Is a saw blade only as good as the person who sharpens it?

I’m still a rookie when it comes to this, so here’s my two cents until the veterans come along and tell me to sit quietly in the corner LOL….

I read as many articles and reviews as I can get my hands on, from what I understand there are a couple differences between premium and budget blades – for one thing durability, a few reviews theyve had tests where cut quality was similar, but the premium blades last longer between sharpenings due to thicker ,better quality carbide. Also premium blades like Freud have their signature anti-friction coatings, and the anti-vibration slots cut in them, which budget blades often lack.

As I understand the issue of sharpening, most sharpening services actually use computer-controlled equipment, since the teeth need to be precision ground in a certain way, several articles warn that the important thing is to make sure the service you use can handle your particular blade type, or the blade can get damaged, so its not really a matter of individual skill (I’ve seen lots of recommendations for Forrest’s sharpening service)

As to how often you need to sharpen it, I think it depends on how often you use it, how often you clean it to remove pitch and buildup, as well as WHAT you use it on; if you cut lots of softwoods I’d imagine it would last longer than if you cut lots of denser hardwoods.

-- - Jei, Rockford IL - When in doubt, spray it with WD-40 and wrap it with duct tape. The details will attend to themselves.

Top shelf blades have better bones right from the get go…that’s never a bad thing. They’ll have better steel, better tensioning, better expansion systems, better balance, better carbide, better brazing, better precision, better sharpening, Why spend $500 to $2500 on TS, then fret over the cost difference between a $50 and $100 blade? Spending more doesn’t guarantee getting more, but it sure improves your odds. Get the $100 blade on sale for $73 with free shipping! Then buy the $17 backup from Cripe Distribution to keep your premium blade fresher.

Keeping your blades clean will help them cut better and last longer. A hobbyist can easily get a couple of years service between sharpenings, but it depends on a lot of things. A good sharpener can coax better performance from a less expensive blade, but they can’t compensate for soft carbide, cheaper steel, etc.

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

A cheap blade is always going to be a cheap blade, no matter who sharpens it. It may cut better when you first get it back, but the knotscott is right.

I have an Oldham 50-tooth combination blade that I bought on sale when Menards closed a nearby store a couple of years ago, and regard it as my ‘backup’ blade. The Oldham is labeled ‘Resharpenable’, but it would cost me more send it out for sharpening than I paid for it.

Be wary of the guys who sharpen lawnmower blades, scissors, and knives. Some of them claim they can sharpen woodworking blades, but I wouldn’t trust them with my Forrest WWII.

I deal with a local machine shop that has a sharpening service, They send them out to a well-equipped specialty shop on the other side of the state that has state-of-the-art equipment. It is a one week turn-around and may cost a bit more, but the result is well worth it.

-- Gerry -- "I don't plan to ever really grow up ... I'm just going to learn how to act in public!"

I have to agree, a well equiped professional sharpening service is worth the money.

-- "Man's ingenuity has outrun his intelligence" (Joseph Wood Krutch)