rdennett Posted January 2, 2023 Share Posted January 2, 2023 Is high carbon sheet metal used to make anything common, such that it’s likely to be found in a scrap yard? I want to possibly make a frame saw and want to know what my options are. Thanks, Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted January 2, 2023 Share Posted January 2, 2023 Identifying it at the scrap yard could be a problem as well as heat treating a frame saw when done. If you can deal with these problems, enjoy and give it a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 2, 2023 Share Posted January 2, 2023 I can think of much easier ways to make a frame saw. What's available at a scrap yard is going to depend on local industry. Who local uses high carbon sheet steel for their products? You need to start calling around on the telephone, web searches are notoriously useless for this kind of information and testing not much if any better. IDing it at the scrap yard is the other issue. Even if it's there the guys are unlikely to know what's what, I don't know of any yards that pay more for HC steel if it's in a common shape. The only one around here that would talk to me as of a few years ago doesn't pay extra for springs no matter the shape but DOES charge more if you buy. No longer, they signed single buyer contracts years ago so they're not an option. The wrecking yard up the road wants to charge nearly new spring prices. You can buy new high carbon steel in a variety of sizes in small quantities for reasonable. I can't reliably recall suppliers my memory stinks and I don't have them bookmarked. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBones Posted January 2, 2023 Share Posted January 2, 2023 I think rather than going and finding a peice of metal at the scrap yard that may or may not work, or going and buying new steel to make a blade from, i would just buy a blade. Just quick look for a local place here they carry them for wood and metal priced between $5 and $15 (USD) depending on length. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobtiel1 Posted January 3, 2023 Share Posted January 3, 2023 Green wood blades are common in the stores over here. many lengths and work perfectly for frame saws. For a dry wood blade you can buy one, or repurpose an old saw blade. Since you want to make your own I'm guessing you are familiar with reshaping or refiling saw teeth. ~Jobtiel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted January 3, 2023 Share Posted January 3, 2023 Actually, for me, making the frame would be far more fun than making the blade to go in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 3, 2023 Share Posted January 3, 2023 I think Rob needs to clarify here, I took his OP to mean he wanted to make a saw "Frame", not a saw "Blade." Without the specifics I assumed (sigh) he was asking about the component that is more reasonable to make. I took a page from the, "Thomas Powers Book of Improvised tools," and use metal bandsaw blades in my bow saw frame but would use wood bandsaw blades were I wanting to cut wood. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted January 3, 2023 Share Posted January 3, 2023 at first I thought the same but he did say he was looking for sheet metal and also states blade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 Sure enough, it's right there on the subject line. I just don't know where my mind goes sometimes. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdennett Posted January 6, 2023 Author Share Posted January 6, 2023 Indeed, it’s the blade. I can buy one for about $80, so I will need to come in well under that to make this worth the effort. Note that I don’t want to sell them, just make one for my one use should the need arise, I.e. having to resaw some lumber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latticino Posted January 6, 2023 Share Posted January 6, 2023 I can't imagine a scenario where you could make an effective blade replacement for under $80 if you factor in the materials, time, losses due to learning the correct heat treatment, saw setting tool you need to properly set the teeth... Also I'm not sure specifically what size replacement blade you are looking for as google searches show the simple type selling for the $20 range, even from fairly expensive vendors like Peck Tools. Of course if you want one with a Japanese style tooth layout they get up in price, but I sincerely doubt you can match that configuration without some serious tooling and a major time investment: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdennett Posted January 6, 2023 Author Share Posted January 6, 2023 (edited) The blade in question was specifically for resawing. It’s about 4 feet long, 3-1/2” wide and has 3 TPI.(Commercial link removed do a search for Blackburn Tools Roubo Style Frame Saw)(actually, I see it’s $70) The question remains, though. Is there anything sufficiently thin and high carbon that would likely be found in a scrapyard? Edited January 7, 2023 by Mod30 Commercial link removed per ROS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goods Posted January 6, 2023 Share Posted January 6, 2023 You might check with you local saw mills. They may have large heavy gauge band saw blades that they scrap. I got a short section of one at one of our hammer-ins a few years ago: It’s right at 3/32” thick and probably 15N20. At least it’s high carbon and etches very bright in a billet. Keep it fun, David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 Good Morning Dave, I also have some of that Bandsaw Blade. The pieces I have were the main Saw blade. My hunting partner feeds the Mill with a 'Button Top Loader'. Imagine a large excavator with grapples instead of a bucket, connected to a hydraulic motor to control the rotation of the Log. Imagine an 80 foot, 4 foot diameter Log that needs to be picked up from the deck and turned end for end to feed into the Sawmill. The main saw blade hit something as it was cutting and the Blade blew up. This happened at the precise moment Joe was walking beside the Saw Head. He heard an awful bang and it started raining saw blade bits. No they don't harden the blade and they have a tool that upsets the saw blade material into itself for the tip, to create the curf. No Carbide teeth. I have made numerous Blades for Native Carvers. They love them. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stash Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 You might look for a sawyer who uses a Woodmizer. They can go through blades and if not able to be resharpened, just tossem. I have a few laying around, and I think they are ~1 1/2" wide. Easy to cut- to- length. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 7, 2023 Share Posted January 7, 2023 Yes, refiling resaw blade that is NOT 8" wide will most likely have fewer issues than trying to keep a large one sawing straight. Any chance of finding an old school saw sharpener that can help? I would definitely start small and work your way up as your skills develop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobtiel1 Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 For normal resawing of smaller boards a normal 7 tpi rip saw will work just fine. Filing old saw blades from a mill for ripping is also not difficult, and with some practice, the teeth can be set with a hammer only. The question is, is all this worth 70 dollars to you? I know I'd rather spend the money to buy the blade than to go through the hassle, even with having all the tools and a little bit of skill for filing and setting saw teeth. Don't forget to buy saw files if you intend to do it yourself, normal triangle files are missing the teeth on the edges to properly form the gullets. ~Jobtiel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdennett Posted January 10, 2023 Author Share Posted January 10, 2023 It’s kind of a pride thing, but i don’t want to spend more than $70 to assuage it. A 7TPI rip saw will indeed resaw … eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobtiel1 Posted January 10, 2023 Share Posted January 10, 2023 With a sharp saw it won't take that long. If you want the fast option buy a bandsaw. ~Jobtiel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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