Harbor Freight 4x6 band saw; latest addition to the shop

[zmotorsports]

I think you will like that once you do a few upgrades to it. There are quite a few threads on various forums showing some great upgrades/mods. All in all from what I have heard it is a pretty nice little saw for the money.

I have an older Jet (made in Taiwan) 7x12 which has been a pretty decent saw and I have been using Irwin 10-14 blades on it.  I buy them using the Enco sales coupons when needed.  They hold up quite well.  

I have my eye on a Baleigh BS210 pivoting miter saw though.  I see one of them in my shop in the near future.  I will then sell my Jet locally.

Mike.

[Roadracer_Al]

(06-25-2015, 07:53 PM)Vinny Wrote: I have a blade welder so I make them as I need them.  I bought a 125' reel of blade on ebay fairly inexpensively and make them as I need them.

I've been interested in getting a blade welder, too. Any thoughts on how to select a good one?

[zmotorsports]

(06-26-2015, 11:31 AM)Roadracer_Al Wrote:

(06-25-2015, 07:53 PM)Vinny Wrote: I have a blade welder so I make them as I need them.  I bought a 125' reel of blade on ebay fairly inexpensively and make them as I need them.

I've been interested in getting a blade welder, too.  Any thoughts on how to select a good one?

Actually, gas welding if done quickly and properly is all you need to do. Takes some practice but you probably already have the tools in the shop to do it. It doesn't have to be resistance welded. Done properly it won't damage the blade at all.

If memory serves, Tom Griffin has a video on his website demonstrating it. I may be wrong though, but I know I have seen one somewhere. I have done quite a few at work and once I get my new Baleigh at my home shop I will be doing my own there as well.

Mike.

[Vinny]

(06-26-2015, 11:31 AM)Roadracer_Al Wrote:

(06-25-2015, 07:53 PM)Vinny Wrote: I have a blade welder so I make them as I need them.  I bought a 125' reel of blade on ebay fairly inexpensively and make them as I need them.

I've been interested in getting a blade welder, too.  Any thoughts on how to select a good one?

I went mainly by cost BUT it also had to be capable of doing at least the size (width) blade I'd be using. After shipping I think mine was about $300. It's an old Enco, I got it off ebay. Only took a couple of weeks until I found one. The specs on mine are 1.2KVA and will weld blades from 1/8" - 1/2".

[stevec]

I had a crappy blade welder, it worked off a 12 car battery (plenty of amps) but my failures were explained that it couldn't do bi-metal blades.  
It's now hiding among my  other "stuff" that's hidden away.

I have had good success brazing blades together when I purchased a reel of blade, but now I just buy good quality bi-metal blades for both my saws.  

Steve

[Roadracer_Al]

I'm a fair TIG welder, and it's not an issue for me to weld the blades together: it's getting the heat treat/tempering right. Without the correct tempering, they just break right next to the weld.

I suppose it's possible to figure out the tempering manually, but the attraction of a blade welder is that it should have an automated tempering cycle.

[Mayhem]

Tom silver soldered his blades and the entire process doesn't look too complicated. In fact, it looks pretty easy. On my phone now, otherwise I'd find the post on here and link to it.

[f350ca]

Think it was Tom who inspired me to give it a try. Made up this jig, similar but not as nice as his. Been soldering ones for the 20 inch bandsaw in the cabinet shop, they get dull before they break so all is well.