Blade Breakage……a head scratcher???

[WDH]

OK, you are right.  That was before we stacked those 6/4 pecan slabs that were 24" wide 

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

OK, you are right.  That was before we stacked those 6/4 pecan slabs that were 24" wide 

That's OK....got my second wind.....ready to go again.  ;D

[Okrafarmer]

I've been breaking a lot of resharpened blades lately-- often with them not even in the wood. I bought a new box of blades which I will start in on when the engine gets up and going. Ordered a carburetor for it that should be here tomorrow. Angel will probably get it installed for me while I'm gone down to the disaster fields. I have a lot of custom milling work stacked up ready to go for when the sawmill and I are both ready at the same time.  :-\

I've always kept my worst blades for cedar just because a blade will still cut cedar long after it won't cut anything else.  But my blades are breaking in all kinds of wood and out of the log completely.

[LeeB]

Check your v'belts.

[boscojmb]

I have the same problem, but no answer. I have tried new blades, resharpened blades. I have used diesel, water, and water with soap as a lubricant. All with the same result. ERC breaks blades. I even tried pressure washing the logs to make sure they where debris free and had a sufficent moisture content. My blades do not get hot, they just go bang ( in several pieces, without warning). Folks from the south seem to be able to mill ERC without a problem but up north it is "evil"
Thanks,
John B.

[Chuck White]

I have milled around 750-800bf of ERC and used one blade for all of it!

All I used for lube/coolant was just water with a little soap in it!  :-\

[GAB]

drobertson:
I'm in the same club as MM as I broke 6 brand new blades in the weld that were fresh out of the box in one day.  As an additional insult I hit metal with the next 2.  Gerald

[two-legged-sawmill]

Poston, tell them how you get Dry Poplar? Saw them into "Cants" and let dry-up. Sawing any kind of wood that is bone dry changes the Technique!

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I sawed the last of a Cedar job on Saturday. After sawing 350 BF of Cedar....I broke another blade.
Finished the job with a new re-sharp.

I got to checking the blades that I had broke during this Cedar run.
I took the broke blade and laid in on top of a new blade.......these broke blades had been sharpened a BUNCH of times.
So to wind my question up of why my blades were breaking......I am contributing it to heat along with blades life.
These blades have been good to me over the last year and I guess it was just their time to break.

I started this beautiful 60° day sawing Pine....1130BF. I used 1 new blade to saw 900 bf, then I hit nails.  :D

My point is, it felt good to mill without the breakage I went through last week.
I'll have a lot of new blades coming when I send the broke blades to Georgia.

[Magicman]

David, it could be that if most of your blade stock was of the same vintage, then that could be your answer.  That coupled with the fact that ERC is tough on blades and the non-lube situation.  Maybe kinda like your "stars aligning". 

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

David, it could be that if most of your blade stock was of the same vintage, then that could be your answer.  That coupled with the fact that ERC is tough on blades and the non-lube situation.  Maybe kinda like your "stars aligning".

I think we think a like on this thought I think, you think? 

[Magicman]

Oh, that is scary....for one of us anyway.   ;D

[Peter Drouin]

 smiley_curtain_peek

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

smiley_curtain_peek

I would hide too.....anytime Magic uses the word scary in a reply.  :D

[WDH]

It all sounds a bit squirrely to me. 

[LeeB]

super squirrely

[PC-Urban-Sawyer]

It all sounds a bit squirrely to me.

super squirrely

I resemble that remark...



 

:D :D :D :D :D

Herb

[WDH]

It looks just like him, especially the buck teeth. 

[Dave Shepard]

WM bands have serial numbers. You could see if all the broken ones are of the same vintage.

[36 coupe]

I think that deep scratches in the gullet start the cracks.Cant prove it but some photos show deep grooves on the backs of teeth and in gullets.You have to wonder what started those cracks.I had a Wood mizer blade break after 2 trips down the log.I did touch the end of the log when backing up.Forgot to raise up one click when backing up.A blacksmith will nick  a steel bar on a hardy and break the bar at the nick.You will see taps with a groove ground high on the shank.This will make the tap break at the groove instead flush with the item being tapped.

[delvis]

I've watched the difference on the blade tension gauge when sawing with or without the lube on.  I can see the tension slack off halfway through the log because the blade is getting warm and stretching a bit when there is no lube.  Turn the lube on and actually see the tension on the gauge climb back to where it was set.   

[Peter Drouin]

That's because the blade is dull.

[drobertson]

Not much on doubting the doubters ;D but I too have seen swell ends heat up the log, with a good sharp blade,
I mentioned earlier, that I always use lube, and I meant that it is on the ready, I use it but at times where pitch is not present I cut it off for a few runs through the log, I guess it is a feel thing, kinda like passing someone without hitting  passing gear, no need if all is good ;D  This said lube is a critical factor in any cutting action, it just makes cents.