Blades for Pine and Oak

[Amelia Farms]

Well, I have about used up the blades that the former owner gave me when I bought the saw and I need to order some new ones. I am not even sure what he gave me, they weren't new and weren't labeled. The saw is a WM LT40 (gas engine). I went to the Woodmizer blade selector and got results all over the map. Just wanted to see what folks here are using. Mostly I saw Southern Yellow Pine and Red and White Oak. Also, do you folks specify any particular set when you order blades?

[jdtuttle]

The only band I use are woodmizers 10 Degree. I saw white pine, hemlock, red & white oak, cherry other hardwoods & the occasional locust. If a cut starts to get wavy I change the band.
jim

[Chuck White]

I also use the 10° Wood-Mizer blades.

I've sawn 20 some varieties of logs and they seem to work fine.

The 10° blade is classified as a "general purpose" blade!

Now, there are blades available with varying degrees of hook that are probably more suited to certain woods than the 10°!

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Amelia Farms....I'm below you just South of Charlotte in Rock Hill. I saw about the same wood you do. Different species of Pine, Red and White Oak.
Like the other replies, I use the 10 degree general purpose blade. I get very nice boards using this blade when sawing Pine.
When sawing Oak, I slow my speed down a bit and get positive results as well.
All in all a VERY good blade. I recommend it.

[Magicman]

I asked that exact same question to WM after I bought my sawmill and was ordering blades.  The recommendation was 10° blades.  That is what I bought and am still using.

My blades go back to WM Resharp, where the rejects are replaced under their Blade Replacement Program at a discount, so my blade inventory stays the same.

[Amelia Farms]

Thanks for all the replies fellas. Looks like 10 degrees it is, I will be ordering some today.

[Dave VH]

I'm still new, I use 9 degree blades.  I saw all hardwoods, but with lower hp motor.

[pnyberg]

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit the extent to which WM blade profiles are still a mystery to me.  When I was starting up, I used the blade configurator to research and came to the conclusion that 9° blades had the widest set of applications, so I started with some of those. 

I bought some 4° blades because I was worried about frozen logs.  I actually turn to these most often when milling large white oaks.  Several times I've had a new or freshly sharpened 9° blade leave a noticeable crown on the cant (convex side to side).  Switching to a 4° blade in this situation has solved the problem.

And, while I've milled a lot of pine logs with 9° blades with good results, sometimes the blade will wander up and down some pretty ugly lumber. So, I now carry 10° blades with me as well.

People have good things to say about the relatively new 7° blades as well...

--Peter

[Magicman]

I got three 7° blades that I am going to try on seasoned/dry White Oak, but I have not had an opportunity to use them yet.  My understanding is that 4° blades might even be better.

That being said, the great majority of my sawing is SYP which happens to love 10° blades.  When I have been challenged with White Oak, I have managed that just fine with 10°.

[Ohio_Bill]

Peter Thanks for the comments. I don't feel so bad now .I have came to same conclusion .When things don't go right put a 4deg on.

[wwsjr]

I use 10* on almost everything I saw, SYP, cypress, cherry, ERC, and green oak. I have about 15 that are 4* that I use on dry oak. Like MM I use resharp and blade replacement. I have about 75 blades on-hand and usually have a couple of boxes in route. When I need more 4*, I put a note in box to replace with 4* . I usually try to keep 10-15 of the 4* on hand. I can tell a big difference between the 10* and 4* on hard dry oak logs. I have not tried the 7*.

Willie

[Magicman]

Yup, with the Resharp Blade Replacement option getting a different pitch blade or two is a simple matter.  Now distinguishing them from each other may be a challenge, especially with several different pitch blades.

[Peter Drouin]

The 7s will cut dry wood, green wood, frozer wood, hard wood, soft wood, .Well they do for me just tighten the blade right up and go :D .with a 50 horse cat I use the 55 thick ones by 11/4 .I had two LT40s with a 24 horse onan and use the 7s but the thinner ones 32 I think by 11/4. I:d go crazy with haveing 4s 9s 10 s and all :D :D now I have the WM cbm sharpener I only have the 7 wheel. have fun sawing all 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)