Lenox Tri-Master 3/4" Bandsaw Blade runout problem

3/4” blades are too much for the 14” saw. The widest I use is a 1/2”. Carbide toothed blades require a HUGE amount of tension to work properly.
I have the G0555LX, and I’ve never needed any blade wider than that.
Bill

-- bill@magraphics.us

↑agreed↑

That’s a lot of blade for the little fella. I do all my resawing with a 1/2” blade on a 14” Grizzly.

Whoa, a 3/4” Tri-Master on a 14” saw? I don’t think that a 14” has the strength for such a manly blade. I know what these blades cost >>per inch<<, but unfortunately I don’t think a 14” saw can tension a 3/4” Tri-Master.

I had several 105”x 3/8” (var 3-4/in teeth) Tri-Master blades (acquired for $6 ea!, no kidding) for my 14” Delta-Milwaukee and they sliced through 10” of grenadillo wood easily with very little scoring – a wonderful blade. But they eventually broke long before they were dull—I think due to flexure and insufficient tension of the blade on the ‘small’ wheel diameter. I had them re-welded by a reputable commercial shop in the Detroit area (still a premier industrial town for small manufacturers), but they just didn’t work out. I wrote Lenox to ask for a factory re-weld but I never got an answer.

-- Curator, Museum of Unfinished Projects

Oh phooy…. I run a 3/4” carbide blade on my Craftsman 14” bandsaw with no problem. I don’t get all this nay saying.

Ever used a Tri-mastet?

-- Curator, Museum of Unfinished Projects

I purchased a Grizzly 14” bandsaw (my first) and purchased a Lenox 3/4” Trimaster carbide tip blade to go with it. From the moment I installed the blade there was a visible runout (side to side deviation from center) no matter how much tension I put on the blade. Is this normal or should I send the blade back to be rewelded?
- blaughn

Find source of run-out. Is it at weld, or is blade have wave action?

-- I'm an engineer not a woodworker, but I can randomly find useful tools and furniture inside a pile of lumber!

How thick is the body of the blade? As I recall, the 3/8 Tri was about 0.032, and regular blades are about 0.025. That increased thickness of 3/4” Tri might require more tension than your saw can do. If that’s the case, I wouldn’t be surprised if it wandered around.

-- Curator, Museum of Unfinished Projects

Ever used a Tri-mastet?

- BobBlarney

Nope. I was commenting on the nay saying about using a 3/4” blade in general on a 14” saw. I’m currently using a 3/4” Laguna Resaw King.

I see that the Tri-Master has quite a bit thicker backing than the Resaw King.

I’ll save my jingles for a Laguna. – the Tri-Masters are about $2/in these days, so I can’t afford to have them break prematurely.

Ever used a Tri-mastet?

- BobBlarney

Nope. I was commenting on the nay saying about using a 3/4” blade in general on a 14” saw. I m currently using a 3/4” Laguna Resaw King.

I see that the Tri-Master has quite a bit thicker backing than the Resaw King.

- WhyMe

-- Curator, Museum of Unfinished Projects

I ll save my jingles for a Laguna. – the Tri-Masters are about $2/in these days, so I can t afford to have them break prematurely.

Ever used a Tri-mastet?

- BobBlarney

Nope. I was commenting on the nay saying about using a 3/4” blade in general on a 14” saw. I m currently using a 3/4” Laguna Resaw King.

I see that the Tri-Master has quite a bit thicker backing than the Resaw King.

- WhyMe

- BobBlarney

The Laguna Resaw King ain’t cheap. I’ve heard of people saying they’ve had those to break using a 14” saw. Knock on wood I’ve had mine for a few years and have used it a fair amount and it has hasn’t busted yet.

Thanks for all the input. The Tri-master just snapped (not at the weld) I am not inclined to spend another $175 on a blade that never worked correctly and broke prematurely. Will have think this through for a bit but Tri-master (of any size) will not me on my list in the future.

Grrrrrrrrrr!!

-- Don't ever run out of airspeed, altitude and ideas at the same time.

I had a 1/2 wide tri master on my 20 inch bandsaw one day it grabbed a odd shaped cut off and bent some teeth.
So i had it cut down and welded at 93 1/2 for my 14 inch saw.
It didn’t last very long when it broke it scared the crap out of me.
I had the tension cranked up.
I use Olsen blades on my small saw I think they are a good value.For a throw away blade.
I’ve ruined a very good cutting Resaw King on my 20 inch.
It took me several years to get over my mistakes. I like the Woodmaster CT. Its a darn good Resaw blade but only for 20 inch wheels and up.
The Resaw King cuts slow on my saw.
I feel your frustration.

-- Aj

“I had a 1/2 wide tri master on my 20 inch bandsaw one day it grabbed a odd shaped cut off and bent some teeth.
So i had it cut down and welded at 93 1/2 for my 14 inch saw. It didn’t last very long when it broke it scared the crap out of me.”

I think these blades need a factory reweld and finish grinding if they break. When I got mine back from the commercial blade service, the joint and and performance didn’t seem the same at all.

But overall, I think these Tri-Master blades are not a good choice for a 14” saw.

-- Curator, Museum of Unfinished Projects

After the Tri broke, I used a 1/2” Timberwolf to finish the resaw. Though not as aggressive as the Tri, it does satisfactory work on resawing lumber. I think I will stick with throw-aways for awhile. My Scottish heritage won’t be as “unsettled” (to say the least) when one breaks. If I decide to return to a carbide tipped 1/2” blade for my 14” Grizzly (G0457), any recommendations based on personal experience?

-- Don't ever run out of airspeed, altitude and ideas at the same time.

After the Tri broke, I used a 1/2” Timberwolf to finish the resaw. Though not as aggressive as the Tri, it does satisfactory work on resawing lumber. I think I will stick with throw-aways for awhile. My Scottish heritage won t be as “unsettled” (to say the least) when one breaks. If I decide to return to a carbide tipped 1/2” blade for my 14” Grizzly (G0457), any recommendations based on personal experience?

- blaughn

The Laguna Resaw King. It’s what I use on my 14” and have been happy with it.