How Often Do You Sharpen Blades?

Chris G

When is a good time to sharpen the blade on you miter saw? Let's say you were building 10 x 10 decks. How many of those can you build before you should sharpen your blade? 2? 3? 6? I'm thinking mine needs it.

Leo G

If you think it needs it then it is time. Your blade should cut through the wood with little or no pressure. A dull blade is a dangerous one.

__________________
Sawdust Follows Me Everywhere

http://lrgwood.com
Custom Cabinets in Hartford County Connecticut

KentWhitten

Honestly, I have never, ever had a blade sharpened. I toss them or give them to someone who does. I just don't think the sharpness holds as long as when you get a brand new one. I usually went through one blade a house framing. I'd say for decking, depending on the size of course, you'd be able to stretch it to 3 or 4, but like Leo says, if you think it might need it, it prolly does.

If it's chipping decent sized splinters on the backside, I'd say it's time. Nothing like a sharp blade to make your work look that much better.

__________________
If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

415moto

In the application of finish carpentry, my miter generally gets a new blade per house/project. Which would be hardwood crown for the full kitchen and other finish trim with the cabs. Then the rest of the trim for the house, like doors, crown, base, etc. I always just get a new blade, never sharpen.

Leo G

You guys throw an awful lot of money away by buying new without resharpening. My 60 tooth 10" saw costs about $13 to sharpen, and it is as sharp as I bought it. Unless you are buying super inexpensive blades it seems to be more than worth it to have them resharpened. I buy a few blades before I get any of them sharpened. When I am down to my last, I bring a small pile of items in to be sharpened, including my router bits ($6ea). Well worth the money.

__________________
Sawdust Follows Me Everywhere

http://lrgwood.com
Custom Cabinets in Hartford County Connecticut

KentWhitten

no, they're super expensive ones, usually Tenryu's or Matsu****a's or Forrest's.

Unless I am missing the same guy you have, I can't get any sharpened around here for that price, not anyone I know, but we're in the same neighborhood roughly. I was sure it was something like $.50 a tooth and $2 for replacing a tooth.

My 12" I just bought for $65 for a 100 tooth. I usually buy Matsu****a's for my 7.25" worm drive and those are $20 delivered to my house. And my tablesaw blade came in at roughly $60.

__________________
If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

Leo G

$.50/tooth x 60 teeth is $30, 1/2 the price of a new blade. Still worth it. The 12" sounds like a DeWalt sawblade price, not worth sharpening. My 12" Forrest ChopMaster was about $115, again, worth sharpening. Circular saw blades I just throw away. I use Valley Knife Machine out of w Springfield, Mass. for my sharpening services. They will pickup/drop off at my shop for a $3 charge per sharpening order.

__________________
Sawdust Follows Me Everywhere

http://lrgwood.com
Custom Cabinets in Hartford County Connecticut

A W Smith

now honestly. can you tell the difference between a piece of hardwood cut with a 60 dollar blade and a 115 dollar blade? . I haven't had a blade sharpened in 20 years. I used to take mine to Makrin Saw in old bridge but they are long gone. There was a time in my late twenties I used to sharpen and set my hand saws, but hell I haven't even used a decent hand saw in 15 years.

Leo G

Yes, absolutely. If you are cutting 2x4's with it no. But if you are cutting hardwood crown or miters on something critical, absolutely, positively yes. I have the Hitachi 12" slider and it came with the generic blade, POS. I replaced it with a Forrest Chopmaster, what a difference, night and day. I use the original blade for daily hack cutting and switch over when I have to do fine craftsmanship work. I just received some blades back from sharpening, $14.50 for a 60 tooth blade (1/8" kerf Amana), well worth it.

__________________
Sawdust Follows Me Everywhere

http://lrgwood.com
Custom Cabinets in Hartford County Connecticut

goose134

I read once: "Every shop should be equipped with a smoke detector. When it goes off, sharpen the blade."

dougchips

If you want I can check with my father in law, he use to work for a company out of Saco or South Portland that offered pickup/delivery.

__________________
To get the best replacement windows, or sun rooms contact the replacement windows experts at FHI Vinyl Window Company.

Robie

What Leo G said...
I use Forrest on all my saws except the circular, which I clean every so often then throw away.
The debate on quality of cut has been going on for years. Time after time Forrest wins out, hands down.

__________________

If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. ~Alan Simpson

nywoodwizard

First only the person using the saw will know if the blade needs to be sharpened,and if you can't tell ,keep cutting you'll figure it out.(hey smells like something is burning).Second why on earth through away blades ? I save hundreds of dollars a year by sharpening the old ones and they cut just as good as if new.I drop a stack off on thursdays and pick up on following thursday.I've worked in cabinet shops for many years,once a week they sharpened there blades.Can you imagine the bill to buy 5-10 new 100t blades every week ? forgetaboutit

__________________
Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.

deckman22

I hardly ever use a mitre saw anymore, just a circular saw. I buy a new 40 carbide blade for each ipe deck. Doing cedar/redwood decks I could get at least a half dozen decks out of one blade.