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I know this has been covered before and I did look in the archives. I must not know how to search, anyway.
What is the consensuses with regards to which blade, ie. Stewmac, LMI, or Shane's (others ?)
There has been talk about the kerf width being too small, too large for some fret wire etc.
What's the skinny ?
Thanks,
L.

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Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

After trying several, I found this saw from Woodcraft that is just right for what I think of as standard fret wire: 12F28 Dozuki *94*. All other info on the package is in another alphabet.

I think Link is asking about fret saw blades for table saw use.

Link, I use the blade that Shane sells with the blade stablizers from Lee Valley. Actually, I think I should get me maybe one or two more, just in case. I really like it. It performs well, I use it to cut purflings as well and it works great for this too.

I know that the old Stew Mac blades were a bit on the thinner side of the cut but I've also heard that they've re-worked their blade so it cuts a good slot, no stiffeners needed with it either.

When I decided on Shanes, I took into account the total use and cost of each of the three you mention. The LMII blade is a bit more expensive, has 90 teeth vs Shanes which has 110, don't think there would be much difference.

The Stewmac blade of course is more expensive but you don't need the blade stablizer (but it wouldn't hurt to add them to a thin blade anyway). So, although the Stewmac blade is more expensive, you don't have to spend extra money on stablizers (which can be used for other thin blades if you need). Mind you even with the extra cost of the Lee Valley 5" stiffeners & Shanes blade it's less expensive than the Stewmac or LMII systems.

All in all, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the blades, personally, I like to support "the little guy" which is also why I bought from Shane

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Shane's blade. Works great.

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tang and barb widths versus fret slot width
If I understand what you are asking: I took a fingerboard to Woodcraft and the guy made cuts with several saws. The one with a blade of .011 made a slot of .023. The set of the teeth made the difference. It was a Japanese pull saw.

I was talking power saw blade. Circular saw blade.
Thanks
L.

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Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

I use Shane's with Lee Valley stiffeners too.

My original was one of the older, too-thin Stew-Mac blades, which indeed cut a slot which was too narrow for their own fretwire, at least in the case of ebony boards. I persevered with that one for exactly two guitars. If they have changed them, then my info is out of date. Mine is at least six years old.

Jim

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kirby@udel.edu

is there a link to Shane?

http://highmountaintonewood.com/ He is a forum sponsor, and is listed at the top of the OLF home page with the other sponsors.

Alex

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If I were doing it again I would probably get the LMI blade and the Lee Valley stiffeners.

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