Bandsaw blade questions

[Howard]

Hello all. I'm ordering the Grizzley Ultimate 14" saw and had some blade questions. I believe it comes with a 3/8ths blade. How many extra blades do you have and what sizes? Is the size of the blade you use dependent on the curves you cut, ie. 1/4" blade for sharp curves and a 3/4" for ripping? I have read where you recommend Timberwolf blades but how are the Grizzley versions? How difficult is a blade to change and set up? I know that's an open ended question but if it is a royal pain in the potato, I'd be more inclined to leave a "standard" blade on for most of the time. I also plan on getting the 6 inch riser as well. Do you leave that on full time or only when resawing large stock? Thanks!

[mckinneymesa]

since i ordered the riser block as well, i never used the stock blade that came with the bandsaw. i orderd 3 blades from timberwolf at the same time i ordered my grizzley. since i do mostly small tight curves, i like the 3/16 blade and its on the saw all the time. you won't be changing out the riser block, that would be too difficult. (two man job) my first timberwolf blade lasted over a year with cutting 5 or 6 hours a week.

[sacherjj]

I can't speak for the Grizzly saw in specific, but changing blades isn't difficult at all. Loosen the tension and then you usually have to remove the fence guide or similar piece from the front of the table for the blade to come out. I use my scrollsaw for very fine, intricate cuts, so I am normal only switching between a 3/8" 3 TPI resaw blade and a 3/8" 6 TPI general cutting blade. I just coil them back up into a 3 layer wrap and hang 'em up.

[drumpriest]

Howard. Changing a band saw blade is the most time consuming thing about a band saw, because you then have to resetup your guides. It's not really difficult, just time consuming. I myself have 3 blades currently.

3/16" timberwolf for doing band saw boxes.
1/4" Olsen for general purpose
1/2" timberwolf 3 tpi for resawing.

On 14" saws, the thickest recommended blade is 1/2", though olson makes a 5/8" blade that would probably be good. Most 14" saws say they can tension a 3/4" blade, but really can't. I have cut 3/32" veneers with my 1/2" timberwolf, and been within a hundreth of an inch across the entire veneer, which would then need drum sanded to final thickness.

The riser block would be left on all of the time, because I don't think anyone would fancy tryint to lift the top of a bandsaw on and off of one all of the time.

I have not used Griz blades, so I can't help you there.

And finally, you can get down to as small as 1/8" with BS blades, and they can cut come mighty tight curves, though not as tight as a scroll saw.

[sacherjj]

I didn't think guides take that long to setup. Tension the blade, setup the proper forward and backward distance to miss the teeth, then pull out a dollar bill and setup the guides a bill thickness away. It takes 30 seconds for each upper and lower guides. Is this more difficult in the larger saws? A full blade change for me is 2-4 minutes.