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Thread: New SCM SC4e

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Gorham, ME
    Posts
    121

    New SCM SC4e

    Hi everyone, well I finally took delivery of my new saw and am in the process of setup. My question for the brain trust is did any of you format saw owners keep and continue to use your thin kerf blades and if so were you able to find the correct splitter size? Ive been searching around unsuccessfully for either an OEM solution or aftermarket for thin kerf splitters. I do plan to switch over to full kerf blades fully as I go but have lots invested in thin kerf tooling.

    Thanks,
    Mike

  2. #2
    Hurts, as you say, since you just invested, but I did find the 12" A.G.E. blades to be quite good and reasonably priced. Believe it was just under $225 shipped for set of 3 in January when I received a new si315es. This gave me the ability to jump straight in to tweaking it to the splitter, and remain accurate on settings regardless which blade goes in of the three (rip, miter and general), as they're all same width from same manufacturer. Tough deal, but any time you buy these upgraded machines, you normally still need a pocket (bucket?)full of cash to get fully operational with proper tooling.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Gorham, ME
    Posts
    121
    Thanks Jeff, I always knew deep down that just ordering that same 3 blade setup that you did was the "right" answer. As the saying goes you have to pay to play right!!! So you have had good luck with those Amana blades?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Toronto Ontario
    Posts
    11,248
    I have one 12” blade for my saw, all others are 10” blades I had bored to 30mm. I have 2 different thickness riving knives to match my blade assortment

    SCM should have 4 or 5 riving knives for your saw, Felder has them ranging from 2.0 to 3.7mm

    Diamond blades need an extremely thin riving knife, 2mm if I remember correctly, so I’m sure you’ll be able to get one for thin kerf blades.

    Regards, Rod
    Last edited by Rod Sheridan; 04-23-2022 at 1:58 PM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    South Dakota
    Posts
    1,627
    Sharkguard makes replacement riving knives in any thickness you want.
    The Plane Anarchist

  6. #6
    Mike,
    Yes, I am happy with the blades. I will say, best blade I have ever tried are the Makita's. Just incredible how smooth they cut - cross-cut and mitered ends look like you've sanded to 220 grit. However, only in thin kerf, so you'll need to go with some of the riving knife suggestions above to get it working. Otherwise, nothing to complain about - very solid performers, with very clean, professional results worthy of the machine you just invested in. The general performs well enough that I do not often change blades, though the miter blade naturally is cleanest for those cuts. Ripper just shrugs off any load as no big deal, though it is being powered by 7.5 HP on this machine.
    Others had mentioned here that they've spent much more on the sexier models with blue coatings and such, but they found the AGE's to perform just as well, so I took the chance and am not disappointed. They are made in Germany, which generates a vote of confidence for me. Inclined to think the full kerf and thicker blade body may contribute to smoothness /stability = better results over thin kerf, IMHO.

  7. #7
    David mentioned making them out of old saw blades. Good idea, I have a good number of them around.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,688
    Congrats on receiving your new slider!

    Honestly, I didn't own any thin-kerf blades so it didn't come up, but I wouldn't run them, anyway, on such a hefty machine. I actually took great pain to make sure any blades I used had exactly the same kerf and that includes the scoring blade. It makes life a lot easier. I do not believe you will find an OEM or even aftermarket solution for a thinner riving knife. If you truly need it, you'll likely need to make it. But I could be wrong about that...
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  9. #9
    In my opinion, thin kerf blades have no place on a format saw. Their flexible nature defeats one of the main reasons for going with a beefier machine. Thin kerf blades will begin resonating while cutting and you'd be shocked to see how far they can flex once they start warbling. I'd just purchase and run one good combo blade before burning money on a thin kerf riving knife.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Gorham, ME
    Posts
    121
    OK thanks guys for confirming what I knew was the right answer. I sort out of chuckled a bit after thinking over a while. I spent big bucks on the saw just to worry about a couple hundred bucks in tooling after the fact.....

    Thanks again

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Cache Valley, Utah
    Posts
    1,722
    A little late, but I only use two blades on my SC4E, 12" Tenryu Gold Medal 60 tooth ATB, and 12" Oshlun 48 tooth ATB for rougher work. Two of each. I tried some older blades from my former 12" TS and RAS and most of them were too thin for the splitter and I don't want to mess with two splitters.

    Welcome to the SC4E club. You will really enjoy the saw once you get it figured out.

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