Bandsaw blades

As promised, I had a try TIG welding the blade, set at 20A I put a blob of metal and then filed it flat. First impression looks good. Gave it a test cut on a 2.5" dia round bar and cut it without any problems. So far so good...time will tell if it's a good repair or not, will still order a couple of blades just in case!

Take a look at MEW Issue 252 dated March 2017 (it's the one that was incorrectly labelled as 251).

Just broken the blade on my Naerok bandsaw - bought secondhand 40 years ago, so possibly a bit overdue!

It's a 70" length ??tpi and has been used on wood, ali and plastic. The only specified length replacement I can find is a 6 tpi wood use only. As a confirmed 'tool magpie', I have two stick welders and a recent Lidl purchase - Mig welder??? I have never welded anything, ever!, so I suspect that any attempt is doomed to failure BUT, is it worth trying? , and with which one? Also, can anyone suggest a UK source for Naerok compatible replacements

TIA

rgds

Bill

www.trucutbandsaws.co.uk make them to order - I've had blades from them for my Naerok bandsaw - good price/product and happy to take phone queries. Btw mine takes 70 1/2" blades which I think is the correct size.

Hello Bill, I have had bandsaw blades for my Proxxon MBS 240 made up by;

http://www.lmcuttingtools.com/LM_Cutting_Tools/L_M_Cutting_Tools_saw_blades.html

This company will make any length of blade.

Brian

I doubt you'll manage to weld it with mig, you could try - nothing lost. If you have brazing equipment it will be a better bet I think.

I got may blades from Tuff saws **LINK** you can get them custom ordered to size.

Chris

Google TUFFSAWS. They make blades to order .

Robin, Brian and Chris, many thanks. I think the made to order replacement is the way to go. Just a further query - what should one specify for an all-round blade (Bi-metal, tpi etc?) or should one get separate metal and wood use blades?

Thanks again

rgds

Bill

I've a home made jig & silver solder the scarfed joint first flattening a piece of silver solder on the anvil then placing it in between the ends with wet flux & using a sievert torch with a small burner, never found the need to anneal or line up the teeth,works every time,I was at an autujumble & picked up a genuine wadkin bursgreen brazer, electric, with clamps etc quite a heavy cast device, nice to use but no better than my home made one,just a bit more nice & convenient to use, never ever seen one before or since but if wadkin made a brazing machine it must be ok to braze blades.

Posted by ChrisB 21/08/2019 17:59:22
I doubt you'll manage to weld it with mig, you could try - nothing lost.

Back in 2010 published in MEW 166 i wrote and article on Mig welding
bandsaw blades, i have not bought a made blade for 20 + years just make
them from a reel of blading.
They last so long that i need sometimes to resharpen them.

John

I'm sure it's possible to mig weld the blade (as you confirmed John). I was replying to Bill's question, and as he stated he never ever welded before, I had my doubts if he'd be successful on a thin blade as a first try.

Edited By ChrisB on 21/08/2019 19:04:47

Hi Bill,

I also have a very old Naerok bandsaw, which I appears to be identical to **THIS* Clarke cbs355 bandsaw.

Yes Wadkin did make or just supply a band saw blade brazer, for their large band saws, we had one at work. If a centre needed to be cut out in a large piece of wood, the machinists cut the blade, poked the blade through the hole, which had already been bored in the wood, then brazed the blade up again and carried on working. I silver solder blades as outful doger does above. Not always successful, but one can use up odd parts of blades that way.

At the low costs involved, I treat bandsaw blades as consumables - although up till now I've only needed wood blades. Thinking about it, might be a good idea to get a back-up blade for my new metal saw, which I haven't got around to using as yet (thinking about mounting it vertically). Had the old McMaster chopping up 1" bar recently though - and it sure beats the strongarm!

I get my blades from TuffSaws - very good blades, excellent online advice, good choice of blades, custom made to length and quick delivery. Happy customer.

Regards,

IanT

Thanks again for all the useful advice and, particularly, a PM from Ian W setting out the options. I think that I shall go for a primarily wood use replacement.

Gary W - yes, the Clarke model is a 'dead ringer'.

rgds

Bill

When I purchased my Clark CBS355 bandsaw many moons a go I had trouble with breaking blades . It is a 3 wheel design . Tuffsaws made me up some blades from thinner material . Problem solved

Brian

Have never had much success with welding broken blades together again. They seem to break very soon afterwards

Cromwell Tools will make up blades to order, but probably at a cost.

Originally, I had a small Bndsaw, but blades did not last, The blade was twisted quite severely from the wheels onto the guides, so that it soon failed. (Plus the casting was cracked, and had been painted! ) so returned it in favour of the "standard" 4.5" model.

Having the tracking and guides correctly set is important.

In E I M there was an article on making a Tension Meter. Made one up, and since using it, blades not only cut better, and more accurately, but they last longer.

Found that Screwfix can supply Starrett branded blades on a next day basis, for about 30% less than the Bandsaw Importers, so have a couple in stock against the next time that the blade breaks.

Howard

Greetings Jack, re your question, I also have one of these saws, which has served me well over the years.

I use 6 tpi for wood, and bimetal 14 tpi 1/2 wide blades for metal.

i get my blades from Trucut in Ross on Wye, and their service is excellent.

Regards

(another) Brian

I've managed to braze blades and have them last for a while.

My attempt at welding just blew a huge hole...

Neil

Gas, stick, MIG or TIG? A lot of car bodywork is tacked together with MIG?