If not BC Tool & Saw, then who?

[Bruce Darrow]

A search on the underlying question here gave me equivocal results, so here's another band saw blade question.......

I am a proponent of Michael Fortune's band saw philosophy: K-I-S-S. I last ordered bands in 2010 - 1/2" 3 TPI skip (Starrett Woodpecker), from BC, his favorite supplier, and just trashed my next to last re-purposing an old (very!) birch slab (hidden nails, and no, I don't have a metal detector.....). I went on line to order more (weekend - no phone contact) and it appears that BC was acquired by someone else and I can find no link on the website for band purchase. I need a custom length - 131.5": Grizzly GO513X2B - Looking on line, lots of links to Timberwolf, Wood Slicer, Lennox, etc, a few for custom length welders whose name I don't recognize......

Anyways, who do you all patronize for custom length bands? Preferably Starrett. Looking for good welds, fast and courteous service and possibly sharpening service. And is there any good reason to move on from simple, inexpensive 1/2" 3 TPI skip? In other words, has technology passed me by in the last 8 years?

I don't resaw a whole lot, but may do more in the future.......

Thanks,

Bruce

[Bill Dufour]

I would expect Starrett to sell factory direct.
Bil lD.

[Van Huskey]

I use predominantly Lenox but I do occasionally use (narrow) Starrett blades which I get from Iturra Design. If I were you I would get Lenox (just as good or better then Starrett) from CT Saw and Tool which should keep the shipping time low.

[David Helm]

I always buy from my local saw shop. Prices are better, custom lengths no problem and I can usually get them either the same day or within no more than a couple of days.

[Jim Andrew]

My local saw shop used to keep rolls of bandsaw blade material, and weld them up, but they always had a noise when the weld went through the guides. They now order the blades in, and you can't hear any difference with the weld. Still reasonably priced.

[Jacob Reverb]

https://www.sawblade.com

[Tom M King]

I've never received anything but perfect blades from Bandsawbladesdirect but I don't know if they do the blade you want.

[Richard Wolf]

Suffolk Machinery always served me well. http://www.suffolkmachinery.com/index.html

[Howard Pollack]

I bought Starrett bi-metal blades from Iturra Design, Louis Iturra. You have to call him (no on-line presence) 1(904) 642-2802. He is fast and very helpful and perfect welds. The blades are great. -Howard

[Christopher Charles]

I’ve ordered Lenox bimetallic blades from woodcraft bands in NC...if they are still around. Small shop, had to call last time. Good service and prices.

[Bruce Darrow]

Hey, thanks guys. Some areas to explore.

[Don Peters]

Louis Iturra. I've been doing business with him for over 20 years with nothing but expert advise and great service. His print catalog alone is priceless. He carries both Starrett and Lenox, and ships the same day via 2 Day Priority Mail.

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi, I order from R&D Bandsaw in Brampton.................Rod.

[Gary Radice]

I order from Woodcraft Bands, in North Carolina. Family shop, phone orders only, great selection, excellent welds. They have an online catalog with pricing.

[David Powell]

Bandsawbladesdirect for my Grizzly G0513X2BF.

[George Makra]

I am a fan of Cater products fast and fair pricing.

[Curt Harms]

I've had good luck with this company. I've found their premium gold pretty durable.
http://www.supercutbandsaw.com/products.html

[Edwin Santos]

IMO it's not as much about price or shipping time. The important factor is weld quality which can vary wildly between suppliers. Michael Fortune recommended BC Tool and Saw because their welds are consistently good.

I have received consistently good welds from bandsawbladesdirect.com. Iturra can be hit or miss. Sometimes to stack the deck in my favor I have asked Louis Iturra to not rush, take his time and make sure I get a good weld, even if I have to wait a day or two longer.
If you have a local dealer of Lenox products, they can order the blade of your choice to size, welded by the factory which will be very good because of the welding equipment they are using. My local source cannot give me a good weld to save their lives, but they can order from Lenox so I do so to bypass the weld issue and it costs very little more.

Hope this helps,
Edwin

[Bruce Darrow]

Lots of recommendations leading to lots of searching. My head is starting to spin. If I stay hung up on 1/2" 3 TPI skip carbon, which I find myself doing (for whatever reason - mostly Fortune's K-I-S-S principle, I guess, that configuration being general purpose and inexpensive) it eliminates a lot of recommendations........should I remain so? My brain wants to tell me an extra TPI or two or a hook configuration can't make THAT big a difference, can it? I just dunno. I think it's time to stop overthinking this and just make a purchase. I'm intrigued by supercut (thanks Curt) and reviews seem mostly positive - anyone here have negative experience with them? I do wish I could order online, though - don't really want to do this via phone on a 10 min. break......BUT - all this will change at the end of this year when I will start collecting MY money from the gummint.........can't wait.

[Van Huskey]

Lots of recommendations leading to lots of searching. My head is starting to spin. If I stay hung up on 1/2" 3 TPI skip carbon, which I find myself doing (for whatever reason - mostly Fortune's K-I-S-S principle, I guess, that configuration being general purpose and inexpensive) it eliminates a lot of recommendations........should I remain so? My brain wants to tell me an extra TPI or two or a hook configuration can't make THAT big a difference, can it? I just dunno. I think it's time to stop overthinking this and just make a purchase. I'm intrigued by supercut (thanks Curt) and reviews seem mostly positive - anyone here have negative experience with them? I do wish I could order online, though - don't really want to do this via phone on a 10 min. break......BUT - all this will change at the end of this year when I will start collecting MY money from the gummint.........can't wait.

First, I would never consider a single bandsaw blade, but then I would never consider a single bandsaw or even just 3. If I was forced to choose one blade it would not be a 1/2" blade, it is too limiting in cutting diameter. I would always choose a 1/4" blade if I was locked into one, a 1/2" is too limiting. If I used one blade it would never be a carbon blade, they dull too quickly and are not cost effective long-term especially if just using one blade. Get a bi-metal blade and you won't regret it, the one caveat is if you trash blades consistently. I probably have a dozen different blades I use regularly and another 5-6 that I use for certain cuts.

I have used just about ever companies blades I am aware of, I always come back to Lenox except for 3 specific blades that Lenox doesn't produce. They have a large catalog and are simply the best IMO. If I was stuck with one manufacturer it would be Lenox, if I was stuck with one blade it would be a 1/4" x 6tpi Hook in the Lenox Diemaster 2. It is not ideal for a lot of cuts but there aren't many it won't accomplish. Personally, I think 3 blades is a minimum to get wide use out of a bandsaw.

Some info on bandsaw blades: https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?149862-Lets-talk-bandsaw-blades!

If you buy from a supplier long enough you will get a bad weld, some places are more notorious than others. CT saw in Connecticut is the one I mentioned because they have very consistent welds over the years and they are close to you. Spectrum Supply is my goto source for Lenox and the Atalanta Sharptech stock they sell as the Kerfmaster, but they are better for larger orders. There are plenty of good blades out there, my recommendation is based on long-term consistency, availability and a large catalog of various configurations.