INTRODUCTION So for a while I've been wanting to sharpen my table saw blades, chop saw blades, heck! ... any circular saw blade. I've got a couple of 10" Forrest blades, several 10" Diablo combination blades, a Ridgid 10", a DeWalt 10".... it goes on and on. Sharpening cost too much when I have so many that need resharpening. On the other hand if I resharpen it could prove painful. There's tooth anatomy and various angles to be concerned about.
DETAILS Anyways....I build this sled jig to allow sharpening of any 7" or 10" blade. I can adjust it to do any rake angle and/or face angle required.
I bought a 5/8" arbor 400 grit 6" diamond blade off of Amazon for $19. Here you see the diamond blade mounted on my table saw and one of my Diablo 10" combination blades mounted on my new sled jig. I placed a stop block on the left. It has a quick release magnet. This stops forward travel so when I move the sled forward to do a tooth the sled will stop precisely on center to the diamond blade and ready to touch grind. There's also a clamp on the back left that stops backwards travel and clearing the blade allowing rotation and moving to the next tooth.
CONCLUSION Oh man!! Oh man!... it was exciting!!! After finding out the rake angle, etc and setting up the jig, I sharpened two Diablo 10" 50 tooth combination blades in less than 10 minutes. And they were perfect and wicked sharp!!
It cut through a 2x6 like butter!!!!! Both with and against the grain. It was the same on pine, maple, oak, plywood. In fact there was no resistance. It was like cutting soft butter no matter what I cut.
Absolutely unreal!! And man 'o man what a savings!!!!
Thanks for looking! " If you like it give it a 👍 " Cheers! MrRick
interesting rick ! for me being in the hardware industry between freebies or bought at cost ive never even considered sharpening a blade, but heading into retirement i might ?
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Pottz.... I've been meaning to do this for a couple of years and it's worth it. Not only is it a hassle to pay someone but also you have to wait for it to be done. Nothing like having the skill and doing it yourself at home. Right?
Blade sharpening in Aust. There is a standard fee for sharpening blades, and its worthwhile as long as there are no teeth missing. The reason for this is the fact tooth replacement puts the cost beyond a new blade. That being if you buy budget priced Blades in the first place and around $25 to $30 AUD. As my timber is either massively hard (Iron bark) and the likes or recycled packing/pallet crate for soft wood , I choose to keep my high cost blades for special occasions. I do have blade sharpening machine with a diamond blade but only use it when absolutely necessary . I have a tooth missing on my finger jointing set but loath to have it repaired for the expected cost. I think it was about $150 AUD when I bought it and I guess when the time comes I will have to open the wallet.
RobsCastle ..... I have a tooth missing on my finger jointing set but loath to have it repaired for the expected cost. I think it was about $150 AUD when I bought it and I guess when the time comes I will have to open the wallet.
I have more than a tooth missing, That's why I insist on Bluetooth! Warning to kiddies... do not open beer bottles with your teeth... at least not after you lose your baby teeth... that's why I now drink casked vino... easier to open with dentures.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
MrRick, Nice engineering work, well thought out for maximum usage on any shape blade, and excellently designed for repeatable accuracy and speed. At about 10 minutes sharpening time, this makes sense to sharpen prior every project using beautiful & expensive wood. Two thumbs up on this one Sir, 👍👍
LIttleBlackDuck Looks interesting, love engineered gadgets/jigs... is there an indexing component to ensure you don't overshoot a tip? How is the blade kept steady?
Duckie... at the moment there's no indexing. I'm thinking about how to do that where it works with various teeth and spacing between each. At the moment I move the sled back, rotate to next tooth space or gullet, move the sled forward, touch grind. Repeat and rinse. I move the sled with two hands and use my thumbs to temporarily hold the blade while touch grinding. If you have any ideas of indexing I'm listening.
RobsCastle that's why I'm sharpening my own. The cost is not that cheap and the inconvenience of running it out to someone and back is a out off. The key in doing your own is to be technically correct in doing it with results being repeatable. To me it's worth it.
Nice! If you want to be a toolmaker and figure out the indexing, I’d buy one. I currently have three circular saw blades sitting in the “once I find a local saw sharpener who doesn’t suck…” pile.
I have an awesome sharpening guy near me, and he doesn't cost me an arm and a leg, so I keep it local and give him work as I need it done. My biggest concern is he's a little older than I am, so it's that age old question like you get with good Doctors, will they go before I do? But then so many of the younger ones are so wishy washy about doing work for a living, I'm not too sure I trust the young generation to keep us afloat, once the greatest generation passes.
Oldtool MrRick, Nice engineering work, well thought out for maximum usage on any shape blade, and excellently designed for repeatable accuracy and speed. At about 10 minutes sharpening time, this makes sense to sharpen prior every project using beautiful & expensive wood. Two thumbs up on this one Sir, 👍👍
Dave Polaschek Nice! If you want to be a toolmaker and figure out the indexing, I’d buy one. I currently have three circular saw blades sitting in the “once I find a local saw sharpener who doesn’t suck…” pile.
Dave.... indexing is a complex thing and the question has to be asked if it's really necessary. It would be nice but if the jig is used to sharpen many different saw blade tooth patterns and spaces then the indexing becomes woefully painful. Then it may warrant multiple separate indexes or one complex one. I've looked at indexing and don't see a way where it is simple and efficient without entering into a realm as mentioned above. For now I'm adhering to a phrase one of my Engineering profs once told me many years ago....." Remember KISS!" (keep it simple stupid). I'll see how it goes.
I've always seen three levels of sharpening saw blades (circ and band saw).
Level one is the diamond or carborundum bit in a Dremel and a steady hand Level three is sending it to the factory to restore the factory angles (assuming their geometry has the magic sauce)
Level two is this. A fixture to allow for setting the primary angles and be consistent tooth to tooth. Also greatly speeds up the process.
I have blades I'd only consider #3 as an option and dozens that are just not worth that expense or the time of #1.
Looks like you have #2 at your service Mr. Rick 😀 Thanks for showing! Only thing is, can it sharpen your diamond blade?
