best one ive found is the freud diablo. Anything better out there? marathon? what about those new ridgid blades, anyone try one yet?
–> measure once scribble several lines spend some time figuring out wich scribble cut the wrong line get mad
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Replies
Ditto on the Freud blade.
I really don't like the diablo blades.... are we talking for framing or finish?
For framing blades, I've been buying the Marathon 24T framing blades for the past year or so and love 'em. They'll take and nail or two and still cut nicely. Seems to be pretty good quality carbide too as they last a good long time. The ones I've been getting have the red center, not the blue, although truthfully I've never really taken notice as to what the difference is. I can sometimes get them as cheap as $7 per when I buy 'em in bulk.
Dewalt makes a really good framing blade too... again, the 24T model.
Don't know nuttin' bought finish blades but I'd probably buy a Diablo if I needed one.
Marathon far and away.You can build a whole house with one. I think durorock actually sharpens them and theyll still be cutting cement siding when the bearing fall out of the poor saw. This old guy down the road ganged up about 25 old ones of them and made a chipper for grinding up styrofoam boxes for soil admendment.Silly lumberyard in town for about 2 years gave free replacemnets if you busted a tooth on one of them till they realized they werent reading the lifetime warranty rite.
I had a couple of Bosch blades given to me at JLC Live and just had occasion to put one on. Very good out of the box. If it holds up, I'd have no reservation buying them. Ripped like butter. Blue of course, a bit of a hook to the tip if I remember. Diesel, know the cost from your website viewing? And speaking of which, could you try to work your magic and get some door prizes from your pals at bosch for the Fest come August? Thanks.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
For some reason, I just caught your message now. Although I buy a ton of crap from them.... I've got ZERO pull with them. The company that we get all the gear from isn't even Bosch anywho.... it's just a marketing/merchandise firm that handles that side of the biz.
Sorry dude.
What I will do is talk to the Bosch rep at JLC-Live. He's a pretty good guy and even offered to have Little Blue (Big Blue, the truck's little brother) come out to my site for demos. If Big Blue is in that area of the country around fest time, I'm willing to bet that they'll swing by. If not, there's probably a Little Blue in your area that could make an appearance. That'd be cool, huh?
Now you're talking. I gave that a brief thought, then said,,,,,,,,,nah, no way. Please take it upon yourself to bull #### them into it if you can. That, or the name of the local rep that has the power around here. That would be cool. Lure 'em down the long drive...........
thanks and give that bosch blade a try.........or look for it at the live show, a presenter gave me a couple.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
I've used those Bosch blades a bit as they come on their saws and I've bought three Bosch saws this year. They seem to be very good blades, but I haven't found them sold anywhere individually yet.... although I haven't look that hard either.
Not trying to pass the buck, but if you find your local Bosch service center in the yellow pages you can call and ask to speak with the local sales rep. They really look for places to bring those trucks to as it's great advertising. They let you demo the tools (that's demonstrate, not demolish LOL) and they sell onsite as well. Good deal for everyone involved. At least that's how it is with the MA guys anywho. I will ask for you though. I'll see if I can dig up my local guy's business card (it's around here somewhere) and I'll give him a shout and see if I can get the process started.
Hey Blue..The BEST FASTEST ROUGHEST cutting RAFTER (compound angles) blade I ever used..had 4 teeth. No kidding, just a plate of steel, and 4 holes on the perimter..and 4 teeth.I forget what it was actually made to do, but man, would it sing through a wet knarly 2x12..ruff as a cobb, for a cut, but never bound, kicked or got dull.I think I might still have one around somewhere..and yes we had to cut nailplates on trusses on occaision..and NO..it will not make ANY blade cut better or sharpen it.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Watch out for the edges, it's really fast out there...
Sphere, I know what you mean about using a blade with only four teeth...I've been saying for years that I wish they would come out with a blade that was created specially for wet framing lumber. The manufacturers are so focused on more teeth, smoother cuts simply because the marketing works. I've seriously though cutting off some of the teeth on the marathons!
I have used marathons till there was only one or two tiny bits of carbide stuck to the blade! When I'm finally changing it and I notice how bad it's been abused I shake my head in amazement.....it doesn't take much for those jagged carbide bits to cut through pine.
blueJust because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. According to him I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
Skyecore,
I bought 4 of the new Ridgid blades and I really do hate them. I just can't believe how disappointing they are (7 1/4"). I have a Freud Diablo on our Bigfoot and love it and a 7 1/4" on a saw we are trying out. I really am impressed with that blade.
