What type of Blades

[summerjob]

I bought my woodmizer Lt25 used.  It has a 20 hp kohler.  I have been custom sawing softwoods and hardwoods with the blades I received with  the mill for about 2 years now.  All that I know for sure is that they are WM blades.  I do not know the thickness, set or anything else.  I have been happy with these blades, but it is time for me to replace some.  What is recommended .042 or .045 and what set.  The woodmizer page recommends both.  How can I tell what I have currently.  Thanks in advance.

[Kevin_H.]

Summerjob, I would think the .042 blades would do you just fine. There should be a serial # on the band, look close to the weld...WM should be able to tell you what kind of blade you have using this #.

[ARKANSAWYER]

Since you seem to saw what ever comes your way I would get some 0.042 10 degree blades.  I saw with a LT 40 with a 25 Kohler and I use 0.045 10 degree 90% of the time.  They work well in SYP, ERC and hardwoods that I have here.  I use some 0.055's 10 degree in hickory's and very knotty pine and white oak.  I also use 13 degree blades in softwoods and you can really fly with them.  It makes your life easy when your blades are all the same and you send them off to be sharpend.
ARKANSAWYER

[Swede]

Why not try some MONKEY-blades?   8)


"I also use 13 degree blades in softwoods and you can really fly with them."
I´ll try some 12 or 13 degree next time I buy blades. Thank You  for the hint Arky!

Swede.

[Kirk_Allen]

Arkansawyer:
What is the difference your seeing by using a .055 10 degree blade on the Hickory versus a .045 9 degree?

I cut a lot of hickory (300-500 bf a month) and am open to any improvements I can get.  

Thanks
Kirk

[woodmills1]

I will line up behind arky and say .042"or .045" 10 deg.  I use only the .045" 10 deg on my lt40 with onan 24 and they are really a good all around blade.  Also I use them fresh out of the box on pine and then after two sharpens they are ready for hardwood without setting ifin ya dont hit anything with them.

[ARKANSAWYER]

Kirk,
  With the 0.055 10 degree blades in hickory I got feed rates like I was going through red oak with a 0.045 10 degree blade.  They are stiff and hold an edge longer.  I could saw 1,200 + bdft with them but they will snap.  Most of the time I run them only 800 bdft and take them off for sharpening.  I mark them and when they come back from the 2nd shaprpening I run them till they break or get so dull I can not saw any more.  Then I send in for sharpening and put them in my stump blade box.  They work well in knotty white oak as well as knotty SYP.  Their life is shorter then 0.045's but since I can keep my feed rate up they pay for themselves.
ARKANSAWYER

[Percy]

Woodmizer has  .050 10 degree blades as well which Ive had great luck with. they are in between the .045 and .055 ....obviously..... ;D I likem. They are a good cross between the skinnys and fatties. ;D