Bluesman2: Band Saw

[Ed in Ga]

Did you ever find a source of quality bimetal blades for the Northern saw you bought? Thinking of buying the same model if decent blades are available.
Thanks,
Ed

[azotto]

I'm not bluesman but I've been looking for a similar saw. From what I have seen so far, ENCO has the best deal. A 93" Bi-metal blade at around $25/$26. Regular carbon steel for around $13. They look to be a little cheaper on the saw as well.

Steve

[d110pickup]

Ed,
I'm not Bluesman either but I have met him once.
I've used an Ellis saw (10'x1" blade) for over ten years and have gotten a lot of use from the Ellis bi-metal blades. http://www.ellissaw.com/index.html
I've used less expensive carbon steel blades but they don't last as long. I've also found that it's critical to adjust the blade per the instructions, too tight or too loose will affect the cut and cause premature wear on the blade.
My .02.
Later,
Mike Pado

[echo8287]

? for Ed

I noticed you were in Macon Ga.Which one of the welding supplys do you usually use in Macon? I'm up the street in Eatonton. Just curious. I used Industrial Welding for a long time (now Holox) but there prices on new welding machines sucked.I still have an account with them.If you use them or someone else who do you talk to when you go by.Thanks,David.>echo8287

[Ed in Ga]

Steve & Mike,
Thanks. Wish I could afford an Ellis saw. Enco has the same smaller saw ten dollars cheaper but I'd have to pay the freight and they still charge sales tax in Ga. Nothern has a local store. Blade is 85 inches.


David,
Send me an email [email protected]
and I'll tell you what I know of the local suppliers.
Grandparents used to have a dairy in Eatonton.
Ed

[bluesman2a]

Ed,

I did find a replacement blade, through Enco... The ones that were backordered were just the extremely course ones, and the lady on the phone wasn't bright enough to suggest the next finer model.

I wound up getting 2 8-10TPI blades in the $20-30 range... If you need it, I can find the PN for you. I've also found that Northern stocks the cheapies for about $12.

Also while you have them on the phone, get yourself a gallon of their syncool fluid, good stuff and I noticed a big difference in cut qualtiy when I changed over to it.

Last but not least, make SURE you are looking at the exact saw I did, Northern can be misleading, and I was sorely disappointed in the other models. They have a 7" model that's almost the same, but is $100 more AND of lesser quality (no hydraulic, and belt driven). Things I like about this model: coolant/pump built in, hydraulic feed built in, and gear driven, not belt (don't forget to fill her up before starting, I used standard GL-5 from auto parts store).

Hope this helps.

[Ed in Ga]

Bluesman
Do you have the stock number of the saw you bought? Local place has two models on the floor. The larger model has no hydro and is belt driven. Due to space limitations I'm more interested in the smaller saw that matches the photo in one of your previous posts. I use coolant in my lathe so that is not a concern, but I want to make sure good quality blades are available. Not interested in having to make up my own because some Chi-Com didn't do his homework on available blade sizes.
Thanks,
Ed

[bluesman2a]

Ed,

Here's the link on it:
Northern Tool Part 145765

The one I have is NOT belt driven, it is gear driven. Make sure to pick up some GL-5 and fill it before you run it.

The blade is .75" by 85" by .032 and I've had no trouble finding it at enco or grizzly.

Enco's 8-10TPI is PN 712-1218
or 10-14 TPI 371-9692
Both are under $22 each, and I've been running mine for about 2 months now.

[Ed in Ga]

Blueman2,
Thanks again for your time and trouble. I'll try to get one and get it set up this week.
Thanks,
Ed

[bluesman2a]

Hey Ed... No problem man, did you ever make it by to pick up your bandsaw? Tell us about it man!

[Ed in Ga]

Bluesman,
Yeah, picked one up Monday. Nice little saw. Ordered the bi-metal blades from Enco, or at least the finer toothed version that they had in stock. It's made in Taiwan instead of Peoples Republic so that was also a plus. Northern had a deal if you take one of their credit cards they give 10% off the total with six months same as cash. Nothing I like better than using someone else's money. Wish I'd bought one six months ago.
Thanks,
Ed