mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by mikeinsjc on Jan 6, 2011 9:32:40 GMT -5
What does "dressing" a saw blade do (besides make it pretty)? And what kind of materials can you use to do this? How often?
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 6, 2011 9:53:47 GMT -5
Don't know if dressing makes a blade prettier but as I understand it, as you cut, the blade metal can be drawn over the diamond or the diamond can lose it's sharp edges. Both those things slow the cutting and decrease the efficiency of your blade. You can cut through certain materials that will grind the steel away from the diamond and expose a fresh sharp diamond surface. Silicon carbide stones, fire brick, obsidian and many other grainy siliceous stones will work for this. I myself use a silicified limestone fossil rock which sands the steel away quite well and sharpens of the blade real fine....Mel
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Post by mohs on Jan 6, 2011 10:45:52 GMT -5
Nice clean clear answer Mel ! this is what i wrote:
Dressing is very important in grinding wheels, turkey, and other matters. I can’t say I’ve had lots of experience with wet blades but I am an expert at dressing grinding wheels— diamonds & silicon carbide.
So the same principle applies
Dressing trues the rotating object. Hopefully!! In example: makes it runs smooth (at the cutting surface) and not bumpy!
Plus, and most importantly, it cleans out the pores of the rotating object from foreign matter. That matter( resins, pitch, rock snot) glazes the cutting surface. Once this foreign matter is removed the cutting crystals are better exposed & the rotating object can abrade more efficiently. This we’ll make any cutter/grinder shine.
Time to get dressed..
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Post by deb193redux on Jan 6, 2011 14:01:26 GMT -5
for saw blades it is mostly about removing the glazing that Mel mentioned. It can also be about flattening the edge if ti has become rounded an prone to binding.
really can restore the cutting efficiency of a blade, but does consume some of the blade life, so should only be done when the blade appears to be cutting more poorly
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juzwuz
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 526
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Post by juzwuz on Jan 6, 2011 16:10:38 GMT -5
Fire brick at Home Depot works well and is under $2. I had an old blade on my saw and it's edge was basically smooth (didn't cut well). After I ran a fire brick through, I got some more cuts out of it.
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Post by catmandewe on Jan 6, 2011 21:31:44 GMT -5
I prefer coveralls for mine, but sometimes you have to use a dress.
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Post by catmandewe on Jan 6, 2011 21:32:45 GMT -5
Sorry, couldn't resist.
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Post by cpdad on Jan 6, 2011 21:50:55 GMT -5
hahaha Tony....thats funny ;D...coveralls...hahaha ;D.
just cut a brick or other stuff as mentioned before...it all works...kev.
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Post by mohs on Jan 6, 2011 22:40:19 GMT -5
I got some advice from an old grinder that I didn't understand at the time
He told me never to cross dress your saw :nono: you don't want to confuse the rocks Ed
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Post by jakesrocks on Jan 6, 2011 23:29:10 GMT -5
I'll have mine with turkey dressing, and a big scoop of gravy.
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