Almost a new record for destroying a blade

caveman · January 11, 2014, 03:19:22 PM

JMoore and I were sawing a few longleaf pine logs this morning. Most of what we saw will be used to side the kiln we are building but we had a friend call and need a few 2"x12"x8' s to do a project at his house.

We were using a blade that was still cutting straight but in the heart pine it cut really slow. Once we got the log down to a cant, we put on a once sharpened re-sharp blade so that we could provide our friend with some really nice 2"x8" s. When the blade clutch was engaged, the blade just didn't seem to run as smoothly as it should. We checked a few adjustments and decided to try it. I made it about 2" into the cant and the band broke. It tried to escape through the dust chute but the fingers in the chute prevented that. After the failure, we looked and found lots of cracks in the band. We did not notice them prior to using it but they must have been there. None of the belts were damaged. We put on another re-sharp and it cut great. The only other time I ruined a band this quickly is when I hit three nails in the first inch of a cut on some "clean" utility poles of JMoore's father in law. John took a few pictures--maybe he will post them.
Caveman

highleadtimber16 · January 11, 2014, 09:37:33 PM

That's happened to me a couple times, it is frustrating. Though it's not as bad as when you engage the clutch and just at that moment, realize that you forgot to put tension on the blade. :D

Ga Mtn Man · January 11, 2014, 09:45:44 PM

When I first got the mill, I was careless and missed one of the "shoulders" that the blade cover rests on when reinstalling it after a blade change. It took a few seconds to figure out that that weird noise wasn't normal. By then I had trashed a new blade and plowed a nice groove into the inside of the blade cover. I'm pretty sure that must be the record.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · January 11, 2014, 09:47:57 PM

That blade was ruined before you put it on. ;D

Ga Mtn Man · January 11, 2014, 09:51:40 PM

Yep. I really shouldn't be allowed anywhere near complicated machinery. :laugh:

red oaks lumber · January 11, 2014, 10:04:56 PM

i opened a new blade(coiled) on the concrete floor not realizing the blade was coiled opposite of normal, it hit the floor,bounced and slid making sounds you only find in a chinese phonebook. sure enough bent most every tooth to a nice 45 deg angle.
note to self... self new procedure on band opening, throw them in the sawdust pile

Cedarman · January 12, 2014, 07:06:12 AM

Quote from: highleadtimber16 on January 11, 2014, 09:37:33 PM
That's happened to me a couple times, it is frustrating. Though it's not as bad as when you engage the clutch and just at that moment, realize that you forgot to put tension on the blade. :D

Highlead, I have some very discouraging news for you. After 30 years it will still happen. I know and you know why I know. :D :D :D

Chuck White · January 12, 2014, 08:44:20 AM

Talk about frustrating!

Last year, after a day of sawing, it was time to set and sharpen blades!

I uncoiled and checked each of the blades for cracks!

I put blade #1 on the setter and set side 1, inverted the blade and proceded to set side 2, got to the next to the last tooth and there was a crack that I hadn't noticed!

5quarter · January 13, 2014, 12:52:34 AM

Quote from: highleadtimber16 on January 11, 2014, 09:37:33 PM
... realize that you forgot to put tension on the blade. :D

This has never happened to me :

Cedarman · January 13, 2014, 07:30:40 AM

For some of us there needs to be a blade not tensioned buzzer like seat belt not fastened buzzer.

LeeB · January 13, 2014, 07:49:09 AM

I'd probably disconnect that too. :

goose63 · January 13, 2014, 08:22:28 AM

Quote from: LeeB on January 13, 2014, 07:49:09 AM
I'd probably disconnect that too. :

I know I would

isawlogs · January 13, 2014, 09:20:56 AM

I would not disconnect, I would throw it away. One needs some excitement in a days work, only if it is an untensioned blade ;D :D

dboyt · January 13, 2014, 09:38:59 AM

First time I fired up my new Norwood mill, I skipped the part about adjusting the tracking. Brand new blade came flying off and kinked up like a pretzel before it ever touched the wood.

I try to remember to hit the kill switch when I un-tension the blade as a reminder. Nothing is fool-proof, and as everyone who has been around a mill knows, there are a lot of ways to mess up. As long as you walk away with all your fingers & toes, it's all good.

Magicman · January 13, 2014, 03:10:51 PM

When I de-tension at lunchtime I always hang my work apron on the tension lever. That way, the reminder is always there to re-tension, but of course, I have never needed a reminder.

;D

highleadtimber16 · January 13, 2014, 11:54:02 PM

I usually hang my earmuffs on the handle. This time I decided to quit for the day. I took the tension off and was letting the engine cool down before shutting it off. Then I thought, "Just one more cut". All I managed to cut was some WM paint :D

caveman · January 18, 2014, 09:56:40 PM

A week later...pictures. The broken blade tried to escape through the dust chute.

That is how far we were able to cut with the blade prior to its failure.
Caveman

highleadtimber16 · January 19, 2014, 07:39:26 PM

Better than being 3 inches from the end of the cut. :D

Red Clay Hound · January 19, 2014, 08:23:37 PM

Quote from: caveman on January 18, 2014, 09:56:40 PM
The broken blade tried to escape through the dust chute.

That's why I always instruct my helpers to stay away from that side of the machine!

LittleJohn · January 22, 2014, 09:06:00 AM

Worse one I had was cutting Frozen Oak into 6/4 for a farmer, something to do with needing lumber to rebuild stansions or something. Broke first resharpened blade within first foot of cut, then broke second resharpened blade about 4' into log, at this point I pulled out a new blade, reduced cutting speed and charged the guy by the hour instead of BF. Also didn't help that it was about -15°F (BRUTAL)