Hello-blade breakage.

[ladyshopteacher@gmail.com]

I'm a middle school woodshop teacher....love teaching kids and exposing them to something that they can make with their hands. My students are breaking ALOT of blades, about 10 a day so I'm thinking maybe the dewalts need some adjustments of some sort. that's how I found this site.

[Steviegwood]

Hi and welcome to the forum. It is great to see a shop teacher here. I would say that if you have several students and are only breaking ten blades per day you are lucky. I would say that most of the problem is lack of experience. It could be tension, to much forcing the wood or other material. We would love to see some photos of your shop class if possible and even have the students join in here as there is a lot of information and tips that can be picked up from all of the talented folks here. Again, Welcome. Steve

[ragiarn]

I have to agree with Steve. I have had a Dewalt for about 4 years. When I first started I went through blades like there was no tomorrow. As I became more experienced the breakage has become non-existent. The only reason I discard blades nowadays is because they have become dull from use.
The most common mistakes is #1 using the wrong blade for the type of wood, #2 forcing the wood through the blade, #3 too little tension. Within the past two weeks this same topic came up on another thread and there was a great deal of input at that time. You might try to find the thread to get some ideas

Doc

[Marsha]

Hi Shopteacher and welcome to the forum.
The # 1 reason for blade breakage is lack of tension on the blade. When the blade is too loose it binds in the cut and this causes the breakage. On a Dewalt saw you should be able to push the tension as tight as it will go and not have a problem. I never use my Dewalt with less then full tension and rarely break a blade.
Marsha

[Ramjet]

Hi Marsha .
I find when I fully tension the blade on my dewalt I have to keep re adjusting as the blde becomes slack anyway .What I have been doing is Tensioning the blade until I have minimal side movement ,cut for awhile , slacken off and undo the top blade holder and take out the slack again . I have sanded and filed the surface area of the metal contact holding the blade . I wipe and even use sand paper to rough up the ends of the blades in case there may be an oily residue . That proceedure has become has become habit . I read lots of readers saying they just install blade , crank on the tension and cut away . And shop teacher Welcome ; enjoy the ride .
Cheers .Roger

[Wood Dog]

Welcome ladyshopteacher......God bless you. You must have the patience of a saint.
This is a great forum to learn, help, and just have a great time. We have so many interesting members, and most of us are willing to share. There are many levels of accomplishments here from the beginner to the very experienced. Would love to see some pictures of your projects and students projects. Welcome and come back often.

[Rolf]

Lady shop teacher.
First I would like to say I think it is great that you are doing what you are.
Teaching kids to work with their hands. THANK YOU

Now what size blade are you using and what material?

[ragiarn]

Originally Posted by Ramjet

Hi Marsha .
I find when I fully tension the blade on my dewalt I have to keep re adjusting as the blde becomes slack anyway .What I have been doing is Tensioning the blade until I have minimal side movement ,cut for awhile , slacken off and undo the top blade holder and take out the slack again . . And shop teacher Welcome ; enjoy the ride .
Cheers .Roger

One of the reasons for the blade becoming slack is that under tension plus the heat caused by cutting the blade will actually get longer. Most likely it is not the the blade is slipping.

For beginners I would recommend using he biggest blade that is feasible for the job and not the smallest blade. With experience smaller blades can be use without breaking.

Doc

[Marsha]

Originally Posted by Ramjet

Hi Marsha .
I find when I fully tension the blade on my dewalt I have to keep re adjusting as the blde becomes slack anyway .What I have been doing is Tensioning the blade until I have minimal side movement ,cut for awhile , slacken off and undo the top blade holder and take out the slack again . I have sanded and filed the surface area of the metal contact holding the blade . I wipe and even use sand paper to rough up the ends of the blades in case there may be an oily residue . That proceedure has become has become habit . I read lots of readers saying they just install blade , crank on the tension and cut away . And shop teacher Welcome ; enjoy the ride .
Cheers .Roger

Roger, I've never sanded, filed or cleaned either the blade or the blade clamp. My biggest tension problem was the tension mechanism itself and once that was fixed the tension on my saw has been great. As you put it I install the blade, crank the tension and run for about 10 seconds, I then loosen the tension reset the blade, crank the tension again and away I go. The blade is loosened and tightened so many times when doing fretwork, that any slack in the blade would be corrected everytime. I also never ping the blade to hear what sound it makes and I don't check to see how far it moves left to right. I know that with full tension I will be able to cut on the line very easily and I never worry about breaking a blade.
Marsha

[Ramjet]

Hi Marsha . Yup ,I had that tension problem also and reset and tightened the tension mechanism .Oh well , will find the problem one day .
Thanks . Roger