How often do you change out the blade?

[ossaguy]

I was wondering how often you all change your blades.Do you wait til they break? Or do you put on a new one before every project?

I hate wasting things,and being so new to this hobby,so I'm sure I hang onto them too long,but I can't really tell if my blade's dull,or sharp.I just have not cut enough.


Thanks,
Steve

[dgman]

Hey Steve, I replace my blades when they no longer do what I want them to do. Sometimes The blade may last twenty or thirty inside cuts or thirty minutes, and sometimes the blade may last five inside cuts or five minutes. I have installed a blade and started cutting, and immediately stopped the saw and chucked out the blade because it just was not cutting. The point is as long as the blade is cutting fine it stays.
I do not save used blades either. Blades are cheap, there is no reason to cut with a blade if it is not cutting well.
Don't set an expected time for a blade to last. Change it when it no longer cuts as you want it.

[3_M]

If you feel that you have to start pushing harder into the blade, it is time to change.
FD Mike

[ASDLF22]

Steve - you'll get used to it after a bit and you'll know when its time to change to a new one... one thing that I often do is start with the hardest wood I have to cut and when the blade starts to go I'll switch to a softer wood and make a cut or 2 - say cherry to poplar. And as Dan said - sometimes a new blade just isn't right and you'll wind up throwing it away immediately.

Depending on the saw you have - I have a Hegner so I have extra blade holders, its easy enough to make a cut with a #9 and then put in a different blade holder that has a #5 in it.

Another thing I suggest is try different blade manufactures and styles. I believe most people here will say that they prefer the FD blades, I do as well, but I also have some Olsen's and they cut different than the FD's do.

Anyway - happy scrolling...

[Hawaiilad]

Steve I agree with what everyone is saying. I tend to use allot of #5 Polar blades and end up using them until they break or start to wear. Every time I use a blade to long and put in a new sharp blade I always ask myself why I waited to so long to change the darn blade. So much better to cut with a sharp blade. They are not like bandsaw blades, nor to the cost as much. Most of the time I use FD blades and for some cutting I like the Olson blade.

[normded]

Hi Steve i had the same problem i was CHEAP ha ha but i found where i thought i just stunk at scrolling because i couldn't follow a line that when i put a new blade in it was a lot easier to follow. i do alot less swearing now ha ha also mikes blades are cheap so it doesn't pain me to throw one out ha ha

jerry

[ubgoofy2003]

Hi, Steve. I would go along with Mike(Flying Dutchman blades) & if you have to push too much, the blade is getting dull. Put in a new one. Just make sure you have a supply of the ones you use the most. Good Luck

[Bill Wilson]

Loss of performance is the key clue that the blade needs changing. The circumstances that contribute to performance loss will vary depending on pattern, type & thickness of material being cut. It may also vary somewhat by user. As has been stated, some may tend to hang on to blades longer than others.

The key is to understand that blades are a consumable, like sandpaper. If you buy them in quantity, they are cheap enough that you won't be as tempted to push them past their usable limit. When I first started scrolling, I bought blades locally and they were expensive, relatively speaking. I would only buy a dozen or 2 at a time and I would use them until they broke or burned so bad it set off the smoke alarm. Once I discovered mail order/internet sources I now buy in much larger quantities and the price per blade is drastically reduced. Now I toss them much more readily than before, because I'm more interested in maximizing my cutting efficiency than saving blades.

[Jim Finn]

I also use the blades until they no longer perform well.( FD polar #5) When doing my inlay work I use the Hegner with about a 3/8" stroke so when the blade gets dull I remove it and cut off the bottom 3/8" or so and reinstall. This gives me use of the unused teeth nearer to the middle of the blade.

[3_M]

Hi Jim,
I have no problem with that but you are using blades without reverse teeth.
FD Mike

[Rolf]

I am a fan of Olson blades and some FD. I agree with Doug try the different blades and see what works best for you. The type of wood that you are cutting has a great impact on blade life, plywood is real hard on the blades. If I am starting a critical cut I will always use a fresh blade.