snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on May 27, 2011 20:23:41 GMT -5
I bought my used HP saw 2 years ago. I used the blade that was on it cutting slabs almost every day. I didnt think it would ever wear out,but finally did.I didnt know what kind of blade was on it until I took it off.The saw had been sitting for seven years,so the blade is at least 9 or more years old. Just wondering if the quality of the new ones compare with this one. Thanks. snuffy
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Post by jakesrocks on May 27, 2011 20:28:22 GMT -5
Get yourself a new BD 303S. You won't be sorry. I just put one on my 16" saw. I'm getting nice smooth cuts, with no binding. Fast cutting too. Don
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Post by johnjsgems on May 27, 2011 21:03:41 GMT -5
That is one of the old style 301 notched rim blades. They were very good blades but were easy to dish. Big advantage was several core thicknesses were available. If not dished they will cut until all the notches are worn through.
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Post by Rockoonz on May 27, 2011 21:24:04 GMT -5
Thats what I have on my 16. Just hammered the edge flat and re-dressed it, cutting better than ever.
Lee
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on May 27, 2011 23:26:53 GMT -5
i to love that blade, the dark red looks like the centurion 297 or 301 / Maybe the gemking. mine is the 18" it was damaged while cutting a piece Jasper. I had a ripple in the blade 1/2 inch wide it stop the saw screaming at me from the garage to shut it off.
Three step`s to cover 30 Ft. the blade was ruined, Well i got the three ponder out and flatten the warped area flat.
Drew circumference of damaged area, and matched it to good half.
Then the No. 2 file tell it was in line with the good half of circumference.
Drilled end of crack, I to ran the life out of the blade.
I would guess the rim slots are about 7-8mm deep. worn down to about 3mm their dead of cut life.
that 297 18" is now a wall hanging for the memory's.
that blade is why i only use MK-Blades BD Sabers 1000.
And the old favorites from the past.
Star MoonGlow
Congo's
HighLand-Park
Never would i put a Felker on a saw again.........
Avco Felker was the real blade in the Felker line.
In the 70s everyone felt they had a Better Blade. NOT.............
Reason for why MK-blades are on top.......1865 - present.
Jack
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on May 27, 2011 23:29:12 GMT -5
Snuffy, forgot the ping marks in your Blade dates it to per-1973.
So that 16" Blade was a lifer on that saw.
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Post by johnjsgems on May 28, 2011 8:41:28 GMT -5
I toured the BD factory a couple of years before it closed down and merged with MK. Same employee from Star Diamond was using a ball peen hammer and by ear doing the final tweaking. This was about 5 years ago. The red blades were the better line, the black 297's had slightly less diamond content. When I ordered 297's or 301's they often asked what color I wanted. The blades sat on shelf unpainted until ordered as they supplied blades to everybody. Lortone wanted 301's painted Lortone blue, etc. I bought a lot of blades at a final close out and ended up with several with green paint and a Japanese label. I got some that were on the shelf a long time before BD acquired them in 1998 that were pretty rusty. Star Diamond made the Congo blades for HP which I'm guessing was not politically correct with the pictured dancing African native. We had a restaurant chain called "Sambos" that died about the same time but that has nothing to do with rocks. They just turned up another 12 or so 297 14" blades but other than those the only source is calling rock shops to see if any are left in stock.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,352
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Post by quartz on May 28, 2011 22:45:08 GMT -5
Aw geez, I've got two Sambo's tokens good for a cup of coffee. Suppose they're no good now.
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