Shop Talk Live 224 – Blade Sharpening
Hi,
I am an electronic materials engineer turned hobbyist woodworker here in CT. It happens I have a lot of old saw blades that might or might not be worth sharpening. So, a follow-up on something Mike P stated in STL 224 – I apologize if I’m paraphrasing (and nit-picking). He made the point that it is worth it to find a quality sharpening service (say by returning the blade to its manufacturer, like Forest) and mentioned he would likely avoid the “mom & pop” hardware store services – sensible.
But he also intimated that some “regional” services can offer quality work as he mentioned that Bob Van Dyke sends his blades to “Connecticut Saw”. Presumably he meant Connecticut Saw & Tool in Stratford, Connecticut. I assume that Bob would likely only use a quality service. But I find that this company also offers local pick-up at 35 sites around Connecticut as well as 4 in Rhode Island, many of which are hardware stores or lumber yards (like Rings End).
So, my question: is a drop off site less desirable for other reasons – do they add a longer cycle time, or perhaps service fees and higher shipping charges make them not cost-effective vs a direct mail approach? If we agree to avoid the small local services and patronize only large mail-in services, how can I tell if it is worth sending a blade for sharpening? How can you tell how many sharpening your blade is fit for?
Mike said that mid-range blades may be capable of only 1 sharpening (if that) but also admited that he sometimes does use such blades (though he did offer math to explain why a $150 blade might be more cost effective). For my (mostly) mid-range blades, should I just plan to dispose of them? If I do send them in, do these services tell you if a given blade is worth sharpening or if it has more sharpenings left? Is it worth it to let them replace a broken tooth on a mid-range blade or should such a blade always be scrapped? Finally, what is the best way to package blades for shipment?
I think the team at Fine Woodworking and its network of contributors is one of the best in the country, if not the world. Thanks for all your heavy thought, experimentation and advice! You are making me a better woodworker, and maybe a better person.
Thanks
Replies
Back in the day, lots of small shops would sharpen blades themselves, or a local guy with a Foley Belsaw machine would do them. It could be hit or miss.
There is nothing like that left in my neck of the woods. Carbide blades are exclusively sent out, and sharpened on state of the art computerized equipment. If a local hardware store says they sharpen blades, ask them if they do it, or send them out.
If I had a broken tooth on a 60 dollar blade, I would just toss it.
When my blades were reaching end of life, I would get a note back that said they couldn't sharpen it again.
Forrest makes life easy. They include a mailer and an easy way to return the blade for sharpening, and they do a great job. For other blades, I bring them to the place that actually has the sharpening service in house, so there is no middle man. It's a large tool and machinery retailer that's the local rep for a bunch of the major brands, and they have parts, warranty service, etc. If you have a place like that near you, see if they do their own sharpening, and what equipment they use.
I drop mine with a lumber yard that I frequent and the service has been good. Once a blade was missing from my stack and it was shipped to me... from Connecticut Saw. When a blade is at end of life they mark as "last sharpen" or some-such to let me know.
I've been happy with the results, but I have no idea if I am being marked up at the yard or the service is discounted to the yard so they have room to make a buck.
Time wise, the service picks up and drops off once a week from the yard.
Thanks,
So, I assume the yard takes care of packaging and shipping the blades to Connecticut Saw? Or do you have to do that?
TBH, not being a professional woodworker, I get through so few blades that for me the question is moot.
Unless you hit a nail or do a lot with very wearing woods, a carbide blade lasts a long, long time.
That having been said, I have seen youtubers testing carbide on other tooling and the hardness and quality varies a lot, with the harder carbide generally found on the more expensive tools.
I buy good blades so I have no excuses for poor cuts - it's all me, but the one and only time I have bothered with sharpening, it was after the guard fell off and ended up chipping a tooth. I live in a large enough city that there are several shops equipped to handle carbide blades so picked the one where I buy my band saw blades.
I gotta tell you, and this just goes for me, do what you will at your own risk, I have been sharpening my own blades for over 50 years with great success in a professional nearly 50 hr a week use of same.
Quinn Saw, St Louis; great service great job also sell their own custom saws; good people. Look it up on the internet.
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