Folding Sawmill Bands the Easy Way (Without Blood!)

[@southernadirondackoutdoors]

I can't believe I just watched almost a half hour of folding bands and actually enjoyed it.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I enjoyed editing and watching it back also.

[@TheChuckb712]

Thank you for the great videos and thank you for the priceless schooling/information. Take care.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks for watching!

[@andriesblouw6534]

How is it that I just watched 25 minutes of band folding? The suspense, waiting for blood to flow? No, just the straight up, honest stream of humour and tripping ( nearly) on a pile of bands, all the while delivering useful nuggets and factoids on the fly. Well done!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thank you. I try to make the videos more than about folding bands, tand you picked up in it. Thanks for watching and listening.

[@shawnthefarmer9283]

so great to find a sawyer who shares real knowledge based on experience. thank you sir. Looking forward to visiting yall again.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[@kevincasey7931]

Good video!! Another teacher to willing student session

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad it was helpful!

[@arnoldpraesent174]

Your sarcasm is hilarious! 😂. Hey, its just folding blades, part of the business! Yes, you are right, if i wouldn’t be on sick leave already a week, most properly i wouldn’t watch the video - which would be a shame missing this fine taste of sarcasm!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks! Some people say I have a gift for it.

[@morgansword]

This seventy four year old man is quite impressed. I worked in the shake and shingle business when I was about eighteen years of age. I started on shakes first then went to the shingle mill thinking I was quick. Yes I can still count to ten on my fingers but I was plumb lucky as I was using a metal cutting blade on a fairly large saw. I was in school and because of my dad having a mill ... they presumed I knew how to use that saw. I started pushing the piece of metal through that saw and it was scary to me. I was really shaky and so didn't have a proper hold on the metal. It flipped up causing the metal to bind the blade in that saw, the blade snapped and cut my middle finger off! Actually it yanked it off as the blade just nipped me and the speed it did it was enough to yank it off. I had already seen a ton of blood in mills so I actually remained calm, bent over and picked up my finger with a tissue, put it in a paper cup, then tied a cloth around my finger and hand that was bleeding. I walked over to the nurses station where they got a whole bunch hysterical. The doctor there looked at me with this cup in my hand.... whisked me into his room for surgerys and such. He told me its going to be a miracle if this works. I can't feel really good with that finger but its still there and doesn't give me any troubles. Yes I did subscribe to your channel as I can share this and show others this very simple method that I never figured out myself nor was showed. I like your style or attitude for real.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Wow, that's great and I'm glad it works out in the end. I appreciate and respect your comments and thanks for watching!

[@jsailor10]

keep going brother.. this channel will grow

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I hope so. Thanks for the encouragement.

[@TheMakersMarkTSF]

I want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to create a video just for me! I have a new sawmill (exclusively for my personal projects) and have been struggling with folding my blades (all four of them). Thanks to your slow motion technique I now realize where I have been going wrong. I will be saving this video in my "Excellent Tips" file for follow up should I need it.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Glad I could help! Thanks for commenting and watching.

[@johnwoody4905]

Good video and job. That's the easiest and best way i have seen. Take care, be safe and well.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks, you too!

[@DeanKemmer]

Robert, much better technique than the bloodletting method I see others using. When do you scrap a blade that hasn't been damaged by metal strikes, etc.? After a certain number of sharpenings? Go by gut feel? Thanks and keep up with the good content.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I sharpen in batches, and when one or two bands in that group break due to fatigue or service life issues, it shows the while batch is about at the end of it's life, and I scrap them.

[@TheOldJarhead]

Fun. After I did the visit to WM to have them show my viewers how to fold a band, I began getting a lot of comments about an even simpler and safer way. In short, you step on the band and twist it down. I may have to try it out of curiosity, but I don't use coiled bands, so not much point in learning it other than curiosity 😉

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

The real point of coiling bands is ease of disposal. They fit in recycle bins and and are put in a "safe" state. This is by far the easiest way to coil a band for storage, shipping, or disposal.

[@TheOldJarhead]

@Hobby Hardwood Alabama For some, it's actually for shipping back to Wood-Mizer. They reset and sharpen and return thus way unless, like me, you prefer the flat packs

[@scottwright388]

That's how I was taught and have taught others.

[@jamesminard1867]

Robert It looks cold out I don't like flat packed bands I like mine folded Just my preference I enjoy your videos even though I saw all day myself Bruno

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Hey, good to hear from you. It means a lot you watch my videos!

[@thekiltedsawyer]

Nice looking sticker on the supper 70 I like it!💪💪🧡🧡 Have you done a video on your sharpening equipment? I appreciate your experience and knowledge and your will to share with us! Thanks buddy 👍🧡🧡💪

[@thekiltedsawyer]

I like to use zip ties, Orange one's 😂

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I haven't done a video of setting or sharpening yet, but did one on dialing in the setter. I get so much sponsorship from Woodmizer (none) I'm tired of their sticker going in front of the camera every time the saw head passes in from of the camera. If I'm gonna do some advertising, it will be my company, not theirs :)

[@thekiltedsawyer]

I definitely need to get caught up on your videos. I need to see that one! Setting is a very important part of the equation. Your absolutely correct, your idea about getting Nathan a st of your drag back tip's would be very comical & a great video content for both of you!!🤔🧡🧡💪 I am going to work on a introduction to my channel today, my wife helped me get it going just over 3 weeks ago, would love your thoughts. Have a great rest of your weekend sir!

