HELP!!!!

[KYCustomScroller]

OK i ordered 2 dozen of FD Spiral blades and just love the way they cut and fit what i need perfect but i have already went through 1 dozen of them, they keep breaking very fast i have good tension on them and before every blade i have to flatten the ends of them so that there flat on both ends in the same position, &  (FROM BEING A WELDER FABRICATOR FOR OVER 26 YEARS I KNOW THAT HITTING TEMPERED STEEL IS NOT A GOOD THING ) this is really aggravating the crap out of me does anybody have any suggestions ( I LOVE MIKES BLADES )  but im about to pull my hair out and im bald so watch out.....  ONLY ONE UPSIDE  IM SET UP IN MY HOUSE AND ITS NICE & COZY ITS A GOOD THING OR I'D BE THROWING THINGS!!!!!!!!!

[GrayBeard]

Where are they breaking? That will help with the answer.

I just made 21 cuts with an FD 2/0 spiral with no problems!

~~~GB~~~

[KYCustomScroller]

Where are they breaking? That will help with the answer.

I just made 21 cuts with an FD 2/0 spiral with no problems!

~~~GB~~~

about a inch above the bottom of the blade from where it attaches

[ups34]

I ahve not had that problem. Only problem I have is cutting on the line with them.

[GrayBeard]

Are you certain you are not 'kinking' the blade when installing it?
That is the only time I have a problem with blades breaking.

Otherwise it may be too much tension but I doubt that since I 'crank mine to the fullest' whe using them.

Dan....Where are you?

~~~GB~~~

[dgman]

Well, I'm sorry but I don't use spirals much. When I do it is the FD NS blades, and I don't have that problem. So I don't have a solution.

[Joesawdust]

You might also try the flat end spirals, I seem to get less blades breaking since using those. I do use Olsen blades though so that might make a difference too.

[jim stiek]

just install the blades without flattening the ends I use them on a regular basis and have very few problems since I quit trying to have a perfect start, the chucks take care of the ends just fine for me

[GrayBeard]

I have gone and done both ways....

IF you do 'flatten the ends' be VERY careful you do not hit the blade too HARD with the hammer! I use sort of a 'glancing blow' from the middle of the blade to the end.

Other than that I can't see what you are doing that might cause the problem. I love spirals and have been 'converted' while doing the 'portrait' thingy!

~~~GB~~~

[ups34]

I just install them without flating them. I let the clamp screws do it.

[Russ C]

I think you have a tension issue. Try backing off the tension a little. 

[GrayBeard]

I also find that I tend to speed up the saw and SLOOOOOW down my feed rate!

Makes for smoother cuts with the spirals.

~~~GB~~~

[mrsn]

I had some students who really like the spiral blades. I have noticed that when they tension the blades a bit too much they break a bit above the clamp.

[Wildthang]

I, almost exclusively, use spiral blades. For some reason I can't seem to control regular blades, I guess maybe that will come in time. But when I install a spiral blade I set the bottom first and use needle nose pliers to turn the blade to go into the upper holder. The jaws on my saw don't open wide enough to accept the blade sideways,( yes it's a cheapy). When I am able to get the Dewalt, or should I saw Delta now, that problem might be taken care of.

[jimbo]

I have tried spirals but they do not suite the style of they way I cut as I also was breaking them, and I have also found that I break the #02 flat blades if I have too much tension on them, they can not take as much tension as a larger blade such as a #3 or #5 this must also apply to a spiral
jimbo