Lenox Diemaster 2 Size

[Ed Weingarden]

I'm going to buy a Lenox Diemaster 2 blade and need some size guidance. The bowl blanks that I process are in the range of 6"-16" in diameter. Which would be better, 3/8" or 1/2"? How about blade thickness - .025" or .035". Finally, I see that that the lowest number of teeth is 4tpi. Is 4tpi too many? Should I be looking for a different type of blade in order to get 3tpi? Thanks.

 

[Roger Chandler]

My honest opinion is that the 3/8” blade with .035 thickness is the best way to go. I have those diemasters in my shop, as well as the Highland Woodturners blade in that configuration. I like the 3/8” width better than the 1/2” for green wood. 3 tpi is what I like, but it is a little agressive, not to being a problem, and I have also used 4tpi….I Like 3 tpi better for green wood.

 

[Ed Weingarden]

Thanks Roger

 

[Kent Jaffrey]

What size bandsaw do you have? A .035” thick blade will likely fatigue and beak if you have a 14” saw but would be fine on a larger saw. I ound say a 3/8” width would be best for the smaller bowls.

 

[Ed Weingarden]

My saw is 17". The blade length is 131 1/2".

 

[Roger Chandler]

I have 2 bandsaws…a 14” with a riser block, and an 18” saw. The 3/8’ blade is .035 thick works very well on either saw. I use the 14” saw about 3 times the amount that I use the 18” saw, and my blades last plenty long. I do have my saws very well tuned for optimal performance. A well tuned 14” saw will handle the Lennox Diemaster blades or the Woodturners Blades just fine. My saws use 105” and 137” respectively.

 

[robo hippy]

I have always liked the thicker blades, if for no other reason, I figure they will take more abuse. All of my circle cutting blades are 3 tpi, not sure why you can only get 4 tpi. I use the 1/2 inch blades. I can cut a 5 inch circle no problem with that. If I am going to resaw, I want a wider blade made for resawing. Yes, you can resaw with a narrow blade, but the wider ones work better. Of course, I do have 2 bandsaws, one for cutting circles, and the other for cutting slabs.

robo hippy

 

[Dean Center]

If you cut tight circles on the bandsaw--say 5-6" blanks with a 1/2" blade--do the teeth, at least on one side, lose their set and narrow the kerf faster than if you did a more relaxed cut?

 

[Richard Coers]

A 5" is right at the smallest diameter you can cut with /12" blade. If you wear the teeth down to the point of loosing their set, you must be cutting driftwood filled with sand. It's nearly impossible to wear teeth down that much.

 

[Ed Weingarden]

All of my circle cutting blades are 3 tpi, not sure why you can only get 4 tpi

@robo hippie - are you using the Diemaster 2? When I put the size info in, via the drop down menus, the lowest tpi I see is 4. If you're using the Diemaster 2, are you having it custom made? Thanks.

 

[Dean Center]

A 5" is right at the smallest diameter you can cut with /12" blade. If you wear the teeth down to the point of loosing their set, you must be cutting driftwood filled with sand. It's nearly impossible to wear teeth down that much.

I was thinking bending from pressure rather than wearing down.

 

[Ed Weingarden]

@robo hippie - are you using the Diemaster 2? When I put the size info in, via the drop down menus, the lowest tpi I see is 4. If you're using the Diemaster 2, are you having it custom made? Thanks

I went back to the Lenox website and found that it's the 1/2" .035 that comes in 3tpi. I was looking at the 3/8" .035, which only goes down to 4tpi.

 

[robo hippy]

Okay, I don't remember which blades I get exactly. I am lucky to have a maker here in town, and they keep records of what I need.

As for the set in the teeth wearing down, if you have a cheap low quality blade, and especially if it is getting dull, then the set could get bad. A good saw shop, if they do bandsaw blades, will make sure the set is proper. The Diemaster blades can be resharpened a couple of times.

robo hippy