Craftsman 14" bandsaw blade choices

[mike hopkins devon,pa]

Is buying tools a hobby or an addiction? Since I am struggling with the decision on which 8" or 12" jointer to buy (8" Yorkcraft, 8" Yorkcraft with byrd cutter head, 12" grizz J/P, 12" J/P with shelix cutterhead), I decided to postpone that purchase and pick up a 14" bandsaw in Delaware. For someone starting on a bandsaw and looking to cut bowl blanks and general purpose work which blades would be recommended? Someone I saw was recommending taking advantage of the Suffolk 5 blade sale for $75. Do I need that many blades to start and is it necessary to replace bandsaw blades frequently?

[Jim Becker]

Bandsaw blades are disposables. You will use them up! They will last anywhere from a few minutes of cutting to a few hours of cutting, depending on the saw, the job, the material you are cutting, the blade and so forth. This is why I always recommend getting an extra of the blade type you will use most often so you have a change available when you need it since it's so unpredictable.

[Pete Bradley]

I always recommend 3/8X4TPI and 1/2X3TPI silicon steel (aka Timberwolf, Swedish steel) bands. Lots of people sell them, including Suffolk Machinery and Constitution Saw. It would take me a while to go through 5 bands, but mileage varies.

Pete

[Eric Sabo]

As far as I know Timberwolf doesn't make a blade in the correct length for that Craftsman 14", but they will custom make you one for something like 29 or 30 cents an inch. Not a bad price.

Take this with a grain of salt, though, as I only know it from research and not from actual experience (I am debating between the Craftsman and the Grizzly Ultimate 14", currently).

[Chuck Saunders]

Timberwolf bldes are made to your desired size. They are priced in 6" increments. for the Craftsman 99-3/4 blades you pay for 102" easy as that.
Chuck

[Don Bullock]

Great question and helpful responses. I just bought the Craftsman 14" BS and was wondering about blades as well.

[Alfred Clem]

I bought some Timberwolf blades by telephone from Suffolk Machinery a couple weeks ago. A man named Tom took the order and was extremely helpful in fulfilling my needs. The order arrived in 5 days, here in Arizona, and in perfect shape. Lots cheaper, too, than some catalogs list the same blades.

Al Clem
Sedona, AZ