Seems that I've got the sharpening thing down, but cleaning sappy bands with an old chisel, and then steel wool and mineral spirits is a real time killer.
Just take a long handled wire brush, turn the lube wide open hold the brush against the band and it is clean in seconds.
I had the same problem till someone here suggested cleaning the bands before I took them off the mill. Run the blades with lots of lube and use a wire brush to clean before changing the blades.
Stephen
Problem solved. Thanks guys.
I think if your blades are gunked up enough you gave to scrape it off, you need more lube in the first place ;)
Yup, I am wondering how/why the blades need cleaning. My dull blades are just as clean when they come off of the sawmill as they were when I put them on. Even sharp blades will not saw without giving problems if they have buildup.
I never remember to run them clean before taking them off. I have a floor standing drill press and use a wire cup brush pressed against a board fastened to the press table. I turn it on and pull the inverted band between the cup brush and the board. Takes less than 30 seconds to completely clean a band.
I use a scraper or brush of some sort to clean the blade while it is on the mill, like others have said.
Quote from: Magicman on June 19, 2013, 10:51:30 PM
Yup, I am wondering how/why the blades need cleaning. My dull blades are just as clean when they come off of the sawmill as they were when I put them on. Even sharp blades will not saw without giving problems if they have buildup.
Quote from: barbender on June 19, 2013, 08:02:06 PM
I think if your blades are gunked up enough you gave to scrape it off, you need more lube in the first place ;)
I didn't realise that. Could be I need to use more lube. I will take more notice of how clean my blades are. I tend to see some gunk on the blades when I am sawing pine.
I use pine sol and water. Maybe I need more pinesol in the mixture. How much would be enough?
I use 2 oz. of liquid Cascade per gallon, but that is just my mixture. Everyone has their pet formula.
My wife gave me some of the Cascade "pods", more convenient than the liquid, just drop one in the lube jug.
Somehow that has gotta be cheating. ;D
I use about 1/2 cup of Pinesol per fill up of lube tank (4-5 gal?). It doesn't seem to matter if I use a trickle or a flood of lube, the bands tend to have some gummy buildup on the inner face.
I'll get a long handled brush and try to remember to use it from now on.
Quote from: Delawhere Jack on June 21, 2013, 05:17:20 PM
I use about 1/2 cup of Pinesol per fill up of lube tank (4-5 gal?). It doesn't seem to matter if I use a trickle or a flood of lube, the bands tend to have some gummy buildup on the inner face
That is what I have been using also. Time for me to change. I will try the cascade next.
1/2 cup isn't nearly enough when sawing pine.
Quote from: Delawhere Jack on June 21, 2013, 05:17:20 PMI use about 1/2 cup of Pinesol per fill up of lube tank (4-5 gal?)
Maybe you need to try a different additive. ;D
Quote from: Magicman on June 21, 2013, 10:08:13 PM
Quote from: Delawhere Jack on June 21, 2013, 05:17:20 PMI use about 1/2 cup of Pinesol per fill up of lube tank (4-5 gal?)
Maybe you need to try a different additive. ;D
Go ahead and say it, MM. Casca.... :)
Quote from: WH_Conley on June 21, 2013, 07:42:31 AM
My wife gave me some of the Cascade "pods", more convenient than the liquid, just drop one in the lube jug.
Get up with Magic and find out how many pods = 1 Glug. :D
I filled both of my 5 gallon lube jugs yesterday getting ready for Tuesday morning sawing. Five glugs per jug. :)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/2410/DSCN0306.JPG)
One glug per gallon. ;D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/Photo148.jpg)
My new glug jugs are green.
glug
/gləg/
Verb
Drink or pour (liquid) with a gurgling sound: "he glugs down his beer".
Noun
A hollow gurgling sound or series of sounds as of liquid being poured from a bottle
Jim
Quote from: Happycamper on June 22, 2013, 08:56:53 AM
glug
/gləg/
Verb
Drink or pour (liquid) with a gurgling sound: "he glugs down his beer".
Noun
A hollow gurgling sound or series of sounds as of liquid being poured from a bottle
Jim
:D :D :D
The body of the blades will come off reasonably clean and if I remember, I'll flood the blade and run it for a minute to get the body clean. But the teeth always have a buildup on them. Unless this buildup is removed, accurate set is not possible.
I've thought of building a contraption out of bicycle wheels and tires. Maybe a hand crank or small motor. Maybe mount a pair of wire brushed to scrape off crud?
Lots of good ideas here, I have thought about the same as well, just how to do it, (quick as possible) I do like the drill press wire wheel technique. It doesn't take much to knock off the stuff that's left on, and in the gullet area, I have always thought a brass wire brush was best for cutting edges. I have been fortunate enough to get around 4 to 5 sharpenings without re-setting, so the good point Bibby brought up does not affect my application. This said, if the bands being sharpened are for personal use, not for customers, I would use the flush method and a brass brush just before band removal, otherwise some sort of gizmo will need to be made up to set up the blades and run them through, this type of apparatus is open for all types of design techniques, david
I use normal amounts of water during sawing, after the last cut I give it a squirt of diesel/trans fluid mix from an oil can, while the blade is spinning full speed.
The blade comes off clean as a whistle and they dont go rusty if I don't use them for a while.
Works for me might not work for others :)
Quote from: drobertson on June 22, 2013, 01:52:06 PM
Lots of good ideas here, I have thought about the same as well, just how to do it, (quick as possible) I do like the drill press wire wheel technique. It doesn't take much to knock off the stuff that's left on, and in the gullet area, I have always thought a brass wire brush was best for cutting edges. I have been fortunate enough to get around 4 to 5 sharpenings without re-setting, so the good point Bibby brought up does not affect my application. This said, if the bands being sharpened are for personal use, not for customers, I would use the flush method and a brass brush just before band removal, otherwise some sort of gizmo will need to be made up to set up the blades and run them through, this type of apparatus is open for all types of design techniques, david
How do you get 4 or 5 sharpenings and not set them and have them cut flat ?
I set mine before every sharpening, without fail.
I have always found that, especially the teeth on the inside of the band are off quite a bit, the outside, so-so!
Quote from: Peter Drouin on June 22, 2013, 07:12:21 PM
Quote from: drobertson on June 22, 2013, 01:52:06 PM
Lots of good ideas here, I have thought about the same as well, just how to do it, (quick as possible) I do like the drill press wire wheel technique. It doesn't take much to knock off the stuff that's left on, and in the gullet area, I have always thought a brass wire brush was best for cutting edges. I have been fortunate enough to get around 4 to 5 sharpenings without re-setting, so the good point Bibby brought up does not affect my application. This said, if the bands being sharpened are for personal use, not for customers, I would use the flush method and a brass brush just before band removal, otherwise some sort of gizmo will need to be made up to set up the blades and run them through, this type of apparatus is open for all types of design techniques, david
How do you get 4 or 5 sharpenings and not set them and have them cut flat ?
I reckon I am lucky, if you believe in luck, this is not typical of every single band but close to it. I have only been doing this with the Cook's Super sharps, david
I get about 3 sharpenings before I see any effects from not setting, compared to new. I take a very light grind.