My father-in-law has an old ShopMaster bandsaw that needs a blade...he says the blade measures 63", and I have found no reference on the internet anywhere on the ShopMaster brand of saws, or a 63" blade...anyone out there know anything about them, or where to find parts? Thanks! Joe

-- Joe (threearrs@hotmail.com), September 29, 2001

Answers

If you can't find them ready made, you can make your own. When I took wood shop in the 8th grade, the old salt teacher manufactured all his own blades. He had bandsaw blade stock which he cut to length and then silver soldered together. I seems to me he had to grind a slight taper on each end so there wasn't a lump where the joint was.

He used this technique for cutting inside cutouts that he didn't want to cut through the edge of the work to acheive. He'd drill a hole, pop the sawblade stock through the hole and then soldered it together.

-- Willy Allen (willyallen2@yahoo.com), September 29, 2001.

Joe; Go to a book store-or where ever you can get the good stuff & pick up "Fine Woodworking" or "American Woodworker" magazines. In them you will find the who what where on saw blades. Tho I've never ordered from them, a outfit[company] called "Lenox" 1- 800-628-3030 will take care of you . I've got the jig for silver soldering blades together.......but haven't had to use it.........yet.

-- Jim-mi (hartalteng@voyager.net), September 30, 2001.

might want to look here, Diamond Saw Works. They sell custom welded lengths and they also list a 64 1/2" blade for the Shopmaster. That's a old brand, tough to find parts for.

http://www.sterlingsaw.com/bench_top.htm

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), September 30, 2001.

I'm surprised silver-solder would be enough for a bandsaw blade. I can envision the possibility for a terrible accident if it broke.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), September 30, 2001.

you might try www.harborfreight.com or maybe Sears. I think our old craftsman was 60 some odd inches. Maybe a help.

-- K & S (healthywizard@earthlink.net), October 03, 2001.

I imagine silver solder would be quite strong enough but the ends of the blade must be accurately matched to each other as the solder is not a very strong 'filler'.

My bandsaw blades appear to be joined with brazing (bronze welding ?) which is a little stronger than silver solder but requires a higher heat.

Don't get too excited about the hazard of band breakage, just keep fingers well clear, all the time.

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), October 03, 2001.

Joe, You can have blades made to your specifications at most lumber stores. Just measure how long it is,the withe and teeth per inch. The store's such as Early bird will have one made for you. I have a shopmaster and this is all I do. Best of luck, Jayman

-- justin Wiseman (jwiseman@ngis.com), March 28, 2002.