[Rockhounds] Diamond Saw Blade Repair

[Tom Bowers]

Thanks Jay.  Your experience only helps confirm my decision to go with a new blade - after trying your recommendation to try the current blade first.

--- On Fri, 4/17/09, Jay Bates <jaybates at rcn.com> wrote:


From: Jay Bates <jaybates at rcn.com>
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Diamond Saw Blade Repair
To: "Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors" <rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
Date: Friday, April 17, 2009, 10:22 AM


I sent a  blade to Barranca a few years ago and got it straightened by them. Even after using a large press and heat it still was not exactly straight. They no longer straighten blades nor does anyone else I know about. I have not had any luck trying to straighten them myself. If the wobble is not too much your can continue to use them to cut. The continuing working in the kerf will straighten them a little bit. It is either that or a new blade.

Tom Bowers wrote:
> Tim, Kreigh, John, Kevin,
>  Thanks for your well-considered replies.  Sounds like the best plan is to buy a new blade.  I appreciate your guidance.
>  Tom
> 
> --- On Fri, 4/17/09, Tim <nospam at orerockon.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> From: Tim <nospam at orerockon.com>
> Subject: RE: [Rockhounds] Diamond Saw Blade Repair
> To: "'Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors'" <rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
> Date: Friday, April 17, 2009, 7:23 AM
> 
> 
> Diamond Pacific, MK, Barranca, and the like are very reluctant to straighten
> blades these days, and their cost would probably be more than a new blade.
> Straightening an 18" blade yourself is very difficult as has been pointed
> out. Even then it probably will leave pretty deep saw marks on a long cut.
> You are better off with a new blade IMO.
> 
> 
> Tim Fisher Ore-ROCK-On! Email address at http://OreRockOn.com
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
> [mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] On Behalf Of jb
> Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 1:42 AM
> To: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors
> Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Diamond Saw Blade Repair
> 
> Kreigh Tomaszewski wrote:
>   
>> Tom,
>> 
>> Think about how you straighten a bent nail. You place it on a hard flat surface with the bent portion sticking upright, and you hit it with a hammer. If you hit it too hard you get a reverse bend and have to rotate it and try again.
>> 
>> Place your blade on a hard flat surface with the bend sticking up. Working in a spiral pattern tap the parts sticking up with a large flat-head hammer. Concentrate around the high points, but don't hit too hard. With patience you can flatten it back out.
>> 
>> Kreigh
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Thursday, Apr 16, 2009, at 22:59 America/Detroit, Tom Bowers wrote:
>> 
>>     
>>> I recently acquired a used 18" rock saw at the best of prices.  The blade on the saw is not straight, slightly bent.  Does anyone know where (or how on my own) I can get the blade straightened?
>>>   Thanks for your help,
>>>   Tom
>>> 
>>> 
>>>       
> 
> Note that concrete is usually *not* a flat enough surface; try to find a rather large flat piece of iron or steel to work your blade. And the 18" blade is rather thick so will take harder blows to straighten. But this also means that too hard a blow will bend the metal too far.  This shows up as small high spots on opposite sides of the blade which will drag and burn when it is used.  Work both sides of the blade alternately from the center in a spiral motion out to near the edge; don't try to straighten the whole thing at one go. Little by little is the best approach. Avoid hitting anywhere near the center hole as this should always fit squarely on the shaft to prevent vibration. Presumably it has been securely braced when used and is not bent in that area anyway.
> 
> As Kreigh said, it takes a lot of patience and a certain knack to accomplish a decent straightening. If you use a heavy hammer, use a lead-filled dead-weight one to keep from concentrating the blow in too small a place. Avoid hitting too close to the rim as that will bend over the edge of the kerf slightly and ruin the effect of straightening the rest of the blade (uneven wear of diamond from one side or the other). You will know when you have "gone too far" as the blade will "dish" and spring from one side to the other ; only heat treating will cure that.
> 
> Places like Diamond Pacific will straighten a large blade, but I don't know what the costs are, certainly less than the cost of a new blade.  I am sure a skilled blacksmith could also do the job. Then again, examine closely the diamond rim. It may be that there is not enough life left in the blade to put much work into it in the first place.
> 
> 
> 
> john
> 
>   

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