Olsen Blades, are they any good?

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Im looking to get a 14-18tpi variable pitch blade for my bandsaw, a run of the mill HF 4x6. Not too sure where to order them from, so far Ive just gotten the 24tpi ones from places like lowes and home depot, but after breaking a few of them since I bought the saw, I did a little research and found most people get much better results with the 14-18tpi blades. Mine vibrates and shakes when its in a cut with a 24tpi blade, and apparently the variable tooth pattern counteracts that motion, and the blades dont snap, and the saw runs smoother.Ive found a place that sells Olsen blades, are they good blades? As Im sure you can tell, Im kind of a bandsaw noob. http://www.thetoolworkshop.com/olson...lade71764.aspxWhere do you all that have had these saws for years get your blades from? Thanks in advance...Last edited by Lanse; 01-05-2012 at 06:18 PM.[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Can't say anything about those blades. I get all my blades from MSC. You want to be ordering bimetal blades not the cheap HSS ones. I forget exactly when I last had to order a new blade. Even with all the abuse mines gone thru I haven't broken it yet.Last edited by DSW; 01-05-2012 at 06:14 PM..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Recommended number of TPI on a blade relates directly to the thickness of the material(s) you are cutting.There really is no 'one-size-fits-all'.http://www.thefabricator.com/article...-the-obstaclesUsual rule-of-thumb for bandsaw blades (or recip saw blades, or other 'linear' blades) is 3 teeth in the material at a time.  Thicker material = lower TPI, thinner material = higher TPI.YMMV.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Thanks DSW!! Something like this? http://www1.mscdirect.com/cgi/NNSRIT...-SearchResultsMoonrise, Ill keep that in mind. Most everything I work with varies between 1/8" and 3/8", with most of it being like 1/4"...[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:If that length will work with your saw, then yes that could be one option. If your saw will take 5' 4 1/2" blades, you will have a lot more options (66) most saws have a fair amount of adjustment in then, so 1/4" in total length is probably nothing.  I like to mark directly on the saw with a sharpie exactly what size blade will work. That way I always know without having to dig up the info or measure the blade to go and order a new one.http://www1.mscdirect.com/eCommerce/...rchandizedOk=YMost of the bi-metal blades look to run about the same price as the one that you posted. You probably want to try and avoid the cheaper carbon steel ones as they won't hold up anywhere near as well.If you order from them, be sure and ask for a hard copy of their catalog. It contains all sorts of useful info at the start of many sections. Info on what blades to use to cut what material. What bit sizes relate to what tap and so on. I also find it a lot easier to locate items that may not get grouped together with the online searches. I hate digging thru 500 drill bits just to find the one I'm looking for if I can't remember the right sub category to search.Last edited by DSW; 01-05-2012 at 08:48 PM..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:i have used olsen blades for wood working and i have no complaints with them....i buy them when i need tobobs77vet/37ford4drEastwood digital TIG200HH190Lincoln Invertec 155sLincoln weldpak 100sears/craftsman (lincoln) 50a 240v buzz boxO/A rig Harris gaugesnexion cut 50 dxchicago electric (HF) 240v spot welder
Reply:I only use olsen blades good quality and they last a long time on my 64 1/2 band saw.
Reply:I've used Olsen bi-metal blades at home in my little 4x6 (64 1/2")buffalo saw for like 10yrs, I prefer Olsen blades.. Rural King sells them, I think you can buy them online from RuaralKing.com, I have a Rural King local so I just go pick one up when I need them... All I use the 20tpi blades Olsen also has a website, but dont know if you can order through the website... If your getting vibration while your sawing you need to do some adjusting on the bearings and guides, and maybe take some feed pressure off the blade.. Also check the blade and make sure its square with the material your cutting..tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:Thank you guys very much, y'all answered my question...I think Ill get a cheaper Olsen blade with variable TPI and try it. If the saw doesn't vibrate, Ill run that blade until it wears out and get a good bi-metal blade from MSI (Thanks DSW), and keep the saw.But if the new blade doesn't fix it, then off to craigslist it goes, and Ill be buying a nice new Grizzly saw with a real down-feed control and a few other features the HF cheapie doesn't have. Hope everyones having a good 2012 [Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009