Wide bandsaw blades for bending straps

[goosander]

I thought i had already posted this but, it looks like i may have not done it right!! I have just joined this site, as i am looking for some 2inch plus bandsaw blades, or mill blades. i am not woried about the condition, as i want to use them as bending straps for steam bending. 6 foot long and any width 2 inch or over. Old mill blades are the best, but as they dont come up very often i find it hard to get hold of them.
Thanks in advance
Pete.

 

[Doug B]

Where abouts are you pete

 

[goosander]

I live in Bristol Uk Sorry i should have put that. I am willing to pay to have then posted and pay for the blades if its not too expensive.

 

[Kalimna]

Hmmm, that sounds like a fabulous idea - it would be good to know just how easy these are to come by, on a second hand basis. And, if using as a bending strap, how do you remove the teeth?

Adam

 

[OPJ]

Welcome to the forum.

There was a company listed in the new issue of Living Woods magazine, who might be worth a phone call tomorrow:

http://www.sawmillservices.co.uk/home.html

Locally, you could try EPS (Edwards Precision Saw) in Taunton and I've heard of Tungsten Crescent Universal, near Fishponds. I don't know whether they do blades this wide though.

 

[Sgian Dubh]

i am looking for some 2inch plus bandsaw blades, or mill blades... i want to use them as bending straps for steam bending. 6 foot long and any width 2 inch or over. Pete.

Is it essential that you use old bandsaw blades? When steam bending I've used anything from thin strips of sheet steel to similar strips of aluminium, and even on one or two occasions things like plastic pallet wrapping bands and stout webbing straps as used to tie down loads on trailers. If any of these items are suitable for your purposes you'll open up the list of both suitable and readily available supplies. Slainte.

 

[jasonB]

You really need to find somewhere that makes up blades as 2" coil is only about £3.00 a meter, But a full roll is 100m long.

If you really cant get hold of 2nd hand then a new wide blade will be around 45" and you should get about 18ft for that price.

Jason

 

[Chris Knight]

You could try calling in on a sawmill and seeing if they have anything. I have picked up bits of mill blade this way in the past - they make good scraper stock.

It's best to visit when the saw doctor is there - often only a weekly visit for the smaller mills.

 

[goosander]

Thanks for all the replies.... and the welcome!
I have tried getting blades from saw mills but, the really wide blades they use, last them about two years!! As they resharpen them as you would expect, so being there at the right time is difficult.
New or old blades are fine to use but,i like the old mill blades the best. You can grind the teeth off with an angle grinder. I set them up in two lengths of 2x1 and clamp them along the length, then grind off what i dont want. I also need to attach handles to to the end.... so they have to be drilled!!!! this is somewhat difficult, but can be done on a pillar drill with a good supply of coolant.
I have not tried non metallic straps, but i have read about others having some success with them. I like to get the timber out the steam box and in the strap as quickly as i can. So having the strap on the bench and upright, is much more handy than having to faff with limp straps, i would have thought?
I will try the link sent and the Fishpond firm, So once again i would like to thank all the above for the quick and informative responses.
Thanks..... Pete.

 

[xy mosian]

Drilling blades? I seem to remember reading, heaven knows where, that if you put a sawn-off 6" nail in the pillar drill and run it into the blade you very quickly generate sufficient heat to anneal the material locally. I have seen this effect around holes in blades and wondered how it was done. But I haven't tried myself, not needed it yet, so I cannot comment on whether it works.

xy

 

[goosander]

Yep. I can see that working well!!! I would not have thought of that, but it should work. and would save on drill bits for sure. I will try it. I have an off cut of blade, so i will give it a go..... Thanks for the tip.

 

[wills-mill]

Welcome to the forum.

There was a company listed in the new issue of Living Woods magazine, who might be worth a phone call tomorrow:

http://www.sawmillservices.co.uk/home.html

Locally, you could try EPS (Edwards Precision Saw) in Taunton and I've heard of Tungsten Crescent Universal, near Fishponds. I don't know whether they do blades this wide though.

Sawmill Services is run by a lovely chap called David Darnell who sharpens my mill bands for me. He tends to specialise in blades for Wood Mizer, Hud-son, Lumbermate mills that use bands 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 in width, but he is definitely worth a go......
It is worth trying to find large joiners workshops and pallet and shed makers as you will also be able to use most of the traditional sized band-resaw blades that are usually 3in and up in size.

 

[OPJ]

That's another good idea from wills-mill - there are loads of joinery firms scattered around Bristol. One of them is bound to have a large band-resaw running in their workshops. If those other links don't work out for you then, they could be worth a shot.

 

[goosander]

Thanks for all the ideas. I will make a few phone calls in the next couple of weeks, and see if anything comes up.

 

[Aled Dafis]

Yep. I can see that working well!!! I would not have thought of that, but it should work. and would save on drill bits for sure. I will try it. I have an off cut of blade, so i will give it a go..... Thanks for the tip.

Try Cobalt drills, or even Stellite drills if you can get hold of them. The cobalt drills should drill bandsaw blades fairly easily, but remember to use a cutting lubricant, it's pretty much essential for any drilling in metal. If you don't have a proper cutting lube, then normal oil will do in a pinch.

Cheers

Aled

 

[goosander]

I just looked up Cobalt drills!! They look a bit on the expensive side.... I am a bit of a short arms and deep pocket sort, so i will give the blunt nail and lots of smoke a go first... if that does not work i will see if i can get hold of a cobalt drill or two. I did not know they existed to be honest.. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Mike B]

If you can manage with slightly narrower bands (say 1 1/4" - 1 1/2") then you could also try to find an engineering company that cuts steel to size on large bandsaws. They will have lots of stripped/broken bands, especially those who cut steel bars/tubes in bundles, as everytime one of the bars in the pack moves slightly, it strips the teeth/snaps the band. They may also be a little thicker as they will be M42 Bi-metal.

 

[goosander]

1 1/2 inch is just on the limit for what i want, but would still be usable so, its another avenue i can go down......Thanks.