The Framers Forum

Hi all,

Just changed a set of blades, I appear to be changing my blades more and more often nowadays.

Just wondering how long a set of blades are lasting everyone else before changing them!!

Hope everyone is well!!:)

Depends on how busy you are and how many well 'ard mouldings (especially the wide and/or tall ones) you cut I suppose. Could also depend on how heavy-handed (footed) you are as well - do you use each notch regardless or do you sometimes think 'sod it' and take a great chunk out on the first bite, or all but the last bite or two?

I have 5 sets of blades including a reversible set and I don't remember the last time I had all 5 sets in my possession, there's always at least two sets away for sharpening. On the top of the blade housing, on a small piece of magic tape, I write the date the blades were changed - I'd say a set lasts me 2 weeks on average.

I have had very varied results from having them sharpened by different companies, Radius mouldings seem to stay sharp the longest for us. similar to roboframer on how long ours last , we produce around 100 frames per week on avarage, that is a mix of woods from obeache to oak.

I have three sets of blades. One set I bought from someone who was closing down and it is a lot older than the other two. This older set stays sharp for much longer than the other two sets.

Were older blades better quality than those produced in more recent times?

I don't know how long my blades last, I just change them when I think they need changing.

We average a 3-4 week changeover on blades here. We have 5 sets in rotation - some we've had for years and others that are quite new. We get Mainline to sharpen ours and can't fault the job they do. We usually send 2 sets away at a time as it saves on the postage cost if they are in one parcel.

I just changed mine. Must have been a couple of years since I did that.

It depends a lot on the moulding you are cutting. Some of the far-eastern heavily compo'd types will take the edge of very rapidly.

I've use Mainline for the last few sharpens. Apparently they have the only proper Morso grinding machine in the country. They also do a pickup/delivery service which saves a walk to the post office.

I sent a link to this question of old blades lasting longer to my friend at Danlist/ Morso as I keep trying to persuade them to take the plunge and post here from time to time. So far no success

Here are Morso's comments....

Keith thanks for the link. There is for sure no quality changes in our production. We use the same methods as we have done the past 40 years…. Same steel with same certificates, but I have heard it before that old blades seem to stay sharp longer than new blades.

has anyone tried these? I was considering getting a couple of sets some of mine are getting a bit close to the knuckle.

http://www.framerscorner.co.uk/worldwid ... ase?cid=28