One Cut, Two Results: One side smooth, the other torn out?

Well David
It’s hard to believe it’s the same cut , the right side looks as if it didn’t quit cut all the way through with no evidence of the left having torn off from the left. It’s not a dull blade because you would have burn and its not a dirty blade for the same reason. I would say to try anther blade and see what it looks like. Perhaps it’s a bad or damaged blade or sharping job.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

looks like most likely one side of the blade has some dulled out teeth that are tearing one side of the cut. another though – since you mentioned you do not use a splitter – might it be that the side that is not running against the fence is pinching the blade on the back side as it passes it, causing the blade to shred it’s surface?

which side of the blade is the CLEAN side? the one running against the fence? or the cutoff side?

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

I believe the clean side is between the blade and the fence. Not entirely certain about that though, but probably 85% confident.

I have a thin kerf freud blade I can try tomorrow, but it’s got 90+ teeth, so I’m not sure it’s a good comparison for diagnosis.

I was hoping one of you would say “oh yeah… your whozitz is out of alignment with your whatzis… happens all the time…”!

-- Laziness - Apathy = Efficiency

This is an alignment issue. You need to verify that the blade and fence are both precisely aligned with the miter slot. The best way is to use a dial indicator mounted in a jig, either the TSAligner or the the A-Line-It. The straighter you can get everything, the better. I have my fence about .004” open to the blade at the back. Any more, and the teeth on the backside of the blade will frizz the offcut and throw sawdust in your face like you are seeing. Too much, and you are setting yourself up for a kickback.
If the fence is closed at the back, i.e. the gap narrows as you go, the workpiece will bind on the blade. Another dangerous situation.

-- The days are long and the years are short...

thiel…...your whozitz is out of alignment with your whatzis. :)

I agree with Myron, also check your blade to see if you have any chipped teeth.

Thanks. I’ll hunt down the alignment issues tonight and let you know!

-- Laziness - Apathy = Efficiency

Turns out everything was in tune. The problem? The blade is warped! I checked against a flat reference surface because my dial indicator was giving me CRAZY readings.

Another blade on there and alls well. Now it’s time to send the first one back to Forrest!

-- Laziness - Apathy = Efficiency

forrest should be able to beat it back to flat. i have the same setup, WWII blade and Griz 3hp. now i’ll know what to look for, if i see it :)

-- david roberts, houston area, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but that has never been a problem for me."

interesting outcome – thanks for posting, another thing to consider in the future :)

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

... now, of course, “everything was in tune” to a warped blade :-) So… now I’ll retune (again) with a flat one.

BTW… instead of an Aligner jig, I use a magnetic dialcaliper stand stuck right to the face of my mitre gauge. Works great :-)

-- Laziness - Apathy = Efficiency

Warped blade…..who’d have thunk it!

-- Don, Pittsburgh

Well Well, that is indeed an interesting find, good to know if ever I come across something like that.

FYI… I sent the blade back to Forrest and they replaced it no problem. I can vouch for their customer service level… they could not have been more reasonable and responsive. Class act there.

As far as I can tell, the blade has been warped for a LONG time. My saw is now running like butter.

-- Laziness - Apathy = Efficiency

I am glad to hear they got it done for you, the problem is the pulling out your hair exercise you have to go through to find the problem.

Good Luck with the new one.

-- Whether You Think You Can or You Think You Can't, YOU ARE RIGHT!!!

oh…nevermind

-- Dan, Sterling Alaska, http://sullcon.homestead.com/ Before you criticise some one, walk a mile in their shoes...then you will be a mile away and you have their shoes!