Life-Span of WM blades

Chuck White · December 03, 2008, 07:49:32 PM

These are WM .0045 10° 158" blades.

I got 2 used blades with my mill, this past May.
Borrowed 7 new blades from my FIL.
Then later bought 2 boxes (30 blades) at Boonville Woodsmens Days.
Gave FIL back 7 new blades.
That's 32 blades total!
Now at the end of my sawing season, I have the following left:
12 New blades
5 Used blades

Now, subtracting these 17 blades from the original 32 means I've used 15 blades during the sawing season.
So, 15 blades sawed 70,403 board feet and 70,403 ÷ 15 = 4,694 board feet per blade.
I figure I've resharpened each blade an average 5-6 times.

I just can't help but think that that's a pretty good reputation. I'm happy. ;D

ARKANSAWYER · December 03, 2008, 08:30:11 PM

On "Wanda" that is about the average I get with 0.045 10 degree blades. I let ReSharp do mine and get about 4 or 5 sharpenings before the blade gets to narrow or breaks. Nails cut into this average. In oak I average around 800 bdft and in pine and ERC I get over 1,000 bdft. Some times I get to cutting good clean large pine and forget to change the blade. Then "POP" it will break and there will be 2,500 bdft of lumber sawn with it and I will go "OH YEA! should have changed the blade after sawing all day yesterday with it!"
I figure blade cost of about $0.01 per bdft and that averages out over the year. My yearly cost of blades is around $4,000 to $5,000 US.

WH_Conley · December 03, 2008, 09:02:44 PM

Sounds about right.

Wife · December 04, 2008, 04:24:18 PM

Thats really good going compared to what some say they manage; well done.

Hey question cause I wanna learn more (well actually my husband asked but is too manly to admit to asking on the forum hee hee) How much does it cost to sharpen a blade? Whats the turnaround? Do you drop them off or have to mail them?

Cheers

sawman · December 04, 2008, 06:52:58 PM

Blades for our lt40 cost $7:00 per blade thru resharp for sharpening. plus about 25 to 30 for round trip shipping.
I think the last bunch we sent to resharp the turnaround time was about 7 business days.

ljmathias · December 04, 2008, 06:56:07 PM

Just got my Wood-Mizer Way and I hate to say it, but the $7 re-sharp looks to be a thing of the past... why I bought a Cooks Cats Claw. Now if I just had the money for their auto setter. :-\

Lj

Chuck White · December 04, 2008, 06:58:12 PM

WIFE:
Either me or my FIL sharpen both his and my blades on his sharpener and set them with his setter!

Wood-Mizer has a "resharp" program where you can contact them and request shipping labels and send them via (I think) UPS.
They will sharpen and set the blades and ship them back to you.
I'm not really sure what they charge for this service, so, I'm not going to guess. Contact them at their web site on the left side of the screen!

I pretty sure that most, if not all of the band saw manufacturers offer resharp. Probably all charge about the same rate.

Hope this helps you out!

bandmiller2 · December 05, 2008, 07:11:55 AM

I know their are band sawyers,unlike us hardcore millers,that just use a band til it dulls and throw it away.Personally I could not do that being a cheap yankee and all but it is practical you can get fair return for your investment.I started off using a modified bench grinder as per timberwolf directions that did a fair job if done before miller time.A single tooth setter is not hard to make with a dial indicator and destaco clamp.If your not cutting for hire and don't mill much you can make do with new bands and hand touchup.If your for hire and you like machinery an automatic sharpener and good setter are worth the expense.It gives you control and your not waiting for mr brown.I have used resharp bands you can consider them as new but the shipping is starting to eat you alive.Frank C.

Mo · December 05, 2008, 10:45:30 AM

ljmathias, I think you must have read something wrong, the cost is still $7 per blade. The " ARS " shipping label is only $10.00 for shipping right now. As of Jan 1, 09 the cost of the ARS label is increasing to $11.15.
Hope this helps.