Thread: Table Saw & Other Blade Selection & Handling...

Trying another while the going is good!!!

I guess i'm wondering how best to approach the matter of selection and management of saw blades and planer knives on my Robland X 260. I've done enough with it to know that there's quite big variations in price and performance between nominally similar blades, and that they dull off fairly quickly, but haven't enough to know how best to respond.

I'm thinking in terms of needing something for rip cutting and cross cutting everything from oak/iroko/elm to softwoods, veneered MDF, chipboard and ply.

Something ATB and relatively fine toothed might be the plan for the panels to prevent splintering and tearout. Maybe something a little coarser for cross cutting softwood and hardwoods. Plus something made for ripping.

Perhaps the simplest way to ask the question to enquire whether or not there's a definitive 'choose your blade' article out there. Especially given the objective of maximising cleanliness of cut, load and speed. Ditto for 10 inch planer knives and bandsaw blades to suit a Scheppach Basato 5-4.

I guess it'd help a lot if i didn't have to run a load of trials of types and makes. Something like Forrest blades are quite expensive around here, on the other hand i've not been impressed by the performance of some of the mainstream brands at not much more than half the price.

How big a deal is resin build up for example? (i've had a fine pitch blade go very sick, but am not sure how much is dulling, and how much resin) How is it dealt with? (what's a good cleaner?) How long should blades be run for before sharpening? Is it worth changing between Sunday best sharp for critical cuts, and something less used for routine stuff?

What are the options on high performing planer and bandsaw blades given my lowish power, and cutting volumes?

Pardon me if i seem rather inexperienced. I've done a fair amount of work, but never tried seriously to optimise this stuff.....