The bandsaw blades I ordered from Ian didn't arrive when I expected them although Tuffsaws had dispatched them the same day I ordered them. This gave me some time to consider my options and here are the results. As my blade was off the saw at the time I decided to have a go at sharpening it off the saw. I have seen two methods on YouTube using a Dremel. One method uses a grinding disk used to just touch the top of the tooth to bring it to a point. Very very little material removed. This method looked to me to be likely to be easier to do consistently, if the blade was fitted. I therefore tried the second method I had seen used by using a tubular grinder bit sold by dremel for sharpening chainsaws. This is touched into the gullet for a split second, and this brings the tooth behind this gullet to a point from the underside so to speak. Sliding the grinder forward and offt He tooth in front, lifting clear before touching back into the next gullet and continuing round the blade.
Well my blade felt sharp and looked in good order, so I refitted it and tensioned it. The results were that it cut wood like butter ! I found however that I couldn't track the blade to cut accurately to my fence. Freehand cutting, curves or bowl blanks will be fine. I can only imagine that I have screwed up the set on the teeth. Might be worth trying the disk method next time.
Just as I finished this, a knock at the door heralded the arrival of a post person with my two new blades. I fitted a half inch 3-4 varitooth blade and tracked it up. My bandsaw has now got its mojo back and is resawing boards to a consistent thickness verified by my dial calliper. I will try sharpening again when it's required, but it strikes me that it's not a substitute for a new tuffsaw blade.