[@customsawyer2526]

Nice tape holder. Dang things are handy. LOL

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes they are. Welcome Custom Sawyer.

[@deets2895]

Always enjoy your videos. Am I crazy or is that Deadly Towers playing in the background around the 15 min mark

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Nope, it's just a song from KZbin.

[@wilfuller1699]

That's all very nice, when your running an LT70 please be a little careful when running a LT40 as the blades are a good bit shorter, so the tension is a bit different.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Thanks for mentioning that. Long bands from an LT70 are "sloppy" and more difficult to handle, while the LT40 bands fold in a much more controlled manner.

[@willcoe8419]

Are you a cbn wheel guy? I'm using a drag sharpener and was thinking of upgrading. My little timber king sharpener takes forever.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes, a had a “top of the line” drag sharpener, and now have a full CBN setup, and CBN is as far above a drag sharpener as the difference between drawing with chalk on a chalkboard or using a laser printer. A good CBN can sharpen a band in 3 minutes, or 20 bands per hour. my drag sharpener took 14 minutes or 3 bands per hour.

[@TheChuckb712]

That's bound to be a record for the most bands folded in one sitting/standing...lol

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I think it is!

[@dapymp17]

Any thoughts on getting a Cat Claw blade sharpener and setter? Last I checked they were $2500 or so. I hear you can resharpen maybe 8 or 10 times. Also I think some people charge $10 to sharpen a blade. I think they mandate shipping at least 10 blades at a time. I feel like this could be done in the background throughout the day as you are getting real work done. Even if you don’t make it a service I wonder if it would be a personal money saver over time. I have much appreciated your robust responses in the past. I really want to do what you do and appreciate your knowledge beforehand. Thank you so much!

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Well, here's when the unsponsored comments come. I had a Cats Claw sharpener and setter. It worked, but was a poorly constructed piece of junkyard welded, paint falling off, rusty when delivered backyard engineered slow machine. I had two sets of main shaft bearings go out on it, and the first was warranted, the second, although still within the warranty period, was not. To quote the person at Cooks, "If we had to replace every bearing that went out on our machines under warranty, we would go out of business." Enough said. Get another brand. I would rate their machines at 1 out of 5 stars.

[@dapymp17]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama wow thank you for the insight. Not what I was expecting, but again your experience shines, I guess the question now is do they make a better machine that does the job and is it worth the space it takes up? After watching you fold up way too many blades destined for the bin with no mention of a different option my guess is no it makes more sense to just toss old blades. Like most people, I was hoping to buy a machine to create another revenue stream, however small. Or at least keep from buying so many blades. $30 times infinity is an ever growing number, obviously:)

[@andrewupson2987]

Curious about 2 things. 1. What type of engineering did you do? 2. How many days worth of sawing do those 64 bands represent?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

I graduated as a Mechanical Engineer with honors, and math minor. I worked up the food chain to the top as a Chief of the Advanced Technology Fabrication and Evaluation Function of the Weapons, Development and Integration Directorate for the Army Missile and Aviation Command, and retired a few years back. Basically designed, built or evaluated propulsion and warhead systems for many of the missiles and UAV's you see on Discovery channel and the news every day. Two my projects were featured on the channel. I've been sawing for 20 years, and have had a sawmill and lumber business for about 15. Martha just retired from NASA as a Mechanical engineer also, and has hardware in space. That's what drives our lumber business - do the best, be the best, or don't bother doing it. I run generally 2 bands a day, however, last week I had a 4 band day, which was unusual. Sawing 5 days a week most times, and a couple sharpens before the bands are showing issues and I toss them.

[@andrewupson2987]

@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama Awesome! My degree is Aerospace Engineering. The satellite I worked on has probably been deorbited a while ago. Did some work on Tomahawk and AIM-9X at one point. Currently working in automotive on heavy duty trucks, but the siren call of aviation is still strong.

[@ericrobinson7664]

When and how do you determine a band is no longer good? I use Wood-Mizer ReSharp but I'm not sure how many times I should be sending bands that I may need to pitch.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

There's a lot to it, but basically use them in batches, and when they start to fatigue crack you will hear a distinctive sound. When one breaks, then the whole batch is close to failure, also. After awhile you will get a "feel" for when they are about to break and know it when its about to happen.

[@mpwoodworks3138]

What sharpener / setter do you use?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Woodmizer CBN Sharpener and Motorized Dual Tooth Setter.

[@andysmith8544]

I've seen Martha walking "other doggie" in the background, but have we been introduced?

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

No but, it's about time. Her name is Lucy and we rescued her from being euthanized. Long story and she's a great dog, about 2 years old, and is adjusting to our family. I will start including her in the videos.

[@mikedavis3421]

I know you said you recycle the old bands but I did not catch how you recycle them. I do know one way you could recycle them and make some bladesmith / blacksmith happy. They would love to have those. They would clean off the points, cut them into pieces, stack the pieces together with other high carbon steel pieces to make Damascus steel for knives.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

We have had a few knife makers come and get them, but most blades simply go to the recycling plant for 7 cents per lb.

[@mikedavis3421]

I am surprised that more bladesmiths don't come and get them. If I was doing bladesmithing I would pay you 7 cents a pound and save you the time and cost of hauling them to the scrapyard.@@HobbyHardwoodAlabama

[@TedAlexander24]

That’s somewhere around $1,800-$2,000 worth of saw bands. Maybe more because your’s are longer.

[@HobbyHardwoodAlabama]

Yes, just the price of doing business.