Starting the New Year off right! (WM re-sharp service) and storing blades?

Piston · January 01, 2017, 07:25:11 AM

I've had my mill for quite a while now, and only use it for hobby type sawing once in a while. I don't get as much use out of it as I'd like, and because of this, I have never once needed to use the re-sharp service, I'm still on my original sharpening from when I purchased my blades.

I figured the New Year would be a good time to start fresh ;D I mailed in a large box of 27 blades to be sharpened/replaced. 11 of those had broken the first time I used them. I had called WM about this and they said there must have been a problem with the welds, and to simply break off the ends of the broken blades, mail them in, and they would replace them with new blades. 8)

So, Now I will have a whole bunch of freshly sharpened blades and no excuses for not using my mill :D

I do have a question though, since I don't go through many blades, they will be stored for a long time (probably take me years to go through 27 blades). How should I store them? Should I keep them coiled the way they come back from re-sharp, or should I uncoil them and hang them? Should I spray them with something like PB Blaster or WD-40?

I'm excited to start my New Year with sharp teeth ;D

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

bandmiller2 · January 01, 2017, 07:44:50 AM

Matt, I don't think it matters if their coiled or uncoiled for storage. Best stored in a dry area and misted with something like WD-40 for long term storage. Sometimes you run across a batch of bands that were not annealed just right. Frank C.

Chuck White · January 01, 2017, 08:06:59 AM

I store my blades, wiped down with ATF on a rag!

Magicman · January 01, 2017, 08:43:04 AM

They come back from WM Resharp oiled so you are OK to just store the boxes of blades.

YellowHammer · January 01, 2017, 09:07:16 AM

Quote from: Magicman on January 01, 2017, 08:43:04 AM
They come back from WM Resharp oiled so you are OK to just store the boxes of blades.

Yes, keep them in a dry place, they will be fine. Nothing better than a box of sharp bands.

Piston · January 02, 2017, 09:25:37 AM

Thanks for the replies, I'll leave the blades in the box and might put a little extra oil on them. Last time I had used the blades from the box there was some slight surface rust on them, although I did have the, stored in my damp basement so that is probably more the problem. I'll store them in the heated garage from now on.

Might even change the oil on the ole 10hp diesel as well ;D

I think it's great that WM exchanges the broken blades with no fuss (of course they should anyways, but they seemed happy to help.)

Brandon1986 · January 03, 2017, 10:59:49 AM

I'm fairly green yet, and have only bought 2 boxes of blades ever. However the first box that I bought I left them in the box and stored the box in a pole barn outside. They were under cover and no water got on them directly, but the cardboard box attracted moisture and held it against the blades so they all have a light coat of rust on them now.. They still cut fine, but they is ugly...

Magicman · January 04, 2017, 01:45:04 PM

New blades are dry. Resharps are oily because oil is used as a coolant/lubricant/cleaner.

Chuck White · January 04, 2017, 02:05:02 PM

I buy my blades in a 15-blade "flat pack", and when it comes cold weather, if I have room in my cabinet, I will wipe the blades down with ATF and coil them and store in the garage, otherwise if there's no room there, I bring what's left in the flat pack into the house and slide the pack in behind the desk or other out of the way spot!

bandmiller2 · January 04, 2017, 08:49:11 PM

Matt, consider synthetic oil for your mill diesel, will make it easier to start in the cold and in all likelihood add years to its useful life. Frank C.

Piston · January 16, 2017, 10:36:36 PM

Well, I was excited to get the new blades back, but unfortunately they didn't honor the broken blade replacement >:(

I understand why, it's been years since I actually purchased that batch of blades, and they said it's just been too long. However, the reason I waited so long is because WM told me not to bother sending them in until I send in a box for resharp. Guess they didn't realize who they were talking to when they said that! :D

As a good gesture, they did send me 5 new blades as replacement to keep me 'happy', so I do appreciate that, but I originally sent in 11 new (broken) blades that I never actually got to use, since they broke so quickly. Lesson learned though.

Not much I can do about it now, but at least I have a bunch of new blades that will still last me a long time!

They are being stored in a nice dry heated garage now!