Blade sharpening service...

[Sachbvn]

OK - so I have a 10" Freud 40tooth ATB (I belive) carbide blade on my TS and was inquiring about sharpening services. Freud lists a bunch of authorized centers for each state. I picked one from the state which I live and gave them a call. They said that for a 40tooth ATB the charge is $12.00 - now - The blade only cost me $30.. +tax at Big Box.... I don't live close enough to any of the centers to drive, so I would have to ship it. By the time I paid shipping both ways - I'd be pushing close to $30.00

Question - is the $12.00 price I was quoted a pretty standard price? Unless I can find a sharpening service close enough to drive w/o going too far out of the way - I may as well just purchase new. I'd have to buy a second blade anyways because who could really go a week or more w/o their TS :)

On a posative note - I found out that Kreg will resharpen their drill bits for only $4.00 for the first and $2.00 for any others. That's a pretty good price IMO.

Thanks,
Zac

[deathwish2]

Check the yellow pages (or .com) and also check with your local tool rental stores, tool stores (like the contractors buy their tools at), Rockler/Woodcraft, and hardware stores. Many of those places send stuff out and get stuff back weekly for a flat fee rather than fee+shipping.

One thing with Freud is, you will likely only get one sharpening out of it . . . the carbide is THIN. Higher end (and not always higher-priced) blades have thicker carbide and will last through 5-6 sharpenings.

and no, a second blade is never a bad idea. ;)

[TDHofstetter]

Geezum - the last two Freud blades I bought (Rockler) came in with HUGE carbides, and a little slip for Freud-official resharpening, and a schedule for top vs. front sharpenings for about 24 resharpenings. These are heckuva nice blades.

-- Tim --


Member of the
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[cabinetman]

Look in your local Yellow Pages under "sharpening", "saw service", or other headings for a place you can just drop it off. Or, call a few cabinet shops in your area and ask where they send their blades. It's likely it is local. Cabinet shops are on a turn-around service, with any luck they might let you include yours with theirs. If they do, engrave your name on it.

[deathwish2]

Maybe they've got better . . . but the 60t Thin Kerf blade I have has thin carbide compared to my Systimatic and Oldham Signature blades of roughly the same style.

YMMV based on the blades though. ;)

[arcticfox46]

I dunno,

I am struggling with this very thing.

Last time I had my blades sharpened, I brought a box full of saw blades(Freud), planer knives, jointer knives, chisels, plane blades.

I said I wanted the planes blades, jointer knives, planer knives and chisels "honed". I asked the dude if he knew what I meant by honed, he said yes. Soo I gave him the whole box of stuff.

When I got the stuff back home - I was discussted at the job they did. They certainly did NOT know what honed meant - not at all.

The saw blades seemed OK.

I complained online -here-.

Sonny made a good point - that I would likely never find a source to resharpen the jointer or planer knives to a "new" knife sharpness.

As for plane blades and chisels - simple -- learn how to do it at home.

Saw blades -- I don't know, I am thinking of buying new, but I cannot find new, for the same price as a resharp. Resharp seems OK, but not at $25 for a $30 blade.

Tough call.

[rrich]

Zac,
To sharpen todays blades and cutters, especially carbide, require expensive tooling. The last time that I saw a price, the machine was about $25K by now I think that $50K would be a bargan.

There are two basic types of sharpening services. The ones with the latest and greatest tooling can sharpen alomost any blade to original specifications. The second type are the types using older machinery and perhaps even operating out of a garage.

I had a very, very good blade that was a freebe and I sent it to one of the latter types of sharpening services. Yes, it came back sharp but the angle of the top of the ATB teeth was changed and now the blade is relegated to nail finding duties. The owner of a sharpening service in Santa Ana explained that some of the older machines can't quite make the higher angle on some ATB blades so the machine just changes the ATB angle during the sharpening process.

A good sharpening service should charge about $16 to $20 for 40-60 tooth blades, maybe a bit less.

Now considering the blade in question at $35 w/tax, IMHO that is a borderline disposable blade. I'm not a fan of Freud blades but they do have their uses. It's always been my impression that the BORG Freud blades have very little carbide in the teeth. It seems that at best they can be re-sharpened one time, twice if you're lucky.

[stretch2187]

"Sonny made a good point - that I would likely never find a
source to resharpen the jointer or planer knives to a "new"
knife sharpness."

Send them to me. I'll hook you up on your first set, just pay the shipping. I bought the planer and jointer knife grinder from grizzly last year. It does a good initial job, then I carefully strop the knives on a leather strop to get rid of the burr from the grinder.

