Where I really noticed a difference was trying to cut 45* miters on a chop saw on red oak.

 

Chuck, I was considering one for my chop saw, but noticed that Forrest doesn't recommend them:

Dampeners & Stiffeners for Most Table, Panel and Radial Arm Saw Blades -

Are you using something else?

 

Forrest recommends that you use a stiffener with all saw blades. I tried it with one of their thin kerf Woodworker II blades, then with an 1/8" kerf Guhdo-GMAXX blade similar to the Infinity blade you mentioned and there is a noticeable improvement in the cuts. For many years I have only used Freud red blades on all my saws; it is hard to beat the value with them. The only saw blade I have been disappointed in was the Porter Cable Laser with progressive teeth.

 

Mike I like the Freud blades to.

 

Don ~ Where did you get your saw blade stiffener?

Bob

 

Bob, I don't think that it is a question of where, but from whom. There are several makers/vendors that market them but all stiffeners may not be equal.

Since I have no first hand experience with a specific brand, perhaps some of the other members can suggest what has worked for them.

A simple internet search will turn up several sources. Some are more reasonably priced then others.

 

Blade stiffener . Do you need a prescription?

 

It depends; I better stop typing. >

 

I have a Forrest stiffener. It only requires one on the nut side of the blade. Other companies offer them; I bought from Forrest because they are top quality and made in the USA.

 

Thanks for the feedback, I meant to get one, but forgot. 4 or 5 inch? Which do you think would be best? One will give you 3 inch maximum depth of cut, the other 2 1/2 inch.

 

Tom in the description it tells which one to buy. This is my first one so I don't know much. :surprise:

Forrest Saw Blade Stiffeners - Lee Valley Tools

 

I bought the ones that allow a 3" cut on a 10" blade. That's marginally less than the max cut available anyway but the stiffeners will hit the bottom of the insert when all the way up. They seem to have more impact on the depth of cut when used on a miter saw but the difference in cut quality when doing something like frames is worth it. The first time I tried them on the cutoff saw the cut went from unacceptable to PDG on the oak frame I was trying to make.

 

Have a Forrest stiffener and use it on a Forrest blade. Makes a big difference but really limits depth of cut. My blade is the thinner version of the Woodworker and I bought the thinner blade for use on a Jet contractors saw. With the Delta I have now I would buy the thicker blade because there is no problem with the saw bogging down. The thin version is good on exotic wood to save some wood that would ordinary be lost in the cuts. On a lower power saw the thin blade with stiffener is a good combination.

 

"Blade stiffener . Do you need a prescription?"....

You do in Australia.......So I heard.....

 

Hmm. A timely thread for me. I've got a 60T thin kerf Freud Diablo blade on my chop saw and I'm discovering that wasn't a good idea. I was trying to make a very precise, very square cut on a piece of 1X2 oak... I'll be acquiring a stiffener soon. Or maybe a standard kerf blade.

 

I just bought a pair of Forrest stiffeners (a 4" and a 5"), used, from another site. They arrived while i was gone last weekend, and i still haven't made it out to the shop to work--but those things are solid, heavy, and the same quality of a Forrest blade. Based on what i have to work with--sure seem to be dead flat.

If i said i got them for $30 shipped, it might seem boastful or gloating--so i'll not mention that part. 0

earl

 

You got a great deal Earl.

 

Yes James...I wondered what this was all about too !!