United Kingdom 2011 - 2 | Page 21

B L A D E C O R N E R Ten ways to increase your blade's longevity 1. Utilise Wood-Mizer's 'Re-Sharp' service. It specialises in thin-kerf, narrow band blade manufacturing and sharpening, with incomparable experience and attention to detail. Wood-Mizer sharpens blades before and after setting to provide the highest level of quality. 2. Pay attention to detail. After all, a sawyer has control over many of the cutting conditions that affect the blade. Monitor wood cleanliness, blade tension, feed rate, blade guide position and cut as fast as possible while maintaining a straight cut. 3. Use larger logs. Smaller logs may have value and can be cut faster but will use more blade flex life to produce the same volume of wood as a larger log. Logs ranging from 45 cm to 90 cm in diameter will increase the total board feet which a single blade can deliver. 4. Understand different wood species. All trees vary in density. Softwoods have inconsistent densities (growth rings, knots) and require careful monitoring of feed speeds. Hardwoods usually have more consistent density (except in very low grade logs) and wil