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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on May 17, 2012 7:47:50 GMT -5
I need a new blade for my 6" trim saw. I am looking at the BD303C blades. This saw will only be used for triming 1/4" thick slabs so my questions is whats the best thickness for the blade? they are available in .014", .020" and .032" thick. I am leaning towards the .020 since its middle of the road.
Chuck
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kevin24018
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 284
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Post by kevin24018 on May 17, 2012 8:21:41 GMT -5
best I can tell from what I have read, the thinner the blade the more expensive it is. If the material you are cutting is expensive you don't want to waste it so a thin blade is what you would want. Thicker blades are stiffer and you can push on the rock a little harder when cutting. I would think a thicker blade would be better for shaping the stone as well (using the edge to round corners, bevel etc.)
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Post by johnjsgems on May 17, 2012 8:25:57 GMT -5
I agree on the .020". It is a nice compromise between too thin and too thick. My first 6" saw came with a Proslicer really thin blade. My then teenage son wiped it out first cut. I put a .032" blade on which held up well but wasted rock due to thick kerf. We were cutting self collected rocks so nothing very valuable. I later bought a Wizard trim saw and put a .014 303C. It was too flexible for me. I couldn't cut straight lines and I ended up notching the groove where the blade runs. I now use a 4" .020" on my current trim saw and like Goldilocks said "it is just right".
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Post by helens on May 17, 2012 8:39:29 GMT -5
I got a 6" 303C from John (jsgems) and I think it's a .020, and it's PERFECT! Pricewise, John had said that it's the same ($37 plus shipping) regardless of whether I got the .020 or the .014. I'm really glad I got the .020 tho... because if it were thinner, I'd have to worry about bending the blade.
The .020 cuts plenty thin, but had enough thickness to not bend (I tested it with a 3" x 2 1/2" odd shaped rock... that was not a good idea... had the blade been thinner, I think it could have snapped).
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on May 17, 2012 8:40:04 GMT -5
thanks john, that's the answer i was looking for. I have the thicker .032 mounted in another 6" saw that i use for getting small slabs out some stones but i don't like that thick blade for trimming. I will try to get a blade ordered from you soon. I have been checking out your site trying to see what else you have available. I hate ordering from to many different places because of the shipping costs so the more I can get from one vendor the better.
Chuck
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Post by johnjsgems on May 17, 2012 9:49:28 GMT -5
The 6" blades fit nicely in the padded flat rate envelopes for $5.10. Actually 3 will fit in one.
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