Thread: Set on my bandsaw blades? 3175x6x6

You can sharpen a small blade like that by leaving in vinegar over night, just cover the joint with wax or hot melt glue first, then wash with soapy water afterwards.

I sharpen mine 2 times this way before they snap and are stuffed from fatigue

I doubt vinegar will do anything for the set.

A saw set can be use - they have markings on the adjustment wheel that sets the Set to suit the number of TPI but the way I would do it is.
Start of by measuring the set. You can do that by using the saw set and keep adjusting it from the finest setting up to where it starts to moves the teeth.
If it has no set or close to no set I would not try and set it all the way to the 6 TPI setting in one go.
Maybe shoot for half way between the current set and the 6 TPI setting.
Then try it out and see how it goes and the increment it a bit more till you get what you want.

This is how I do the bandsaw blades on the saw mill (except I use a semi-automated band setter that sets the teeth on a whole 5.3 m long 1TPI band in about 2 minutes)

Originally Posted by BobL

I doubt vinegar will do anything for the set...

Absolutely. My point was it's not worth trying for such a small blade that is only worth $25. Better just to resharpen and see how you go.

Make a circle jig to use with the router with a compression bit in it. Just as fast and you get a much more accurate (read round) circle that requires virtually no finishing.

These are only 100mm in diameter.

i start by using a Beetroot can to mark the out, this also has a hole punched for marking the centre. Then I drill the 5mm hole, this fits over a Hafele shelf pin in the jigs. The bandsaw jig cuts the circle from the board, then to the linisher sander where I've made a variable distance jig to sand it to exactly the right diameter. It leaves a very nice finish.

Then its over to the router table where I use aldavs 4mm carbide downcut router bit to make a centred track around the diameter. The jig is very simple and works quickly - though a little scary to use.... It's safe, but doesn't feel like it

Then to the lathe where I side mount them (just a small bolt) and sand them with 180 at 1000rpm (thanks BobL for the BMH, it has made a HUGE difference in dust collection... It makes it fun). Followed by some chamfering.

Lastly, a quick blat with the ROS on the faces to remove any marks.

They end up with a diameter of 97mm



I gave the router trimming thing a go, but I felt it was so dangerous that I'd loose a finger!

The above process was developed over a few hundred wheels and I often make 80 at a time.

But I'm very happy to change or improve it! It's NOT a fun process!!!!

I made this router circle cutter as a prototype quite a while ago. I'm still intending to remake it, would be nice if it looked a bit more professional. But it works great!

With the base fitted it can cut circles of just under 40mm diameter. With the base removed the circle can be up to just over 600mm diameter.

I can't see how the metal bars work.... But when I did it in my prototype (there is an old thread in toys somewhere) and the router bit kept grabbing the wheel and accelerating it like a railgun.

after a few near death experiences I went about my more "circuitous" path

happy to take all ideas though!

edit: I see! It's for a router! I was assuming a router table. Got it. So, you'd do multiple passes to get to full depth?

Sorry woodPixel, it would have helped if I posted a pic of it fitted to the router.