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I am interested in picking up one of subject blades from LMII. I already use a single 4" stiffener/dampener from Forest on my cabinet saw. For those of you using this or similar blades, do they really require two 5" stiffeners to work effectively? I know the blades have a super narrow kerf, but the cut is only a few 32nds deep.

Trying to save on the expense, but in addition, I use a sled on my cabinet saw that will I will need to modify to allow 5" stiffeners to rise above the table saw surface and not hit my sled. Easy to do, but I would rather not have a big wide kerf opening in the sled.

Thanks,

Ken

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http://www.casperguitar.com

Check out the Stewmac blade. http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_su ... Blade.html
Most of the blade is thicker so it may work better with smaller diameter stabilizers. Or if you have a good local saw shop, they may be able to side grind a plywood blade for you to your specs.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

I purchased the stiffeners from Lee Valley. They work great and are a fraction of the cost of the stiffeners at LMI ($21.60/pr).
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx ... 1080,41165

Shane's blade at High Mountain Tonewood (Olf Sponsor) works great. It has a little bit wider kerf which is just perfect.

You do need two stiffeners. I haven't tried with a 4" - you could try it and if it creates too much wobble, go ahead and purchase the appropriate stiffeners

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John Ressler

I use the Stew-Mac blade with no additional stiffeners, and haven't had
any problem with blade wobble.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

This thread - viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=20538 - has some info.

I have cut piles and piles of fretboards with a completely beat up old blade using no stiffeners, with no problems at all. If you are trying to save money on a fret slotting rig, skiping the stiffeners is a good choice.

A dedicated sled is cool, but also not neccesary, you can just use a miter guage.

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Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY

The stiffeners are an essential part of the LMI system.

I've been very happy with it; but you may need to make a new sled or modify your existing one.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

quote="Howard Klepper"]The stiffeners are an essential part of the LMI system.

I've been very happy with it; but you may need to make a new sled or modify your existing one.[/quote]

Right, my blade is from stew mac, so my advice to skimp on stiffeners only applies to that one.

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Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY

And I suppose you just eyeball the fret spacings, Jordan?

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

Yeah, someone told me that as long as each fret is closer together than the last, the intonation should come out pretty good.

No wait, seriously, to cut fret slots on a table saw you need-

A: something to keep the board perpendicular while you push it through the blade

B: A way to index each fret for accuracy

You can just as easily stick a registration pin in the plywood or mdf fence on your miter guage, or a pencil line or saw kerf if you use a pinless system like the stew mac fret scale rulers, which is what i do.

Dedicated fret slot sleds are really cool, and i will probably get around to making one someday, but since it has no impact on the final product, and i am comfortable and fast with my method, i will probably put it off for another 15 years.

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Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY

Thanks for all the input! I will be going with stiffeners and will modify my sled accordingly!!

Ken

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http://www.casperguitar.com