Used blades - is there a use for them?

[toesy]

I use Olson blades, the PGT Skip Reverse no 7 blades for most of my Scrolling. I like the way they clean cut both sides, and leave a minimum hand finishing to do, to complete my projects.

But I do seem to go thru, quite a few and they don't seem to last to long, or maybe its me being a Virgo and trying to a perfectionist

Now I have quite a lot of used Olson blades, is there a use for them? can they be recycled, are there members who do a lot of rough cutting and don't need the razor sharp cut in wood that some of us enjoy/need.

I would happily post them F.O.C to any member who may have a use,

Or am I doing something wrong? I mainly cut 18mm-22mm pine/spruce, and have my hegner variable speed set to just below 1100, as I like the finish I get, hopefully someone might point me in the right direction.

thanks in advance toesy

 

[Chippygeoff]

I know of one guy who actually re-sharpens his blades. I would not say he was tight but he turns the gas off when he turnes his bacon over. Seriousdly, because they are such low cost I throw mine. you can encounter several problems when a blade becomes blunt, mainly not being able to stay on the line, which could ruin a project. I used Olsen blades for a while but at the end of the day Flying Dutchman blades are much better in my opinion and last a lot longer. In the past I have cut 5 name signs in 3/4 hardwood on one blade and they were 11 inches long and that is very good going. The average life span of a typical blade is 20 minutes cutting.

 

[toesy]

Ahh so it seems it isn't me then,,, Brilliant than you Chippygeoff

 

[gilljc]

like you, I like Olsen blades, for 'man' cutting the pgt blade does give lovely edges as you say, I also use the reverse tooth 2/0 blades a lot on woods up 18mm so far, with lovely clean results. Sometimes blades seem to last forever, sometimes not, but as Geoff says, usually at least 20 minutes cutting, rarely breaking. I did get some FD blades from Mike, on his advice, but in spite of the excellent service (and price, why is it cheaper to buy from America?) find that the olsen blades leave far less 'fuzzies' - as with most things is a matter of preference

 

[MMUK]

Cut them into 6' lengths and pin them to the top of your fence panels should stop cats and cause damage to potential burglars :twisted:

 

[Spindle]

Cut them into 6' lengths and pin them to the top of your fence panels should stop cats and cause damage to potential burglars

What type of scroll saw do you use? :shock: :shock:

 

[nadnerb]

like the Idea of using old blades to deter burglars and as an added bonus cats, unfortunately over here you can be sued by a scumbag that injures himself trying to get in to your property. Personally I would rather take the chance
Regards
Brendan

 

[ChrisR]

I just bin all my used blades, have never found a use for them, but always open to ideas.

Before I am jumped on, I don’t just throw them in the bin, I keep them in a short length of electrical conduit until full, then tip them out, wrap in many layers of masking tape, mark package as (SHARP) with a red felt tip pen, then into the bin.

Take care.

Chris R.

 

[markblue777]

You could wrap some sanding paper around them and use them to attach to your scroll saw and do some fine sanding.

 

[CHJ]

Not a scroller myself but assuming I could avoid breaking the blades on a regular basis it would grieve me to throw away a blade that had 70 % of it's teeth unused.

 

[MMUK]

Cut them into 6' lengths and pin them to the top of your fence panels should stop cats and cause damage to potential burglars

What type of scroll saw do you use? :shock: :shock:

Sorry, I thought the OP was talking about bandsaw blades

Can you tell I don't own either a bandsaw or scroll saw and also know feck all about them? :lol:

 

[bodge]

I have started throwing them in my scrap metal bucket and taking them to the recycling centre. I really can't think of anything more constructive to do with them.
I agree that it does seem a shame that we can't find anything to do with them though, given the amount we all get through.

 

[MMUK]

have you thought about using them in some kind of modern art sculpture? Judging by some of the **** you see in galleries with hefty price tags, a pile of scroll saw blades would be a blessed relief.

 

[Baldhead]

I have a scrollsaw but I'm not a scroller so forgive me if my idea is stupid.

As the top half of the blade is not used could you not clamp a piece of wood to the base so in effect your raising the the scroll table, by cutting on the 'elevated' table you would use the portion of the blade that is still presumably sharp.

Baldhead

 

[bassethound]

I have a scrollsaw but I'm not a scroller so forgive me if my idea is stupid.

As the top half of the blade is not used could you not clamp a piece of wood to the base so in effect your raising the the scroll table, by cutting on the 'elevated' table you would use the portion of the blade that is still presumably sharp.

Baldhead

That's not really as silly as it seems, it is never stupid to find a use for something you normally throw out!

 

[finneyb]

Not a scroller myself but assuming I could avoid breaking the blades on a regular basis it would grieve me to throw away a blade that had 70 % of it's teeth unused.

It grieves me as well.
I have changed my stroke length from 10mm to 20mm to get more teeth used - provided I have three teeth in the wood at all times, of course.

Brian

 

[Spindle]

Hi

The blades will fit a piercing saw which will allow you to use the unused sections - though I'm not sure what applications would be better achieved with a piercing saw over a scroll saw.

Regards Mick

 

[bernienufc]

Its a pity schools didn't use scroll saws to teach as you could send them there, good enough for learning

 

[bodge]

Its a pity schools didn't use scroll saws to teach as you could send them there, good enough for learning

We did have a scrollsaw when I was at school. It was 27 years ago mind!

 

[ChrisR]

I have a scrollsaw but I'm not a scroller so forgive me if my idea is stupid.

As the top half of the blade is not used could you not clamp a piece of wood to the base so in effect your raising the the scroll table, by cutting on the 'elevated' table you would use the portion of the blade that is still presumably sharp.

Baldhead

Baidhead.

That is not a stupid idea, I have done this a number of times, the only thing you have to remember is that there is less room between the table and the top arm of the saw, at best you can get your knuckles whacked,or your fingers jammed between the work piece and the top arm, having said that the same thing can happen if you are cutting thick stock.


I have often thought it would be a good move if a scroll saw manufacturer made a saw with a table that could be raised, therefore making better use of the blade. But I suspect the engineering cost would put it above any affordable price point for most users. :shock:

Take care.

Chris R.