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Since there is a lot of posts lately about bandsaws and blades I was wondering if any one make their own blades from bulk stock.When I worked as a machinist we did our own blades on welders that were part of the bandsaw.It would be nice to be able to do this but you would need a welder and have never seen a portable one.Wonder if anyone has ever seen one or possibly made one. I have silver soldered blades with a scarf joint but would like to be able to weld my own blades,also think it might be cheaper.

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

I ONLY make my blades from bulk stock. pre welded ones cost much more,and often break. Before I went to open the musical instrument maker's shop in Colonial Williamsburg in 1970,I taught school shop for 6 years. We had no welder. I just carefully filed a scarf joint on the blades,and made a little jig to hold them in alignment. The jig was wood,but the wood was far enough away from the propane torch to not char.

I would get the solder to melt,and quickly clamp the joint with ordinary pliers,as I had no brazing pliers like they used to sell. Then,I reheated the polished off joint to a blue color,because the pliers cooling the joint fast would have made it as brittle as glass.

I found that the brazed blades were a LOT more boy proof than welded blades. These days,I have a welder built in to my metal cutting bandsaw. It does up to 1/2". that's fine. I never use real big blades.

I've managed to find about 20 boxes of bulk blade stock at various flea markets and a used machinery place I have frequented.

George: Very good,sounds like your all set,don't think many folks do this instead of buying welded blades.Have some bulk stock that I've had for years,but it's too wide for most jobs.Nice to see you George ,take care.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

I sell Both Welded and bulk stock blades , Most people buy the welded because there is a bit of an art to welding them on a small blade welder . Many people just cant seem to make the weld hold. BTW there is a portable blade welder available . 1/8" through 1/2" Capacity is around $ 850.00 Therefore Most guys Dont use enough blades to warrant the cost , besides the ability

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I have been getting bulk blade stock and having them cut and welded into the size I need. I used to buy precut and welded blades from a saw and knife supplier. They were cheaper than buying from Woodcraft, etc. He quit selling the width and teeth configuration that I wanted because the demand was not there. But he takes care of me at a very reasonable price when I bring bulk blade stock to him. I guess we both kinda win!!

Charlotte Saw & Knife? I buy my blades there. Nice price list.

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Waddy

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I have a blade welder on my DoAll and weld my carbon steel blades up to about 1/2". They work fine but if I am going to cut bigger stuff I go to a 1" blade that is electron beam welded. One thing I have never been able to do that I get on the pre made ones is get the gullet perfect in the middle of the weld. Pre made are better material and last me fairly long. I think the one on my horizontal is over 2 years old.

Tim

I use Starrett bulk and braze my own. Made the jig out of scrap and braze with a propane torch and silver solder. It takes three or four brazings to get the hang of it, then no biggie. There are a couple of really good threads at Sawmill Creek with step by step instructions, including the necessary tempering. Save about 50% from store-bought.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

Here's a Wood River sawblade brazing kit from Woodcraft:

http://www.woodcraft.com/catalog/family.aspx?id=2004491

René