Harbor Freight band saw blades suck

[YO38]

Does any one know where to get a decent blade for harbor freight's 4 1/2" band saw? I went to a shop here in Sac and they said it was an oddball size and that they dident know where I could get one. That doesnt seem right to me. Has any one out there found a good replacement blade for this saw?
Matt

[YJTypeR]

I buy the cheap ones from here. I normally chip of a couple teeth or bend one before they get dull. I've got one close to me so it's an easy stop. Looks like they have some nicer ones too.

www.wttool.com

[AthlonAJ]

What's the blade size/specs? I've bought all my bandsaw blades from Baum Hydraulics for years as I have an oddball size one as well. They're made from Lennox coils and fit perfect everytime. Give them a call.

[MigMiester]

Carbon flex/hard back blades are junk. Bi-Metal blades are the best. They cost a little more but last 5X longer and cut 3X-5X faster! I use Olsen 10tpi bi-metal Matrix II blades from the local Ace hdw.

Amazon has 'em
http://www.amazon.com/Band-Saw-Blade-Metal-Commercial/dp/B0002EQVPM/sr=1-65/qid=1171241461/ref=sr_1_65/105-0551617-1134824?ie=UTF8&s=hi

[lal357]

we just put together the hf bandsaw and yes it bites (the blade) we have to get another tomorrow and are gonna build a high table for it

[YO38]

Thanks for the suggestions I'll check those places out. btw it's a 64 1/2" X1/2" blade. I've used lennox blades in the past in other saws and they kick butt, I hope they make one in this size.
Matt

[Rory Bellows]

I found a local place that makes blades for me. Top notch quality and super cheap. I paid $8.xx for one bi-metal blade, one carbon blade, and got two kitchen knives sharpened! The place sharpens tooling mostly. They do knives for $.25-.50 each and also do chainsaw blades, saw blades, carbide tooling etc. Check your phone book and find a place that can make you a blade. It will be substantially cheaper than a pre-made boxed blade when they make it from their roll.

John

[nate379]

Not to go off topic, but I would say 99.5% of Harbor Frieght junk sucks!

[YO38]

Someone had said that I would need to replace the blade if I bought it, but for my purposes and the amount of cuts I make with a bandsaw, the Harbor Freight one works fine for me.

[69CJ]

i get lennox blades for this saw at one of the local steel shops and pay $17 ea. That amazon price of $26 got a WTF out of me...

[AthlonAJ]

Not to go off topic, but I would say 99.5% of Harbor Frieght junk sucks!

Maybe 50-60% is junk. 20% is actually pretty good stuff and then the other 20% needs modded to work to your standards.:flipoff2:

[yager]

I order good Lenox blades.. The local welding shop can order them for me, any size I need.. The latest batch i got DieMasterII blades in a 12/14 variable pitch.. I run the saw on the highest speed and they cut very well.. I typically get 8+ months on a blade.. Blades cost me ~12$ each Very happy with how they run..

[YO38]

Well it looks like the guy at the welding shop I went to doesnt know what he's talking about. I knew there had to be blades out there somewhere. Looks like I should have looked around more instead of taking one guys word. Thanks everyone I'm going blade shopping today.
Matt

[PAToyota]

I get mine here: http://www.wilkemachinery.com/default.tpl?action=full&cart=1171302617768554&id=37&--woSECTIONSdatarq=37&--SECTIONSword=ww&--eqskudatarq=00000-BandsawChart

[TLCObsession]

I get bi-metals from Enco. Run about $12 ea, free shipping... I use the vairable pitch

[Roy's Rustbucket]

I bought mine at home Depot.

[91Toyota4x4]

Are you guys having problems with them actually breaking. Of the 3 we have had all of them eventually broke at the weld, the blade was not overtightened or anything either. One was even welded together crooked and the teeth were all boogered up brand new.

[AthlonAJ]

Look elsewhere then for blades. I tried a local industrial supply company just to try and keep my money close to home. What a joke. Blade too short, blade too long, blade fit just right...Dumbass they had doing the blades couldn't read a taper measure to save his life.