Marathons are good and so are the Bosch blades.
We use and abuse DeWalt 24T blades and at $5.00 a blade you can't beat them.
Freud framers $15.00 look the meanest but honestly don't last as long as the Dewalt.
Sawsall- we only use Lenox.............
Now go make some sawdust!
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Skyecore, Ive used the marathons for a long time now, but lately I've been happier with the 18tooth DeWalt. I prefer the 18 teeth because they cut faster.
blue
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. According to him I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
Ditto on the Lennox for recips. Been using DeWalts 12" with various number of teeth depending on work. Like the 80 tooth for trim work. Actually found it cheaper one time to have the carbide sharpened! Did some work for a guy using Freud blades and cut my finger just touching the unmoving blade. Thor
Skycore,
I have been using Marathons for a long time, but every once in a while they are sold out at the HD ( actually, quite often ) so i try another. I have tried the de walts, the Diablo and others, but i always go back for more marathons. I even keep the junkers for cutting off my comp shingles. ( I am not a roofer! )
wow, great response! I have never bought a lennox because The diablo is the same price but i'll havto try one next time.I've used the dewalts before (18 and 24) and i like them but they do seem to get dull faster than others.Timhuler: thanks for the warning about the ridgid blades. They stand out with that gold color "TiNit coated" but what a joke, tinit coating is not as hard as carbide so what is the point? But im a sucker anyways i would have bought one.The reason i like diablo blades so much is that they really take a beating, the one on my saw right now has ran through about 5 nails and countless 16ga staples and is finally just about ready for a replacement.-->
measure once
scribble several lines
spend some time figuring out wich scribble
cut the wrong line
get mad
oops, i forgot to mention/ask..I was in harbor freight a few moths ago and they had cheapo carbide 7 1/4" blades for $2.00 I was curious but i kept picturing one of those carbide teeth busting off and piercing my eyeball. Has anyone tried those cheapo's ?-->
measure once
scribble several lines
spend some time figuring out wich scribble
cut the wrong line
get mad
Nothing that cheap, but I was fond of the old B&D Piranha carbides. They were thinner than standard carbide, had a clean cut, seemed to hold up well, and were about 1/2 the price of a standard carbide. Last time I looked for them I couldn't find them, though.
I've had real good luck with the PC Framer blades. Don't recall them as being very expensive and they cut fast and very clean.
My favorite would have to be the Diablo. Has anyone tried any of the M-Force blades by Makita? Just curious....
Okay...speaking of blades...I don't know where to start with this..
Okay..I worked with a guy, Charles, who learned his trade in Texas. He told me, that his father always used carbide blades....and when he would see a chunk of wood, with some metal on it, like a truss plate, he would run his saw blade through the metal plate and claimed that it sharpened the carbide tips!
Now...believe me...I'm as skeptical as the next guy...but, I've tried in on many occasions and I believe that it does help. For instance, the blade I am using right now was used for the last part of the the last house. ON the second last day, I had cut a bunch of hardie plank siding and it slowed the blade down a bit...but not enough for me to trash it. I've now cut a bunch of metal (I routinely use my power saw to cut nails and staples-I've learned that if you don't push through too fast, it doesn't hurt the carbide blades at all) and I believe the sawblade is actually sharper now than when I cut the siding. I'm using it on everything including crown mold. The only "problem" that the blade is having is a slight drop in the "set", which indicates to me that the points have been knocked off.
I'm using a Dewalt 18th blade right now.
the question: Am I crazy, or is the cutting of steel in a controlled fashion actually able to sharpen carbide?
Don't answer that crazy part.
blueJust because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. According to him I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
I believe the sawblade is actually sharper now than when I cut the siding. I'm using it on everything including crown mold
WHAAAAATTTT????!!!!???
I wonder if cutting softer steel removes some of the pitch/gum/resin from the teeth & the blade making it cut easier?
Diamond blades for tile wetsaws are sharpened by running them through soft brick or concrete block. This exposes fresh diamonds and makes them cut better. But diamond blades work by grinding rather than cutting. I wonder if carbide gets "glazed" on the surface...?
blue, I think that you got something started here. There will be some good rants...
Billy
It's possible that cutting metal chips the carbide slightly, removing the worn edge.
like flint knapping ?
i don't think so.. and i don't believe that cutting metal with a carbide will sharpen it..
MarathonMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore