What blade degree do you use for hickory?

[Mark Webb]

I have some 20" to 26" diameter hickory to saw on Saturday, it will have been down 4 to 5 days. I am going to resharpen some of my blades, what degree would you recomend?

[Bibbyman]

I'd go with less hook angle rather than more and a little more set.  We like our 7° Double Hard blades.  Thicker and wider blades will work better too.   

I'd plan on using plenty of soap in the water mix.  The big fight is to keep the sap buildup off. 

[terrifictimbersllc]

Agree, keep the blade clean of sap buildup and 9's or 10's will do it if you don't have 7's.   For wider and if it's frozen 9's will be fine if no sap buildup even with the standard lower set (19-21 thousandths).

[customsawyer]

Don't think the logs will be frozen in FL. I cut my hardwood with just strait water as a lube and on hickory I just turn the lube on full force. This is on pignut hickory. I have less trouble with shag bark.

[BBTom]

I suppose the 7 degree blades work great on fresh cut logs.  My problem is customers that wait several years to bring me the logs, and cutting hard, dry, ( and normally frozen, as winter is the only time they have to do this) hickory and white oak logs requires a 4 degree blade. 

I am guessing that the length of the teeth on the 7 degree blade give the wood fibers too much leverage.

The amount of reclaim and old logs that I saw may be unusual, so I try to hold my tongue, but the 7's just did not work for me this winter.

[ladylake]

 i saw mostly white oak and like 4* blades. I buy 10*, use them on easy wood then sharpen to 4* which I use for everything after that. The only downside is they take a bit more power.   Steve

[Mark Webb]

Thanks for the information, will grind the blades in the morning then go to it.
Mark

[Mark Webb]

Sawed the logs yesterday with a 4 degree rake and found out that water at full force REALLY makes a difference on the quality of the cut.
Thanks again, Mark