The blades I've been using from Baum last a good 3-4 months of heavy daily use. When they do finally break there are cracks everywhere in it, teeth are dull and some missing. Rarely have they cracked at the weld though.

[us]

Starit makes good blades, most your nut and bolt vendors make custom blades, ive had my harbor freight saw for 5 years with no real problems,spend some time on All the blade adjustments and they will last a lot longer, also they need a shock absorber put on the saw arm, so the blade doesent drop and bend the teeth, used a old shock off my polaris and it eorks great, thanks Kevin

[MOSS2]

http://www.mcmaster.com/ They arent always the best price but they have a lot of stuff and are crazy fast service.

http://www1.mscdirect.com/cgi/nnsrhm??KNC-T7L391316886 These guys are good for tooling also.

If you can squeeze a 5/8 or 3/4" blade on there that will help also and make straighter cuts.

[Travis Waldher]

Are you guys having problems with them actually breaking. Of the 3 we have had all of them eventually broke at the weld, the blade was not overtightened or anything either. One was even welded together crooked and the teeth were all boogered up brand new.

That's what my HF blade that came with the saw did.

I couldn't even weld it back together.

[Travis Waldher]

I bought mine at home Depot.

Got a part number? Haven't had a chance to get there and haven't found it online. Only the 44.825" blades.

[Gusagus]

just bought a blade at tractor supply yesterday. also noticed they have the same saw with the clark sticker on it.

[cabletech]

I just bought a Rigid non-bimetal blade at Home Depot ($10) to have one on hand in case the stock blade breaks (they did not have any bimetal). I haven't made a whole lot of cuts, but the stock blade is already starting to walk on thicker stuff (1" square tubing, for example).

I'm going to order a couple of bi's online when I figure out everything I need to order for this and other projects.

[Mechanos]

I get my Lenox band saw blades from this place: band saw blades direct (http://www.bandsawbladesdirect.com/)

I am very happy with the Lenox blades I've been using on my JET 7 x 12.

[Stephenw]

Most towns of fairly decent size will have a saw shop. Look in the phone book. They can weld up any size blade. I have a variable pitch bi-metal blade on my saw right now. My last blade was bi-metal, but wasn't variable pitch, and I thought it made a better cut.

[Travis Waldher]

A source close to Seattle that does custom blades:

Associated Industries (TK Industries is their DBA)
(206) 762-1211
1505 S 93rd St # D
Seattle, WA 98108
(This is in South Park off 99, very close to Delta Marine)

For the HF, a 14TPI, 64.5", 1/2" bi-metal is $23. That standard carbon is $10.

They said that bi-metal will typically last 5x longer than carbon, but of course it varies with material being cut and the operator.

[fj40charles]

Not to go off topic, but I would say 99.5% of Harbor Frieght junk sucks!

You're being too generous. I say 99.99% of Horrible Freight sucks.. :D

[Toddy]

Try fastenal or the others mentioned above. Also ENCO has blades. Or if all that fails try machine shops. Most that have a band saw have a welder on it. I am sure they can make you one.

Toddy

[Travis Waldher]

Try fastenal or the others mentioned above. Also ENCO has blades. Or if all that fails try machine shops. Most that have a band saw have a welder on it. I am sure they can make you one.

Toddy

Fastenal is usually $$$$ for the same shit I can get anywhere else.

Found a shop local to me, the next question was bimetal vs. standard carbon, then found this page:

http://www.supercutbandsaw.com/how_to_choose.html

Now, the shop I talked to said I should expect 5x the life of carbon from a bi-metal; depending on usage of course. That link says up to 10x.

I'm probably just going to get the carbon for now, I had no complains about how it cut or it's longevity considering the ultra-light usage my saw sees. Last blade actually failed at the weld anyway.

[nissancrawler]

If you use it a fair amount, why not buy blade in stock and silver solder it? We did that on all our woodworking ones with no failures, I would think it would work on a steel saw, too.

[Shaggygto]

We use bi-metal blades that can be purchased at Grainger to cut Sandvik 2507 tubing. That stuff is super tough.