Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
what blade for my bandsaw
John F.
>I mostly turn dry myrtlewood, I have tried several blades but dont get very many cuts per blade no matter what I do. I know you use 3tpi blades for green wood but what would you suggest for something really hard like myrtlewood at like 9%?
Re: what blade for my bandsaw
TDaniel
>Depends on the thickness and whether you are cutting across growth rings or with them. The thicker the cut, the fewer teeth you want; same as with the table saw. Ripping takes fewer teeth than cross cutting because the chips are longer and you need the big gullets to get them out of the cut. Just keep in mind that the bandsaw was not designed for turners and we frequently use it to do things that it should not do.
TD
Re: what blade for my bandsaw
John F.
>I'm cutting about 3.25" thick bowl blanks, so I'm cutting every which way.
Re: what blade for my bandsaw
Doug Trembath
>John, it would take someone like our lovely Andi Wolfe to explain why myrtle wood is so tough on cutting edges, but I'll share my own experiences. I sharpen at least twice as often with Myrtle. No question that it will dull turning tools and saws much faster than many other woods. I think it must contain silica, like Teak, or something very similar. The only thing I have found that helps is patience and determination, since Myrtle is arguably one of the most attractive woods available in North America. At sales venues, vessels in Myrtle cause more comment than those in Madrone burl, believe it or not.
Doug Trembath
Studio in the Woods