[cabinetman]

A $35 blade is only worth $35, if that. Most won't have the quality of carbide that a $50 - $100 blade will have. There are several excellent saw service shops in my area that does as good as or better than new when sharpening. They can replace teeth, replace carbide and offer other services for sharpening any edged tools, and router bits, and make custom knife profiles for moulders, and shapers. The trick is finding one of these places in your area.

[Sachbvn]

I guess that was my real question - I was asking myself "is this really going to be a $30.00 disposable blade?" Now - of course I will have on to it for should I come upon a job that will require some nasty sawing - or use it in a pinch, but - I was looking for a little help in drawing the line. I pretty much got the same opinion as what I was leaning towards...... right on the fence between worth it and not. Going by the fact that I honestly don't think there are any "high end" resharpening services in my area, and given the cost of the blade new - I may just opt to buy a new one.

As far as a $35 blade being a $35 blade - that is probably true. But I think it does a pretty dang good just new, it serves well as a "combo" blade and honestly - I don't need a blade that costs $100 or more. IMO that would be above my skill level... I mean if I had all the money to burn, sure - I'd take one, and the $200 dado set too, but for my budget - the $35 works swell.

I appreciate all the opinions and tips for finding a good service. Kinda looks like my best bet will be finding where a local WW company sends there - that is IF I ever need one resharpened.


Thanks,
Zac

[deathwish2]

Yep, those have plenty of meat on them . . . I'll have to see if I can't get a side-by-side with a couple 60T blades of my own. ;)

I guess every company has their 'good' and their 'bad'.

[Sonny Edmonds]

Back when...
Gus' Tools was in biness (Tommy Lasorta sez biness) they had a local guy who picked up and dropped off blades once a week and sharpened them in his own shop.
Maybe you could find something like that around you?

Freud. My condolences.
I'd sh!t can it and just replace it when it's done.

:D

[link:home.earthlink.net/~pie/data/index.html|Sonny Edmonds ]
Saugus, CA
"Precision Firewood Specialist"

"Lurkimus turdius orifus" (Limey-speak latin for a lurking A$$hole)
A handle bestowed on me by my Dear Friend, Robert "Limey" Bolton. 1947-2007

"A candle loses nothing lighting another."


Welcome to the Forum!
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[ScottD]

Save your pennies and get this:

http://www.amazon.com/Forrest-WW10407100-Woodworker-10-Inch-8-Inch/dp/B0000223VR/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1217970873&sr=1-2

Watch for price reductions (which they don't advertise). It'll last for years with proper sharpening. Just my opinion.

Scott

[Sachbvn]

Like I said, I think that blade exceeds my needs and skill level. Right now I don't even have a jointer - so when ripping lumber, I am using a "less than square" edge. I am very careful when doing this - but I don't it can be hard on the blade. How about this - after I own a jointer - then I will purchase a fancy blade? :)


Zac

[TDHofstetter]

That sequence sounds pretty good. Heck, I was nearly 50 when I bought my first fancy blades... till then I did everything with $30 blades.

Funny... I'm not positive that any of my previous work would have been substantially better with the fancy blades. I'm not sure, though. The midrange (not bargain basement) blades seem to have done a pretty good job.

These shiny things kinda' sizzle through wood, though. It's... neat. :)

-- Tim --


Member of the
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[Sachbvn]

I guess until we try one of them fancy, shiney, pretty blades - we won't know what itss like... right? :) I know the Freud blades I have mentioned get knocked on all the time by WWers but I can honestly say - mine has worked really well... and it was only $30. But again.... I can't compare it to a Forrest or other because well, I've never tried one! :)

Zac

[TDHofstetter]

I've never tried one of the really upscale blades myself... so maybe I don't know what I've been missing. I HAVE used quite a few Freuds, though, in different sizes... and honestly haven't been at all dissatisfied with them. Far better a Freud blade, in my mind, than one o' them yellow blades, for example. :)

-- Tim --


Member of the
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[arcticfox46]

Man - it just hit me.

Diane and I go out to Dinner and a movie several times during the year. Truly, that is more than $30.00

Yet - we cannot seem to come up with $30 buck twice a year to keep the blades sharp?

Then there's vacation - Not even gonna venture to guess how much that is.

Hmmmm - maybe I should tell Diane - no vacation this year - I gotta go buy knives and blades for the shop.

Uhhhh - I better not tell her I spend $300 on cutters for the CNC router last year.

