HELP My Bandsaw needs blades that are 64" not 64.5"

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OK stupid thread title but here is my problem.I have the red HF 4x6 bandsaw and it works great. Mine uses a 64" x1/2 blade not the standard 64.5" I had been getting my blades cheap from a amish man but they are breaking at the weld and I'm tired of it. Do yo think I could use a 64.5" blade on my saw?Where is a good place to order if I can not find them local? (the wife is working this weekend so I have "my time" in the garage)reber
Reply:I would expect you could but it would depend on how much adjustment you still have. Will the movable pulley go another quarter inch or more?I would also expect your supplier to want to know that he had some problem with his previous work, and to reweld the broken blades for free.The shorter ones might be non-standard so require special ordering which is somewhat more expensive. Any of the places mentioned in the (current) MSC thread should be worth checking.
Reply:Check your area for an industrial supply store.  Most of them will make up blades to length.  You might try to anneal the weld area.  Heat it up and let it cool on it's on.  I have seen that help with blades that keep breaking in the weld area.Last edited by Hammack_Welding; 02-24-2009 at 08:47 PM.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:I use a 64.5 on mine.  There is plenty of adjustment.  I think you may have a typo.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Mine takes 64.5.  Used Many blades.  The bimetal ones last 5x longer.David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:LugweldI thought about the typo. But they are made in CHINA! How could that be.Thanks I will try a 64.5 The 64 are a bitch to put on. When its cold I keep them in the house.Oldiron2The amish guy that made them seems a little over his head so I'm calling it a lose.Hammack_WeldingI will try heating them to see if that helps.
Reply:Dave Mine is the only one I have ever seen that uses 64". I even called the tech line (they probably read from a the same PDF file that I had) (yep it says 64")Dave where do you get your blades?
Reply:Originally Posted by ReebsDave Mine is the only one I have ever seen that uses 64". I even called the tech line (they probably read from a the same PDF file that I had) (yep it says 64")Dave where do you get your blades?
Reply:Originally Posted by ReebsLugweldI thought about the typo. But they are made in CHINA! How could that be.Thanks I will try a 64.5 The 64 are a bitch to put on. When its cold I keep them in the house.Oldiron2The amish guy that made them seems a little over his head so I'm calling it a lose.Hammack_WeldingI will try heating them to see if that helps.
Reply:I bet they stop breaking tooIf you want to order on lineEncoEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Go to your LWS...they have them...better quality will last 10x's longer.  Try a Lenox Diemaster II for a great all around blade.  National and Ellis have good ones too.If it is from Tractor Supply or Lowe's or Home Depot....don't waste your time. For 7 or 8 dollars more,  you can buy a REAL blade.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:I've seen Lenox bandsaw blades at Lowes here.  Don't remember the size or exact model, but they were 'real' Lenox blades IIRC.  Might have been for the Porta-Band.+1 on buy a bi-metal 'real' blade.And with the right size blade, they should have the right tension on them a little bit easier.  As well as getting onto the pulleys easier, and not straining the machine's bearings and such.Oldham is still around, I've seen some of their circular saw blades around in stores recently.  I don't know if the quality is still good or not.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:i have problems occasionally with the 64.5 blade coming off the pulley. is that a sign of too-low tension?
Reply:Originally Posted by weldbeadi have problems occasionally with the 64.5 blade coming off the pulley. is that a sign of too-low tension?
Reply:Thanks guys Help like this is why I love this place!!!!!!!!!
Reply:You gotta crank the sheite outta the tension knob on the HF Bandsaws.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Thanks Ed ConleyThe paperwork for the saw and the PDF on the web says 64". The add says 64".5 Life is much better. I could never find the 64" so I went to Amish man to make them.
Reply:[QUOTE=David R;256507]Hardware store (Ace or Service Star), Home Repo, Fastenall.......After MANY years, I bought a bigger band saw.  I still have the old HF unit for small stuff.  Some times it ran for days in a row.  That is how I learned the bi metal blades last longer.  IF I could find the bi metal ones, they were $30.00 but lasted MUCH longer so are worth it.QUOTE]Bi metal blades can be bought from Ellis Mfg.  They will cut and weld any length and width you want.  Great blades, that last.Here's their link with an 800 # also.http://www.ellissaw.com/
Reply:The Amish guy must be forge welding the blades as they don't have electricity.If you know anyone with a blade welder it is cheaper to buy blade stock and make your own.You can also tig weld and anneal them if you have the equipment.  Last job i was at they tigged all their blades cause they didn't know how to use the blade welder.A butterfly without wings, is just an ugly bug
Reply:this wont help the OP, but when my blades start getting warn a little (about 500 cuts), the blade always breaks. It doesnt break on the weld but it does break. The teeth are still good, so I tig weld it back at the break. I grind down the weld and use it for a few more times and it will break again. It never breaks at a weld, it always breaks at a new place. So I weld it back  (4 or 5 times) and it will break in a new place only after a few cuts. After about the 4th or 5th time I just trash it. This was with the bimetal blades. Now I just buy the cheap carbon blades and they last about the same, Only the teeth are gone instead of them breaking.
Reply:I have the same saw and you are correct that its states 64-1/2" blade, but should be read as 64.5" blade. I use 64.5" blade and it fits, and is exaclty the same length as the factory blade that I kept.
Reply:btw, the Lenox blades at Lowes (well, at the Lowes by me anyway) -were- for the PortaBand.  Yes, I stopped there on the way home the other day.http://www.lenoxtools.com/enUS/Produ...nd_Blades.htmlThe main Lenox bi-metal bandsaw blades page http://www.lenoxtools.com/enUS/Products/BI-METAL.html  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Originally Posted by ace4059this wont help the OP, but when my blades start getting warn a little (about 500 cuts), the blade always breaks. It doesnt break on the weld but it does break. The teeth are still good, so I tig weld it back at the break. I grind down the weld and use it for a few more times and it will break again. It never breaks at a weld, it always breaks at a new place. So I weld it back  (4 or 5 times) and it will break in a new place only after a few cuts. After about the 4th or 5th time I just trash it. This was with the bimetal blades. Now I just buy the cheap carbon blades and they last about the same, Only the teeth are gone instead of them breaking.
Reply:This is where I got mine http://bandsawblade.com/  My saw takes 114" so it's a little harder to find. This place has great prices!HH 187Miller Bluestar1EAHP AlphaTig 200X
Reply:Originally Posted by Magnetic MechanicDo they break in the HAZ?If so proper anealing might solve the problem.If you set it up to tight you could be work hardening it?A butterfly without wings, is just an ugly bug
Reply:I don't believe you can set it up too tight on the HF saws- I got oneEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:mines not HF. It is a little better, a grizzly. I really crank that handle and make it tight as I can
Reply:My Taiwan made Enco bandsaw, at least not from the People's Republic, says to use 64 1/2" but I've used blades that were sold to me as 64" and they worked fine.  The adjustment difference was not significant.ScottMiller XMT 350 CC/CV w/gas solenoid opt.Miller S-22A wirefeederBernard 400A "Q" gunMiller Spoolmatic 30A / WC-24C-K 200A torch/gas lensWeldcraft WC-18 watercooled torchHypertherm Powermax 30Victor O/A
Reply:http://www.mcmaster.com/#bimetal-band-saw-blades/=x5wgq
Reply:I put on a 64.5 blade the other it cut like a champ. I wish I would have asked this question a year ago. I read the info pack called the tech. line they all say 64". I should have come here first.