Blade Services

Blade Sharpening Services

To sharpen or NOT to sharpen?

Here are some of the main reasons blades require service.

  • impact of foreign matrials – nails, stones, wire, even glass insuators from electric fences.
  • heat cracks
    • heat cracks develop quickly when sawing conditions such as sawdust and pitch stick to the band. Pulling a fgouled band through the log causes heat to quickly build. The band grows in length. Cut quality dimishes fast. Tooth set is reduced and the service life of the band deteriorates exponentially.
  • Flex cracks
    • These are simply described as metal fatigue. They are caused by the travel of the band over the drive wheels. The band receives a 90 degree bend 4 times per circuit. This bend does not occure at a single gullet, but is distributed among all gullets.
    • Sharpening a fatigued band yields a band with a renewed cutting profile. However, the fatigue cracks will continue until the band breaks under load.

We no longer provide ReSharp Service. Bill Warren of Wasilla does an impressive job of re-shapening and re-seting your bldes. You can spend your time sawing, not sharpening blades.

Contact Mr. Warren at 907.203.0574.

Blades submitted to a re-sharp service are subject to inspection and acceptance.  Blades which have been submitted to our service which do not meet the criteria for successful re-sharpening may be discarded, or replaced.

When a blade is no longer able to be sharpened, you can request the it be automatically replaced.

Most of our customers get 4-6 sharpenings from every blade.  This dramatically lowers the cost of operating.  Most blades can be mailed to almost anywhere in Alaska. Keep your box and ‘C’ clips.  Call Bill for mailing isntructions. Simply drop your bands off at a the Post Office.  In a few days your blades will be returned to you – razor sharp, properly re-set and ready to make boards.

Below you will see some interesting blade photos.  A short caption describes the condition of the blade.

Blade 1

Stress Cracks formed by normal blade running.

Stress Crack 1
Stress Crack made worse by the roller running against the back of the blade. Note the rolled edge as well as the worn tooth tip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Broken Teeth (blade was destroyed).
Broken Teeth (blade was destroyed).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tooth tip damage 1
The corner of the tooth was chipped. Likely from gravel or dirt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special note:  A convenience charge of 3% will be added to Credit Card charges over $500.00.