I think I'm gonna go look at Amazon for new knives and blades tonight. I like to have a backup set ready to on.

[Sachbvn]

Speaking on NEW knives for jointer/planer etc... Not really sure where I can find planer knives for my Ridgid 13" TP1300 (I believe that is the series #, it is the brand new one that came out - the 3 cutter head one, not the two cutter head). Aside from calling Ridgid - I've searched the internet and haven't come up with much. Any recommendations?

And yes - money adds up when you sit and look at all the things you spend it on. For example - If I didn't spend ANY money on food at work - lunch, dinner, or snacks - I would have a fair chunk from each week - now... one week's worth of "lunch money" won't get me anything, but a month's would.... 6 months... now we are starting to look at that jointer!! :) Too bad that Rikon one Woodcraft had for sale with the extra set of knives won't still be on sale later in the year or early next! That was a sweet deal!

Zac

[TDHofstetter]

What size are they? I mean thickness / width / length. Are they "straight" knives, or do they have some sorta' indexing holes & such to lock 'em into a specific alignment?

-- Tim --


Member of the
Robert "Limey" Bolton Memorial
International
Volunteer Mentorship and Assistance
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[Sonny Edmonds]

They have teeth...
And also fit a pipe threader. :o


Ridgid....


Your manual should have a part number for the blades.
Humm, maybe it's like many printers today. Cheaper to buy the whole thing, than to buy the replacement supplies for it (Be it ink, or blades). }>

:D

[link:home.earthlink.net/~pie/data/index.html|Sonny Edmonds ]
Saugus, CA
"Precision Firewood Specialist"

"Lurkimus turdius orifus" (Limey-speak latin for a lurking A$$hole)
A handle bestowed on me by my Dear Friend, Robert "Limey" Bolton. 1947-2007

"A candle loses nothing lighting another."


Welcome to the Forum!
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15/15_4_132.gif
God Bless America !
In God We Trust !
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[deathwish2]

The Ridgid planer is exclusive to Home Depot as a 'house brand' . . . the blades therefore, will be as well.

http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/R4330-Thickness-Planer/EN/index.htm
Use genuine RIDGID replacement blades - Model AC20501

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?jspStoreDir=hdus&catalogId=10053&productId=100618241

RIDGID 13in Thickness Planer Blade
Model AC20501
$29.99/EA Each
Free Shipping
Online Only


http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/a9/a9747889-0f0c-48c9-bd57-2060d740716b_300.jpg

[TDHofstetter]

GOOD dang pipe threaders, no less! I've even got an old (like ancient) breakover bar they made. Cannot be hurt.

Oh, but how many pools of cutting oil have I left on the ground from threading pipe? :)

-- Tim --


Member of the
Robert "Limey" Bolton Memorial
International
Volunteer Mentorship and Assistance
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[Sachbvn]

Holy CHIT! $30 for each blade? Chripes all mighty! That is like a 1/3 of the cost of the planer! Now, granted, they are dual edged so... half as many replacements - but still! Well... atleast I know where I can get them now. Thanks for the detailed post!!

Zac

[deathwish2]

Fear not, that's a set of THREE for $30, shipped . . . that's actually a heck of a deal compared to a lot of other brands.

[Sachbvn]

Well... then... HOLY CHIT the OTHER way! :) $30 bucks is a steal for a set of three "dual sided" planer blades... ESPECIALLY since you HAVE to buy the proprietary ones. Thanks for the info! I see on the package where it does say "3 thickness planer blades".


Zac

[Sonny Edmonds]

$5.00 an edge, that's all we ask....

Now, consider that 3 of those edges are going to get nicked at the same time. A $15.00 nick job.
Oh what a kick in the balls! :* http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15/15_4_122.gif http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/im/kmwih.gif

Then you side shift slightly and plane on. ;)

:D

[link:home.earthlink.net/~pie/data/index.html|Sonny Edmonds ]
Saugus, CA
"Precision Firewood Specialist"

"Lurkimus turdius orifus" (Limey-speak latin for a lurking A$$hole)
A handle bestowed on me by my Dear Friend, Robert "Limey" Bolton. 1947-2007

"A candle loses nothing lighting another."


Welcome to the Forum!
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15/15_4_132.gif
God Bless America !
In God We Trust !
[link:www.makecountdowns.com/show.php?id=121978 | Retirement Clock.]

[TDHofstetter]

This is what I mean... :)

-- Tim --


Member of the
Robert "Limey" Bolton Memorial
International
Volunteer Mentorship and Assistance
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