A recent bandsaw catch on a windshake shattered a piece of Honduras rosewood and bent the front edge of a 3″ all Stellite blade (Hitachi resaw). About three teeth (1 TPI) of the blade bends to the left; the back is straight.
Is there any hope of straightening this expensive blade? Or is it destined to become scrapers? I’d appreciate any wisdom here. Thanks
The good news: All fingers attached and intact despite this violent catch.
Replies
Check the phone book in your area for saw sharpening services that serve sawmills. They will know how to fix it if it can be done at all.
You can also ask at the following forum for some leads.
http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php
I've had good luck straightening smaller blades by doing the obvious, just flatten them out and put them back to work. Use a small hammer on an end grain block of a 4x4 Douglas fir. Just tap with the hammer until you work the kink out. If the metal has stretched you won't get the blade perfectly flat but you can probably come close.
The fact that you only kinked the front of the blade probably means you didn't do that much damage and the blade isn't weakened. When you run it stay alert for a sudden loud ticking which means that the blade has developed a stress crack and is about to break, but I haven't had a straightened out blade crack at a repaired kink yet.
John White, Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking Magazine
Thanks John. I'm going to try it this weekend and I'll let you all know if it worked. I already have about six of these blades to use for scrapers.
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