Braking blades

[Dr. Bob]

I am cutting on a Hegner Multicut 1. The blade is aligned left to right and front to back.

Up to a few weeks ago everything worked fine, no excessive breaking. Since a few weeks I can not make a proper bend or the blade breaks. 1,5" or 0,5" wood gives the same problem. Even no 7 blades break in 0,5" wood. Making the bend is very hard, but I can not figure out why.

Only thing that changed is the temperature. It was around freezing last week, and my shed is not heated (yet). Can that be the problem? Or do I have to look at some other options?

[Mick Walker]

Dr. Bob, I am not familiar with a Hegner. You want good tension on the blade. With the saw off, push on the blade and it shouldn't move more than 1/8" in any direction. Too much tension is better than too little. Pushing the blade to the side will break it. Push the wood straight into the teeth. I don't believe the temperature would have any effect on blades breaking.

[Rolf]

Dr Bob,
where is it breaking? At the clamps, in the middle?
Is it a new batch of blades?

[3_M]

Mostblade have a burr on the right side what makes the blade cut to the right.
Move the wood some degree to the right, this makes it easy to stay on the line.
Temp. should have no influence.
FD Mike

[Dr. Bob]

Dr Bob,
where is it breaking? At the clamps, in the middle?
Is it a new batch of blades?

The blades break at the clamps, at the bottom more than the top. When I use a blade on a straight cut of 5 cm and then remove it, it appears than the blade has been bent backwards. It has an angle in it where the clamp holds it. I don't get that, because I tried to push as little as possible, and that still happens.

I think I put enough tension on the blade because I received a set of try-out blades, and broke the first 5 no.3 blades while tensioning them. This happens with no.5 sometimes as well... Those break in the middle of the blade.

[Jim Finn]

I have the same issue. I have two Hegners and it happens on both of them. It just started this past month. I think it is the blades. Some of the blades break while the saw is running and no wood near it. Other packets of blades do not seem to do this. That is why I think it is just the blades. I use Polar #5 blades.

[Dr. Bob]

During a streak of bad luck my lower blade clamp broke. It is since then that I know that there are 3 different sizes for the clamps. I have a intricate clamp on top, in which the screw clamps the blade (one size fits all I think?)

My lower blade clamp was 0,7 mm, so I bought 4 new ones to have on spare. I forwarded my problem to my blade supplier and he reacted with the fact that Hegner machines use 0,3 mm clamps for no 5-9 blades (which I use mostly). That annoys me since I just bought four wrong ones apparently.

Can somebody comment on the fact that this is true, or that this could be the source of the problem? Or that the upper blade clamp for intricate use comes in different sizes as well? I think mine is more that 1 mm wide, but because the screw holds the clamp, I don't think that is a problem?

Thanks

[Jim Finn]

I have two different sized blade clamps on my Hegner saw and I use them both for the Polar #5 blades I use. Both clamp sizes work fine for me. I bought some heavy duty blades from Mike also and they also fit. (I find the heavy duty blades no better than the Polar#5's)

[handibunny]

Have you checked out the customer service department of Advanced Machinery, which is the supplier of Hegner machines in the US?

The website is Advanced Machinery, and you might be able to get more precise information directly from the source. You can easily contact them by email through the website.

[3_M]

Dr. Bob,
Just yesterday I got a call from a customer who had the same problem on his Hegner. He also had an other saw and had no problems with blades breaking. He found out that he never oiled his bearings. After he did that the breakage was gone. I have an Hegner and have no problem with breakgage but will oil the bearings as soon as the weather warms up.
FD Mike

[Dr. Bob]

Have you checked out the customer service department of Advanced Machinery, which is the supplier of Hegner machines in the US?

I didn't think of that, thanks. If the problem continues I will do that.

Just yesterday I got a call from a customer who had the same problem on his Hegner. He also had an other saw and had no problems with blades breaking. He found out that he never oiled his bearings. After he did that the breakage was gone. I have an Hegner and have no problem with breakgage but will oil the bearings as soon as the weather warms up.

Didn't think of that either. Sounds like a good idea since I bought the machine second hand and have no idea if it was being oiled or not. Thanks.

[ChuckD]

Dr. Bob,
Just yesterday I got a call from a customer who had the same problem on his Hegner. He also had an other saw and had no problems with blades breaking. He found out that he never oiled his bearings. After he did that the breakage was gone. I have an Hegner and have no problem with breakgage but will oil the bearings as soon as the weather warms up.
FD Mike

Mike, are those bearings at the pivot point of the arms?

[jigsue]

Dr Bob

I have been using a Hegner for over 10 years and have never had this problem (other than now and agin you seem to get a duff blade). I regularly oil mine in all of the places recommended in the handbook. If you do not have a handbook, it can be downloaded from the internet - just "Google" Hegner handbook. I would imagine that the cold does affect blades, as it affects most metal, but not to the extent that you have been experienced. Get the oilcan out!!!

Good Luck
Sue