Have Read A Lot About Bandmill Blades, But...

tcsmpsi · July 25, 2006, 05:56:45 PM

I haven't found any mention of Diamond Saw Works and their Sterling blades.

Not that it hasn't been mentioned, I just haven't found it if it does.

I'm still on my first one, but have a couple boxes more of them. Timber Master C (carbon) Flexback.

Anyone else run these blades?

Are there actually that many manufacturers of the blade proper? Or, are they just marketed under various names?

Being new to the bandmill process, still trying to glean all I can where and when I can.

Think I'm going to leave a bit early and see if I can get in a little sawing, but it is getting darker and threatening rain again. DanG sure putting a cramp in my need to saw, and check and experiment, and dry, and all that good stuff.

I ain't very good at takin' pictures in the rain, neither.

LOGDOG · July 25, 2006, 06:04:23 PM

Hey Fella,

I've got their number over here and 5 boxes of their blades just waiting for the proud owner of a LOG MASTER to take them off my hands. ;D 8) ;D

LOGDOG

tcsmpsi · July 25, 2006, 06:08:50 PM

I 'magine yours are going to be a bit large to fit my mill. ;D

They have a website, and they been in the business since 1890. Kinda sparked my wonder.

Reckon if I soaked them things in alum, they might shrink up enough to use?

Tom · July 25, 2006, 08:29:00 PM

I looked into Sterling blades a couple of times and found that the initial costs were more than I cared to spend. I have found other blade manufacturers with less costly blades that work. I'm not much on trying to fix something that ain't broke.

Fla._Deadheader · July 25, 2006, 08:53:51 PM

Talked to 'em at Sawlex ??, I think. Price is too high for me. We use Munksforsager, available at Menominee or other suppliers nearer you. VERY good results.

LOGDOG · July 25, 2006, 09:49:00 PM

Hmmmm ...alum? Maybe ...works on pickles. ;D I was teasing actually. How long is your blade? I've had excellent performance out of Timber Wolf in the past as well as WoodMizer's blades. I didn't care for Lennox or Simonds AT ALL. Kudo's to Sterling though ...gotta say - they may be high but when I was cutting Sinker Heart Pine (I'm talkin' HARD, SAPPY wood) they were the only blade I could count on to hold their edge. I actually had a guy with a WoodMizer stop and tell me I needed to run away from the job. He said he had tried cutting the stuff with his mill and it wouldn't keep a straight line.

LOGDOG

Fla._Deadheader · July 25, 2006, 09:56:23 PM

Guess ya never tried them Monkey Blades on them Heart Pines, EH ???

LOGDOG · July 25, 2006, 10:04:36 PM

Nope sure haven't ...now I know what you mean by "Monkey Blades". :D

LOGDOG

Fla._Deadheader · July 25, 2006, 10:09:09 PM

Had a lot of fun with that name. Even had a couple guys try to order them by that name. :

:D :D :D :D

Swede · July 26, 2006, 05:37:17 AM

QuoteEven had a couple guys try to order them by that name

:D I´m one of them guys. Always say Monkeyblades calling Mr. Berggren at Munkfors Sågar AB for another 30-box. Always get what I´m asking for without any problems. He says 3 weeks deliverytime, I say half the time. Use to have them here in less than 10 days.

http://www.munkforssagar.se/

Swede.

Fla._Deadheader · July 26, 2006, 07:28:52 AM

Good to see you posting again, Swede. Getting all those trees in Sweden sawed up ??? :D :D :D

tcsmpsi · July 26, 2006, 07:39:44 AM

Quote from: LOGDOG on July 25, 2006, 09:49:00 PM
... ;D I was teasing actually. How long is your blade?...
LOGDOG

What? What do you mean, how long is my blade ??? Why, that's kinda...oh, oh, I see, you were talking about my mill. Ok, then. ;D

They are 14'7"X 1 1/4".

Most of the places that resharp, they would resharp these blades as well?

Got to saw a few 2X6s yesterday evening, between rain. More thunderstorms today.

