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General Category => General Scroll Saw Talk => Topic started by: HWPlmbr1 on November 14, 2010, 11:47:42 am

Title: blade storage?
Post by: HWPlmbr1 on November 14, 2010, 11:47:42 am
I thought I saw this some where but can't find it now.
What kind of "systems" do you use to store your scroll saw blades so they don't get all mixed up and you know what they are?
I thought I saw some sort of "tubes" maybe on one of Steve's videos.
I have bought blades from HD, Woodcraft and FD Mike and just ordered about 5 or 6 dozen more from FD Mike. I want to know my 2/0 from my 7 and all in between!

Thanks Harold
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: GrayBeard on November 14, 2010, 12:01:28 pm
Some of the 'woodworking stores' sell the plastic tubes with tops and you can easily make your own holder with a couple blocks of wood and a drill (or forstner) bit.
Try Sloan's for tubes.

~~~GB~~~
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: dgman on November 14, 2010, 12:03:28 pm
Hey Harold, I get my tubes from www.sloanswoodshop.com. Made this stand from mahogany, but is easily made from 2x4s.
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: HWPlmbr1 on November 14, 2010, 12:10:21 pm
Thanks GB and Dan! I will look them up.
I like the stand Dan, Cool!
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: Terry Jackson on November 14, 2010, 03:38:18 pm
http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/test-tubes

5-3/4" x 1" tubes.  Sloans has tubes, and also Seyco.
Terry
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: UHMNL on November 14, 2010, 03:54:32 pm
I bought a long piece of 3/4" PVC pipe, cut them to lenght. Drilled holes in a blok of wood and glued the pipe in it. I also bought some caps at the same store, local hardware store.
FD Mike
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: Intarsia92 on November 14, 2010, 05:48:52 pm
My blade storage is not very pretty; but it works for me.

Made from a 12 oz. mixed nuts can with 1/2" PVC cut to 4-1/4" lengths.

The extra hole on the top side of the picture is where I stick all the blades that getting dull, but still good enough to use on soft woods.
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: WigWag Workshop on November 14, 2010, 08:28:19 pm
I re-purposed some candy tubes http://stevedgood.com/community/index.php?topic=3416.0   I seen several tubes on line for $5 a dozen, but they want $7 for shipping.
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: GWhit on November 15, 2010, 09:38:16 am
Space is a problem for me since I live in a Motorhome, so I spent $1+ for a dozen bic pens and took out the center pen using the sleeve to hold blades. They each hold a dozen+ pinless blades. A small plastic box holds the collection with a few holes in the top to hold the sizes I'm using at the time. Now I also have enough  bic refills to last forever.
Gordon
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: malc on November 15, 2010, 10:18:06 am
Vitamin 'C' tubes from Tesco, tubes are great and I feel fitter!!
Malc :)
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: HWPlmbr1 on November 15, 2010, 11:03:31 am
Thanks for the ideas!
I don't see how I missed your post Railfan!
I like the ideas of combining feeling fit, having plenty of ink on hand and eating nuts.
Using pipes, now why didn't I think of that!! ??? (smacks himself on the top of the head with a pipe wrench) ::)
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: Russ C on November 15, 2010, 11:14:41 am
I use 1" PVC pipe that I cut the top on a 45? angle. I drill 1" hole in wood and install the flat bottom end.  8)
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: Crabbyboater on November 15, 2010, 11:20:35 am
I bought the 10 tube pack from Sloans, and cut out the labels from the blade packs when I get them and insert the label into the tube with the blades so I'll always know which blades are which. I can read the label right thru the clear plastic.  I also took a length of 4" X 4" and drilled two rows of holes in it to hold the tubes.  Then fastened the board to the side of a storage cabinet beside my saw.  
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: shissta on November 16, 2010, 12:22:07 am
I use a fishing tackle box.  One of the small clear ones that have about 8 or 10 slots.  The small labels that come from FD mikes fit just fine.  They are just about the right size and easy to deal with.
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: G-Man on November 16, 2010, 04:05:41 pm
I just ordered some of those from Sloans.  Also some of those nifty sanders  :)
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: dgman on November 16, 2010, 09:45:50 pm
Hey G-Man, I use a Brother P-touch label maker to label my tubes. It an inexpensive tool that does a good job!
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: G-Man on November 16, 2010, 09:59:24 pm
Hey G-Man, I use a Brother P-touch label maker to label my tubes. It an inexpensive tool that does a good job!

I have a P-Touch 2600, and I use it for EVERYTHING!

Gary
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: Terry Jackson on November 17, 2010, 12:52:41 am
The labels on the packs of blades are removable and can then be affixed to the outside of the tube.  Have found this works with the three more popular blade suppliers.
Terry
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: EdwardW on November 17, 2010, 09:09:24 am
I bought a pack of 10 clear triangle pen holders (they also have the round ones) from the local Woodcraft Store. $5.00..I then used perm ink pen and simply marked what size blade inside. Handy. And, being clear, I can see when I am running low..
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: newtoscroll on November 17, 2010, 03:07:58 pm
I had purchased some tubes that were plastic from Wildwood Designs that Steve recommended for a bud vase project he did in June 2010.  They cost 45 cents each and worked well for the project.  I had ordered extra because they were so cheap.  I found them to work great for storing blades in.  I get mine from Mike and the label he provides fit in the tubes and work great for labels.  I made a stand and use old wine corks for tops.  Great set up cheap.
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: cameronj on November 17, 2010, 03:13:15 pm
I use the plastic tubes (bought at Lee Valley here in Ontario).  I have a wood block that I have made 2 rows of these tubes in.  Each tube is numbered according to size.  I put the brand new blades in the front row.  After cutting hardwood with a #2 blade (for example), I put it in the tube at the back and that is labelled #2 old.  Then I use these older blades whenever I'm cutting pine, or thin plywoods that I have stacked to cut multiples of.  Works great for me.  Jim
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: HWPlmbr1 on November 17, 2010, 11:11:36 pm
Thanks for all the info and ideas! After hitting myself with the pipe wrench my head is spinning from all this. :-[ Next time a leetle bit softer! ::)
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: dgman on November 18, 2010, 12:26:55 am
Hey Harold, using a 14"Ridged is so clich?. I use Chanel-locks!
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: Reaper on December 07, 2010, 11:55:43 pm
Check around and see if any of your friends are cigar smokers. Some cigars come in tin tubes.They work great for blade storage and you could write the blade size right on the cap.Plus you can't beat the price.
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: KYCustomScroller on December 08, 2010, 08:44:26 am
wow dgman, those are sweet , i got some 1/2 pvc pipe from lowes yesterday so i can make me a blade holder but if you was a nice man you would give me yours..lol ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: KYCustomScroller on December 08, 2010, 08:46:02 am
My blade storage is not very pretty; but it works for me.

Made from a 12 oz. mixed nuts can with 1/2" PVC cut to 4-1/4" lengths.

The extra hole on the top side of the picture is where I stick all the blades that getting dull, but still good enough to use on soft woods.

i like that idea right there very convenient and space saving
Title: Re: blade storage?
Post by: Bill P on December 08, 2010, 09:02:01 am
Reaper had a good idea.  The World's Greatest Wife works at the Customer Service desk at a large grocery store, and she gets the glass tubes that cigars come in.  I don't use them, but I can see they'd be very handy.

I use a lidded box from a sewing store that holds various sizes of knitting or crocheting needles.  When I'm not using the sizes in one of the two boxes, it hangs on the wall out of the way.

Bill