10 tips on extending the life of your sawmill blade
When you have a chain sawmill it is an investment that you will want to keep running and in good condition for as long as possible. Here are ten very useful tips on how to extend the lifespan of your sawmill blade.
- Keep the blade sharp - There are a number of great options when it comes to balde maintenance equipment including blade sharpeners. Whichever you have is likely fine and make sure you use it regularly to ensure they stay sharp, precise and maintain their top performance.
- Keep the right tension in the drive belt - Drive belts need to be kept tight, it creates higher horsepower that transmits to the sawmill blade. You might think that new belts do not need frequent tightening but in fact the opposite is true, new belts need tightening more often.
- Make sure you keep the blades lubricated - On a chainsaw mill lubrication for the blade is essential and has a huge impact on its sawing ability and its general lifespan as well as how long it can go between blade sharpening. It reduces the build up of pitch too.
- Check the blade tension - You should check the tension in things like springs, hydraulic tensioners and air bags because for the best in cutting speeds and blade performance this needs to at the right level.
- Break in the blade - It is a very good idea to use a moderate speed and make a few test cuts when you get a new blade and have installed it. It is a way to break the blade in.
- Check the alignment of the blade guide - Whether the blade guides are tipped down or up the blade will then cut in that direction too. On your chain sawmill make sure the rollers are tight and that the vlade is in contact with the roller flange or back guide continuously.
- Make sure you keep it clean - The more foreign material left on the blade, sand, dirt, dust, stone and so on, the quicker the teeth on the blade will wear down. You can use a debarker to help and it needs to be kept clean.
- Learn about the different techniques for different woods - The fact is all wood is not equal, there are different species, densities, sizes, humidity and these need different feed rates and cutting methods. As wood dries it changes and it can make sawing harder.
- Increase the feed rate - Without being dangerous you want to keep your feed rate as quick as you can while still cutting straight. Cutting at slow speeds reduces the life of a blade.
- Look after the blade wheel belts - It is important to keep the blade wheel belts in good shape in order for the chainsaw mill to perform the best it can. Worn belts cause blade tracking issues. Another way to stretch the belt life further is to swap the idle side and the drive side.
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