Official Luthiers Forum!

 I just found out about the Lenox Trimaster 3 for resawing. What do you guys use for resawing backs and sides. I just cancelled my order for a woodslicer because it was going to take 4-6 weeks because it is non-standard. Are carbide blades worth the extra money or are there types I don't know about. I have used the Timberwolf for less demanding work and it was ok. Or do you use regular blades and change them often?

_________________
Mistakes are mandatory-learning from them is optional. http://www.opensourceluthiersupply.com

Don Williams does some fine resawing, and he mentions a couple of blades in this thread.  I remember reading in a recent post, another one, where he mentioned exactly what blade he uses.  Could be one of his GOOB sale posts.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Trimaster is an excellent blade, but it has stress problems on bandsaws with less than 20" wheels. They can be resharpened 3-4 times, so their cost isn't bad. I do all my resawing with trimaster. I have 6 bandsaws and I use skip tooth bimetals on 4 and trimaster on the 2 resaws. I have cut 100's of sets for other people and average about 150 sets between sharpenings.

Dean

_________________
Dean

I have two 1/2" thin kerf Lennox carbide blades that I am very satisfied with. Been through dozens of steel blades and the Lennox blades are the best I have used plus they can be re-sharpened.

_________________
tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

Dean, who does your re-sharpening and what do they charge?

_________________
tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

Where do you guys get your Lenox blades sharpened? I send mine to a guy in PA and I'm not that happy with the results.

_________________
Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Oh lately I've been using the Lenox Aluminum Master 3 tpi with great results.

_________________
Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

There is an outfit here in Charlotte, Charlotte Saw & Knife Company, who sells Lennox blades, and does all types of resharpening.  Tell me lengths and teeth per inch and I'll see if I can get some prices.  I hear they are good at the resharpening thing, and get blades from all around for sharpening.  I check & see what the deal is if you wish.  If you are shipping them somewhere anyway, this wouldn't be much worse.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Waddy mine are 150" 3 tpi 1" wide Lenox Carbide blades.
I would appreciate any info.

_________________
Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

I don't know where the sharpening is actually done.  I send them out to D&D sharpening ( San Diego) with all my other sharpening, but they sublet the trimasters to someone else, and they won't tell me who it is. Takes about 10 days portal to portal.

Dean

_________________
Dean

Here is their website.

Charlotte Saw & Knife Co., Inc.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

My blades are 2/3 tpi x 1" x 147" and cost $ 48.50 sharpening and $5 per tooth to replace teeth.

Dean

_________________
Dean

I'll check it out tomorrow and get back to you with the details.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Hmmm wonder how my 16" Laguna takes a 150" blade and your 20" takes a 147" blade? Different design I guess. Or maybe it's not a 20"?

_________________
Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Different design.  Wheels are closer together. I also have that 16" Laguna. My 20" grizzly takes a 173" if I remember correctly. But I don't like it for resawing. I inverted the upper guides and picked up another 1 1/4" for cutting beams. If any of you have this 20" grizzly and do this, it will have a 13" resaw capacity.

_________________
Dean

Well, I have egg on my face!     Called Charlotte Saw and they do not sharpen carbide tipped band saw blades, only steel.  He told me there weren't enough resawers in the area to justify the service.  They do almost everything else, just not carbide band saw blades.  I was really surprised.  He couldn't even recommend anyone.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I use Hastings Saws for Lenox carbide sharpening. 183" about $45.00. They've been at it a very long time.

dave@hastingssaws.com
1-888-223-7016
75 Executive Way, #12
Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Yeah, I just bought a couple of blades from them.  I didn't know they did resharpening.  Shipping back and forth to and from the east coast becomes a bummer though, don't you think?  Seems like there should be an east coast sharpener worth his salt.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

When I'm resawing stuff where I need absolute maximum yield (Brazilian) I use the Laguna resaw king blade because the cut is super smooth and the kerf is really thin. That being said, I use aluminum-cutting blades like BobC 90% of the time for everything but Brazilian as they last longer and are much, much, much cheaper.

_________________
Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

[QUOTE=Bob Garrish]I use aluminum-cutting blades like BobC 90% of the
time for everything but Brazilian as they last longer and are much,
much, much cheaper.[/QUOTE]



Really?  I've been using 3/4" Woodslicers (2/3 TPI skip-tooth),
and yeah after a time you can feel them dull, but still cut pretty
well.  ~$55 shipped if I remember right.

I also use the re-saw King when I need smooth thin slices. They cut very very nice. However I find that they dull much quicker than the Lennox. Never have had much luck with the woodslicer 1/2" blade.

_________________
Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

[QUOTE=Bob Garrish] When I'm resawing stuff where I need absolute maximum yield (Brazilian) I use the Laguna resaw king blade because the cut is super smooth and the kerf is really thin.[/QUOTE]

I dulled a Resaw King in Brazilian about 6" into a board. I switched to the Aluminum Master for that sort of stuff. But the Resaw King rules (pun intended) with woods like Mahogany.

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Well, I am a bit aggressive and use 1 1/4" wide 7/8" tooth spacing bands that are .042 thick (plus kerf), and for sharpening I just send them out....

To the shed!



Sorry, I just set this up today and couldn't resist! My bands last about 2 hours when I am slicing tops so I go through lots of them. This unit is quite expensive but I just HATE taking bands to the landfill when they can be used a few times first. I buy the bands in boxes of 15 and I will need to sharpen 7 boxes worth of bands to pay for the sharpener.

I know that almost all of you wouldn't use a system like this but thought I would share anyway! I have a tooth setter with it also.

Shane

_________________
Canada

I have been using the 1" carbide timberwolf blade from the folks at Suffolk
Machinery - the blade is intended for cutting dry hardwoods. For what its
worth, this is the blade that is on some of the saws at the Taylor factory -
obviously, not the ones they use to resaw their tops. That is a good enough
endorsement for me to using nothing but this blade from here on out.

Just received a trimaster today from a new source ( for me) ToolCenter.Com. usually pay about $200.00 for 2/3 tpi x 1" x 147", but these guys had it for $163. including freight. Best part is that the Lenox factory in Mass. made up the blade and drop shipped it direct to me. Took a week to ship from date ordered.

Dean

_________________
Dean