[JIMMIEM]

I have several saw blades that need re-sharpening. All are 10 inch carbides...table saw and miter saw blades. The local sharpener retired. There are a couple of local hardware stores that send the blades out for sharpening. I have also seen sharpening services that I would have to mail the blades to. What I'm curious about is the difference in sharpening quality. Is this a process that is done by machine that doesn't require a lot of operator skill or is operator skill the difference maker? Any recommendations for mail-in services?
Thank You.

P.S. Based on the sharpening price ranges I have seen it makes sense to sharpen these based on their original cost.

 

[tomp913]

From (bitter) experience, a bad sharpening job can ruin a saw blade and give worse results than before sharpening. The company that I used for years went out of business and I looked for a replacement. Fortunately, I didn't send one of my better blades out for the initial test.

Carbide Processors has been recommended by posters on another forum that I frequent, and I'm probably going to send them a trial blade in the near future - again, I will send a mid-level blade that has given acceptable cuts to have sharpened and evaluate the work before sending one of my better (more expensive) blades out to be sharpened.

Here is a link to their web site and a page which defines some of the terms, there are other pages that describe the process and their quality requirements. Saw Blade Resharpening

 

[Cherryville Chuck]

Jim if you have to ship them then go with something like Tom suggested where you have good recommendations. However, there might be something local that is good. If there are any cabinet shops close then stop and ask them where they send theirs. They'll know where the good ones are and the ones to avoid too. They can't afford to use crappy blades so they keep searching until they find a good one. There isn't anyone in my town anymore either but the local Windsor Plywood store collects blades for a sharpener about 1 1/2 hrs away. I haven't tried him yet but if the shop that sells me my cabinet ply recommends him then he should be pretty good. BTW, any good service these days should be using CNC equipment.

 

[DonkeyHody]

Jim, I have a little experience to offer.

I sent a 60 tooth chop saw blade to a local sharpener through my local hardware store. When I got it back, it cut aggressively enough, but splintered the wood badly.

I have sent several blades to Forrest for re-sharpening. One of these was a Freud Glue Line Rip triple chip blade. Every blade I sent to Forrest came back good as new, and cut like it originally did. They even replaced a couple of chipped teeth. I'll never send a blade anywhere else.

Forrest Factory Carbide Saw Blade Sharpening -

 

[JIMMIEM]

Jim, I have a little experience to offer.

I sent a 60 tooth chop saw blade to a local sharpener through my local hardware store. When I got it back, it cut aggressively enough, but splintered the wood badly.

I have sent several blades to Forrest for re-sharpening. One of these was a Freud Glue Line Rip triple chip blade. Every blade I sent to Forrest came back good as new, and cut like it originally did. They even replaced a couple of chipped teeth. I'll never send a blade anywhere else.

Forrest Factory Carbide Saw Blade Sharpening -

I checked the Forrest Web site. Unless you send several blades the return shipping charge per blade seems very expensive.

 

[woodworker47]

I also use Forrest to sharpen my blades. They have sharpen my Forest blades and any others that I send. They are expensive, but they have always come back protected and very sharp. Yes the shipping is a factor, but Inwould still recommend them.

Frank