Woodmizer BSM250 Blade sharpener

Percy · August 03, 2016, 09:46:27 AM

After just short of 20 years, Im replacing the above sharpener with the BSM250. This old sharpener has been upgraded to CBN status, has had about 5 grinder motors and two gear motors replaced. Clamp has been rebuilt atleast twice. Its in need of it again. It has sharpend literally 10s of thousands blades and is still a viable unit but the 12 volt motor makes it slow comared to the new unit Im waiting for.

Advice/opinions on the BSM250 would be appreciated.... ;D

terrifictimbersllc · August 03, 2016, 02:04:40 PM

You will like it. Get yourself a heavy duty rolling tool cart to put it on. Weighs about 200 pounds twice that of your old one.

Percy · August 03, 2016, 08:48:19 PM

Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on August 03, 2016, 02:04:40 PM
You will like it. Get yourself a heavy duty rolling tool cart to put it on. Weighs about 200 pounds twice that of your old one.

Thanks. I plan on making a semi permanent table/fixture for it and the suffolk dual tooth setter I been using for several years.

How you like your setter?? is it consistent or you have to
Tweek it for every blade?

woodyone.john · August 03, 2016, 10:19:17 PM

Before you commit,Have a chat with member Cutting edge ,I think he is up to something.
cheers john

terrifictimbersllc · August 04, 2016, 05:27:16 AM

Quote from: Percy on August 03, 2016, 08:48:19 PM
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on August 03, 2016, 02:04:40 PM
You will like it. Get yourself a heavy duty rolling tool cart to put it on. Weighs about 200 pounds twice that of your old one.
Thanks. I plan on making a semi permanent table/fixture for it and the suffolk dual tooth setter I been using for several years.

How you like your setter?? is it consistent or you have to
Tweek it for every blade?

I like it very much. I'm in "setter heaven" as someone else told me I'd be if I upgraded. Having gauges is a big deal. But I check them frequently against the master set gauge. Maybe every 10 blades or when changing style or when I see measurements I question as the blade is going round. There are limitations which have to do with how tightly the blade can be clamped, whether the setter is squeezing out all the flex in a given blade. I think the more the blade has been used the more of an issue this is. But I am confident that set is consistent within +/- 0.002-.003, and am not going to watch all the teeth measurements or worse start checking many of them with the master set gauge as I used to do with the older dual tooth setter. Proof is in the smoothness of the lumber and I can always take off a blade in use which I seldom do. I'm now down to setting 10 to 20 blades in one session, only a few minutes each, with drinking coffee, tidying up or passing the time some other way for most of that time. And no sore arm.

ps Maybe I do tweak it, here's what I mean....When I put on each blade I back off the set adjustment a turn or so on each side, then start it manually and turn the adjustment back first on one side then another, until I see just .001 or so more set being put into that blade and both sides being the same. For example a blade before setting might show 0.024 on one side and 0.029 on another, so I bring them both to 0.029-0.030. This takes about 10 teeth or 15 seconds or so to establish. Then I press the auto button and reach for my coffee mug.

ozarkgem · August 04, 2016, 05:36:55 AM

Quote from: Percy on August 03, 2016, 08:48:19 PM
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on August 03, 2016, 02:04:40 PM
You will like it. Get yourself a heavy duty rolling tool cart to put it on. Weighs about 200 pounds twice that of your old one.
Thanks. I plan on making a semi permanent table/fixture for it and the suffolk dual tooth setter I been using for several years.

How you like your setter?? is it consistent or you have to
Tweek it for every blade?

Does your Suffolk setter need a lot of tweeking? It takes me 1/3 of the blade to get it dialed in then I have to start all over on the next blade. I really need to call them and find out what I am doing wrong. I bought it used with no instructions.

Percy · August 04, 2016, 11:15:29 PM

Quote from: ozarkgem on August 04, 2016, 05:36:55 AM
Does your Suffolk setter need a lot of tweeking? It takes me 1/3 of the blade to get it dialed in then I have to start all over on the next blade. I really need to call them and find out what I am doing wrong. I bought it used with no instructions.

I hope you got the little plastic cube with the recess in it to set blade height.

Also I learned if you set the "de-setter" blocks shown in the pic, things get much more consistant

I set those block so they are lightly squeesing the blade at full bend ....
Hope this helps... ;D

xlogger · August 05, 2016, 05:17:14 AM

I have a setter like yours and never use the de-setter blocks, I'll try it next time.

ozarkgem · August 05, 2016, 05:59:26 AM

Quote from: Percy on August 04, 2016, 11:15:29 PM
Quote from: ozarkgem on August 04, 2016, 05:36:55 AM
Does your Suffolk setter need a lot of tweeking? It takes me 1/3 of the blade to get it dialed in then I have to start all over on the next blade. I really need to call them and find out what I am doing wrong. I bought it used with no instructions.
I hope you got the little plastic cube with the recess in it to set blade height.

Also I learned if you set the "de-setter" blocks shown in the pic, things get much more consistant

I set those block so they are lightly squeesing the blade at full bend ....
Hope this helps... ;D

No I do not have the cube. I always set the bottom of the gullet flush with the plates for a depth height. Maybe that is the problem.

Percy · August 05, 2016, 09:55:12 AM

Quote from: ozarkgem on August 05, 2016, 05:59:26 AM
Quote from: Percy on August 04, 2016, 11:15:29 PM
Quote from: ozarkgem on August 04, 2016, 05:36:55 AM
Does your Suffolk setter need a lot of tweeking? It takes me 1/3 of the blade to get it dialed in then I have to start all over on the next blade. I really need to call them and find out what I am doing wrong. I bought it used with no instructions.
I hope you got the little plastic cube with the recess in it to set blade height.

