bit 'tougher' than regular shell ??

1/16 is a tiny (jewellers saw-size) blade!

Cheers
John

Pat, I guess your right that I do not need that many. Unfortunately my saw needs different guide blocks ($170) to run any blade less than 1/4". So I think I will grab the 1/4", the resaw and maybe a 1/2".

John, I am not sure about abalam. I will be using abalone... so I guess I will just cut it the old fashioned way.
That is a small blade!

Abalam actually cuts a lot easier than solid shell. I don't think bandsawing either is a really good idea. Some "traditional" makers cut shell with a scroll saw, as I believe Jimmy D'Aquisto did, but they're cutting simple geometric shapes for the most part.

I really like the Gshwind "Timberwolf" bands. Good durability, lots of choices, excellent customer service, and well sharpened and finished blades.

Hey Ed .. I too use the tufftooth industrial .. only use 2 on my delta 14 with riser .. 3/16-10, and for resawing a 1/2-3 - I tried the 1/4 -6 but could never seem to get it to run straight - the 3/16 was easier to set up. Fo the money, these are awesome blades.

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"