HF Band Saw blade problem.

[LX Kid]

I have one of the "much desired" Harbor Freight 4"x 6" band saw's and it quit cutting all of a sudden. I was cutting 1/8" bed rail angle iron, during a blade alignment test. It was cutting just fine. When it got down to about the last 1/16" it just quit cutting. Blade turns but no cut. Running my fingers down the blade the back side I could feel the teeth and on the front side it felt kinda smooth. Checked all the alignment bearings to make sure the teeth were not mal aligned. Anyone know what my problem is or is it just time for the blade to wear out. It is a cheapo HF blade and has been on for awhile but not used often. Thanks

 

[den-den]

Bed rail is pretty hard, my guess is the blade wore out.

 

[benmychree]

Yes, it is quite hard, hard on tools.

 

[MikeInOr]

I have this problem on my Wells saw on occasion. It is always when I move the blade guard too close in and it hits the off cut support before it can finish the entire stroke.

If you remove the stock being cut will the arm lower the entirely? If the arm lowers completely I would suspect the blade.

 

[LX Kid]

Thanks guys! New blade on order 12/`14 tpi bi-metal. Gonna try the chop saw next time.

 

[C-Bag]

Bed rail is not typical angle iron. It can be insanely hard. Angle iron is hard enough depending on how you have it chucked up. I don’t put it in the L arrangement, more like and upside down V. Not as hard on blades.

 

[LX Kid]

Bed rail is not typical angle iron. It can be insanely hard. Angle iron is hard enough depending on how you have it chucked up. I don’t put it in the L arrangement, more like and upside down V. Not as hard on blades.

I did secure it in an upside down V and cut fine all the way down to the last 1/16".

 

[C-Bag]

I learned the hard way with bed rail, it has cleaned off the teeth on a band saw blade before. Try drilling it, no bueno.

 

[vocatexas]

The saw teeth aren't riding on the wheels, are they? The blade teeth should never contact the wheels. It will flatten the 'set' of the teeth.

 

[MrWhoopee]

I only dulled a drill bit learning that bed rail is NOT just angle-iron. I'm told it's made from recycled railroad rail.