Swede · July 26, 2006, 09:57:04 AM

QuoteGetting all those trees in Sweden sawed up

Not so much more from the storm but some logs still in the woods. Also bugs and sun will take some this summer. Next year perhaps my only hope is another storm ;D

Anyways, the last weeks have been to hot to saw much and the heat seems to go on.. 30 * Celsius every day. The farmers have to figt to get more than 30% of their hay. They have no time for a sawyer and his needs. Most farmers in this area both have cows and forest.

Nice to get some time to be here again.

Swede.

Kansas · July 26, 2006, 07:17:37 PM

What width blades are you running? If its 1 1/4 or 1 1/2, the best we have ever found is woodmizer, for an all purpose blade in a variety of cutting applications. Timberwolf is also a very good blade, if you call them, they will send out a free one for you to try. For 2 inch, we have had the best luck with the monkey blades. Sure wish woodmizer would come out with a 2 inch blade, Id like to see what one of theirs would do.

tcsmpsi · July 27, 2006, 05:53:37 PM

LOGDOG,
Have you used the Sterling blades in other sawing circumstances where you have also utilized other brands?

I didn't know what 'brand' blades I had until I opened one of the boxes, looking to study the blade closely (that's when I learned to uncoil/coil them). And then, I didn't know that it was the same Sterling from whom I have used other type blades (other than bandmill) in the past until I found their website.

Not certain what others might get for 175" X 1 1/4" .042 blade, but the Sterlings I get for $25, and no need for shipping. I do know some are more and some are less for the blades they hold as 'standard' in that size range. If I buy more at a time, I might be able to wrangle a little better price.

LOGDOG · July 29, 2006, 09:24:38 AM

Yep ... I owned a WoodMizer and a LogMaster back to back so I got to see what either one was capable of in similar and identical wood. Keep in mind I had already used WoodMizers blades for over a decade with much success ...Timber Wolf too. Different situations lead me to different blades. I believe though that with a quality blade you can make it handle all those situations if you own your own sharpener and setter. I've never been without my own blade maintenance system.

I willl say this .... the 2" blades that I ran from Sterling were a world apart from any 1 and1/4" blade or 1 and 1/2'' blade that I had ran in the past. Feed rates were excellent and I could put an extreme amount of set in the balde if necessary to keep chips off the body of the blade as they were being swept through the cut. This meant that I didn't have sap build-up on the blade. These blades require more horsepower than your mill has I believe. Call WoodMizer and they will send you a complimentary blade to try for free that is made to your length. Nothing to lose there. TimberWolf may likely do the same.

LOGDOG

tcsmpsi · July 29, 2006, 11:31:54 AM

Actually, these blades are 1.360 wide. I had looked around a bit, and to 'special build' a blade in the 175" range and at .042, then we're getting away from them being cheaper.

Did you ever attempt to deal with Diamond Saw direct? It was late yesterday (Friday) before I could get an email off to them to check on that.

I probably won't hear anything back from them until next week.

Optimumly, it would be great to have a couple of blades from all the majors to try.

At the moment, since I have lost so much time due to rain, I am primarily set to saw at least the vast majority of the logs I have, before I have any time to 'play' around much.

In over 20 yrs., the ground where I have the mill and stacking at, has never been wet this time of year (very seldom any time of year). Until now. I have to go back and level and adjust everything. I can smell mold in my stack, so that will have to be tended to.

Has been raining every day there, and I think it was Tues or Wed got about 10".

It is darkening at the moment, but maybe it will miss that spot today. I have to be here until delivery today, then hopefully I can go reset and start sawing again.

Handling different situations with one blade, is ultimately where I'm headed (as you might have guessed). A good, tough and resilient blade is going to be beneficial.
Of course, I have a long ways to go yet. ;D Haven't used a mechanical sharpening/setting machine since another old contractor and I went in together and did some work for an old Belsaw circular blade rig. It did handsaws too, but I didn't like the results on those for my own use, so stuck to my old scrape and ping.

Then one day, someone put carbide tips on them things. ;)

So, yeah, I'll be looking for a good deal on a good sharpening/setting rig that is nearly infinately adjustable.

I really think that I am going to like the particulars of this blade, but will have to cut more variety, and get a bit more experience.

Though I haven't just thrown the head into anything, or taken off at a full gallop, thusfar haven't pulled the engine down at all, though I have pushed it beyond what I would consider (and was shown) was 'normal'.