Also I learned if you set the "de-setter" blocks shown in the pic, things get much more consistant

I set those block so they are lightly squeesing the blade at full bend ....
Hope this helps... ;D
No I do not have the cube. I always set the bottom of the gullet flush with the plates for a depth height. Maybe that is the problem.

That could be one of the problems....I will measure the depth of the recess in that block so you could make one/have one made, I use 13 degree blades which are tall toothed and only about half the tooth is above the plates when setting. (see photo)

Before using the desetter blocks, if I made a small adjustment to one side of the setter, it would radically change the opposite side as well. Frustrating. Over the years, Ive learned that while desirable, absolute accuracy, when setting is not as critical as I once thought. If Im working Spruce for a drill pad or heli-pad, I set the new blades right out of the box to about 38 thou and as long as the blade doesnt get damaged in any way, I dont set them again for about 4-5 sharpenings. However, if I was cutting some of the high dollar hardwoods you Americans seem to have lots of, (Black walnut), I would prepare the blades used in the most accurate fashion possible..

Percy · August 05, 2016, 10:02:35 AM

Quote from: xlogger on August 05, 2016, 05:17:14 AM

I have a setter like yours and never use the de-setter blocks, I'll try it next time.

Let us know if it helps any. And if you think of it, measure the recess in your height block thingie and Ill measure mine as well. I been dragging mine accross theeth for years and perhaps its a tad off. Together we should be able to come up with an accurate measurement for ozarkgem. ;D

Chuck White · August 05, 2016, 10:29:49 AM

I had this desetter/unsetter made a couple of months ago and it really helps.

I can easily set one side of the band while another band is on the sharpener.

Pulling the band through the unsetter backwards (so as not to damage tooth points) makes the whole band "even".

barbender · August 05, 2016, 11:46:06 AM

Cool tool, Chuck! ;) I just got an older unused Suffolk, it doesn't have the desetter blocks. I've only used it to set about 20 blades. I can't comment much, other than to say it works quickly once you're set up. And that my blades left a good sawn finish. I'll be watching for more experience to be gained from you all ;)

ozarkgem · August 05, 2016, 04:59:02 PM

why did my post have big red letters? How did I do that?

xlogger · August 05, 2016, 06:10:01 PM

My gauge that I use is .160 and I've been using it to measure to bottom of gullet. Maybe I'm wrong all this time. Tom "Tom the Sawyer" has one just like it, I think that is the way we where told to use it.

ozarkgem · August 05, 2016, 07:19:21 PM

Quote from: xlogger on August 05, 2016, 06:10:01 PM
My gauge that I use is .160 and I've been using it to measure to bottom of gullet. Maybe I'm wrong all this time. Tom "Tom the Sawyer" has one just like it, I think that is the way we where told to use it.

so you are setting you gullet .160 above the rails? Now I am really confused.

Percy · August 05, 2016, 08:23:56 PM

Quote from: ozarkgem on August 05, 2016, 04:59:02 PM
why did my post have big red letters? How did I do that?

:D :D I did that to high lite what I was yapping about. Regardless, I measured my little plastic block and the recess is 3/16 of an inch. I measure the tooth height right above the blade height adjusting screws. You have to do both screws.

xlogger · August 06, 2016, 06:12:47 AM

Don't be confused. I just look at a video from a guy that has a setter just like mine that sharpens blades for a living from SE Metals and I've been doing it wrong. That's the way the guy showed me when I got it. Been doing it for years now that way. I've always said I didn't like how my sharps lasted as long as new blades. Maybe now I know. Watch his video he does a good job. I'll redo my resharps this weekend.

ozarkgem · August 06, 2016, 06:16:13 AM

Thanks Percy , I will fire up the mill and make a gauge block out of aluminum
I will look for the video also

ozarkgem · August 06, 2016, 06:19:29 AM

Quote from: xlogger on August 06, 2016, 06:12:47 AM
Don't be confused. I just look at a video from a guy that has a setter just like mine that sharpens blades for a living from SE Metals and I've been doing it wrong. That's the way the guy showed me when I got it. Been doing it for years now that way. I've always said I didn't like how my sharps lasted as long as new blades. Maybe now I know. Watch his video he does a good job. I'll redo my resharps this weekend.

Do you have a link or more info on the video. I searched and got Rock Bands.

xlogger · August 06, 2016, 06:28:36 AM

Not sure if they would like me to post the web page here since he not a sponsor. Google it, he's in GA. His videos are good.

GDinMaine · August 06, 2016, 07:46:24 AM

They are on YouTube.
www.youtube.com/channel/UCMLfIoPegZUZOIybxVTpgbA

Ga Mtn Man · August 06, 2016, 08:03:54 AM

I see three videos on his YouTube channel. ~~Which one shows the setter?~~

I found it... in the middle of the sharpening video.

xlogger · August 06, 2016, 08:26:13 AM

I didn't look on ytube just on his web site. It was the longest video. Back to the BSM250, they are on sale I see. Is the 1/4 hp motor strong enough for the wheel on it?

Ben Cut-wright · August 06, 2016, 09:53:36 AM

Quote from: ozarkgem on August 06, 2016, 06:16:13 AM
Thanks Percy , I will fire up the mill and make a gauge block out of aluminum
I will look for the video also

Timber Wolf, (sponsor linked at the left of this page), does have a video of the setter and how the gauge block is used. Red letter "click here" on that setter product page will take you to the YouTube video.