New blade

[randy d]

So when you put on a new blade do you have a procedure to break in  that you do? I run mine for a minute or two with lots of coolant.    Randy

[barbender]

No, and I don't see any point to that- other than you have to retention after a couple minutes sometimes.

[John Bartley]

So when you put on a new blade do you have a procedure to break in  that you do? I run mine for a minute or two with lots of coolant.    Randy

I also do that, but not with "break in" in mind. I run mine up slowly and with lots of coolant until I am sure that the band is welded properly and straight.  Then, when I know it isn't going to break or come flying off I crank it up and go to work with regular tension adjustments and a normal amount of lube.

[APope]

Tension correctly, check tracking and then run it like I stole it.

[Southside]

Too often my new band break in procedure involves instantly locating long lost nails in the log I plan to saw. 

[Beavertooth]

I put new blade on crank it up and go with. Have never had one run off or break  other than breakage after normal amount of wear time.  Had to adjust tension of new blades on LT40 after just a few seconds because brand new blade will stretch immediately. Don't have to do that on LT70 with air bag tension.  On LT40  I had could just over tension to start with and not have to stop.  

[Woodpecker52]

My blades always do a wobble dance before they give up the ghost. It is usually after about the 4th  sharpening and it is at the end of its flex life.  I always say when they start the dance I can finish this last log but they are always going to pop in a minute or less.

[YellowHammer]

I put it on, tension it up, run it up, listen to it for a second to hear any oddness, and start sawing.  

I don't see the need to run a band unloaded for a couple minutes.  

[John Bartley]

It is usually after about the 4th  sharpening and it is at the end of its flex life.

Four?  I guess by comparison I'm doing pretty good.  I remove and sharpen mine well before they get really dull, I'd guess after 400 to 600 board feet of clean wood.  I've probably got a dozen sharpenings or more on each of mine before they start breaking and they always break in the gullet.  I've checked with with a magnifier for gullet cracks and I've always sharpened them out.  I sharpen and set my own and I take "just" enough to do the job.

[Peter Drouin]

I put it on turn the tension till I can't turn anymore make a cut or two tension again. Now we are one with the mill. Run it till it waves.