Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Jun 12, 2006 10:20pm | #1

   Just bend it back by hand and then use a small hammer, like a tack hammer, to try to smooth out the kink while the blade is sitting on the end grain face of a wood block.  You'll probably be able to remove most or all of the kink if the original bend wasn't too extreme.  After straightening out the blade give it a close inspection, if you can see or feel a crack the blade can't be used except by cutting out the damaged piece and rejoining the blade ends.

   When you reinstall the blade, make sure that the kinked section doesn't jam passing through the guides.  If the kink was fairly sharp the blade will have a weak spot, but with a small blade there isn't any great risk if it were to break while under power as long as the wheels on your band saw are enclosed. 

   When using this blade, or any blade for that matter, stay alert for a ticking sound that starts suddenly and occurs once every few seconds.  The sound usually means that the blade has developed a stress crack and is just moments away from snapping.  If you hear the blade ticking cut the power, step back from the saw, and let it come to a halt, then back off the tension and rotate the blade by hand to determine the source of the sound.

   John White, Shop Manager Fine Woodworking Magazine

   
   

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   Edited 6/12/2006 5:24 pm ET by JohnWW

2. 
   dtraversi | Jun 13, 2006 05:33am | #2

   Dude- get a new blade-

   With all due respect to the multiple ways to save this blade- It's a band saw with a faulty blade- I would not let anyone I know walk up and use the machine- so why would you use it

   my 2¢

1. 
   JMartinsky | Jun 13, 2006 03:23pm | #3

   That's what I thought as well, but it is a BRAND new blade! :-( I know, cheap, cheap.....John

3. 
   park | Jun 14, 2006 05:15am | #4

   A kink sets up a point of stress in your blade.  The stress is still there after you straighten it.  It is a point for fracture at some future time which can injure you or damage your equipment.  The only good fix would be to cut out the kinked section and have the blade rewelded.  I had a defective 3/4" blade break on me.  It scared the heck out of me and took considerable time to unjam my band saw.

   My grandfather was a thrifty person who had me straighten bent nails and reuse them.  The straighten nails never drove right and often bent again or snapped at the original bend before they could be hammered all the way in. 

   I now throw out bent saw baldes and bent nails.