5/8 arbor and a Melamine Blade

[tenbears]

I'm looking for suggestions on the sucess or lack of using the 5/8" saw arbor with a standard 5/8 arbor 10" table saw melamine blade + vibration dampners

[james.miller]

The 5/8 saw blade arbor cant use blade stabilizers. You would have to use the dado/molder arbor which I don't think is recommended for saw blades.

Jim in Tucson

[reible]

Hi,

IMO the better blades do not need any extra stablizers.... I know they sell them and I have a pair from way back when. They have been in the drawer for the last 12-15 years or so. I simply could not tell the difference between the cuts with and without them on the newer better quality blades.

I have never gone the Forrest route but I know a lot of shopsmith people seem to love them. I have used Freud (red) with good luck and that has been my blade of choise until the last couple of years.

I now like the blades by infinity. In your case you might want to check out:
http://www.infinitytools.com/products.asp?dept=1198

I'm on their mailing list and just saw an offer for free postage for purchases over $50 until Memorial Day... not sure if that is for anyone or only for people on the mailing list.

I have also gotten router bits from them and they are also high quality bits in my book.

Ed

[paulmcohen]

I use the Infinity Detonator Dado blade and while expensive is the best blade I have ever used.

[tenbears]

Ed: are you using the Dado arbor or the standard 5/8 arbor, and are you tapeing the cutline or does the Infinity blade cut clean enough without ugly chipout. I've tried the standard SS carbide combination blade and the chipout on Melamine is unacceptable.

[reible]

Hi,

I use the Shopsmith standard 5/8" saw arbor, and my shopsmith has been upgraded to the two bearing quill.

As far as cutting clean I guess other factors come into play, like when the blade is new it is sharper, the condition of your saw (alignment and how well the other mechanical parts are to spec) and even things like the grade of material used.

My feelings/guess is that you will find you do not need to tape but I can not tell you for sure (lets say I'm 90% sure). If you read the information on the web site they talk about how the edges are cut because of the angles of the saw teeth and that is what happens, this translates in to very nice clean edges for me and I like the blade better then the red model I use to use. I know it the best I've owned.

I have also been told that H.O. Schumacher + Sohn makes a blade for about the same cost that also does a great job. I have yet to purchase any of their blades so this is only what I've been told and I have never seen the cuts made by them.

I haven't looked at this in a while but I think all the blades in this class have about the same specs and if you look at the specs you will see they are different then a standard crosscut or combo blade. They are designed for this type of cutting and do a much better jobat it. Any of the three or so brands I've mentioned will be a major improvement over a standard combo blade.

Ed

[charlese]

With all due respect to all the users of 5/8" arbor blades, I have to throw this in. I used a SS 1/8" kerf carbide combo blade for years. (literally!) Touched it up a few times with a diamond hone. Still makes GREAT crosscuts. Finally I sprung for a new 1/8" combo and the three SS narrow kerf blades. (Cross cut, Rip and Combo). At first didn't see or feel much difference between all four new blades. However,now I find myself almost totally using the narrow kerf blades, and switch blades frequently according to purpose. Still can't tell any difference in quality of cut, but the narrow kerf must sound better or feel better somehow as I prefer their use.

Moral: When you find what you like - use it!

[tenbears]

I have great luck cutting with the carbide SS combo blade until it comes to cutting melamine, then chipout city. I've tried tapeing the cutline but still not an acceptable cut. Not a reflection of the SS combo blade as I doubt that anyone's combo blades would render any different result.