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Best portaband blade?
I'm gonna need to change the blade on my portaband soon and I'm on my last box of blades. Been using Lenox Wolf-Band 14/18 TPI and they're great blades. Last long time. Anything better out there? Most of my cuts are in steel and stainless. Anything better out there? I'd really like to find a carbide blade for it. Not to keep on it all the time, but being able to cut harder stuff without annealing would be nice.
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Re: Best portaband blade?
I prefer the Starrett...
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I haven't built anything I can't throw away. Perfection is the journey.
Mac
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Re: Best portaband blade?
Originally Posted by
Mac's Crew
I prefer the Starrett...
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I keep forgetting they make blades. I've heard their hacksaw blades are really good, too.
Can't remember the last time I used a hacksaw... years.
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Re: Best portaband blade?
A admittedly abuse my portaband blades many times, especially making in place cuts.
I like morse, lennox, and the harbor freight blades (I've never confirmed but I STRONGLY suspect they are just morse).
Why I'm pretty sure the harbor freight (now branded hercules) are just rebranded morse:
They are made in the USA.
Harbor freight previously carried actual morse branded blades (for years) as their only portaband blades, in packs of 2 (just like the current hercules line).
The hercules line directly replaced the Morse blades, with pretty much exact pricing/packaging shape.
Anyhow, they aren't any cheaper than lennox or milwaukee per blade but they are great, always in stock with 3 real world usuable blade TPI and types, and are made in USA.
If you give them a try let us know what your thoughts are on them after you've through a couple. I feel like they are a hidden gem at harbor freight (especially before when you could coupon them up and get real discounts).
Last edited by SlowBlues; 08-25-2021 at 11:12 PM.
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Re: Best portaband blade?
Originally Posted by
SlowBlues
A admittedly abuse my portaband blades many times, especially making in place cuts.
I like morse, lennox, and the harbor freight blades (I've never confirmed but I STRONGLY suspect they are just morse).
Why I'm pretty sure the harbor freight (now branded hercules) are just rebranded morse:
They are made in the USA.
Harbor freight previously carried actual morse branded blades (for years) as their only portaband blades, in packs of 2 (just like the current hercules line).
The hercules line directly replaced the Morse blades, with pretty much exact pricing/packaging shape.
Anyhow, they aren't any cheaper than lennox or milwaukee per blade but they are great, always in stock with 3 real world usuable blade TPI and types, and are made in USA.
If you give them a try let us know what your thoughts are on them after you've through a couple. I feel like they are a hidden gem at harbor freight (especially before when you could coupon them up and get real discounts).
I had no idea they were USA made. I went through a pack of Bauer blades when I got this saw. They were actually pretty decent. I think I'll try the Hurcules blades. I have to stop by there some time soon, anyway. Gonna buy that pneumatic punch/flange tool.
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Re: Best portaband blade?
I like Lennox. I've had bad experiences with Morse.
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Re: Best portaband blade?
Lennox seem to be one of the better blades for me. Lowes carries them and they are just right up the street.
Tried some others that were not as good. Milwaukee from Home Depot not as good as Lennox for sure.
The Lennox just seem less likely to crack and teeth stay on the blade better as well as the seam/welded joint being just like the rest of the blade. They almost never pop when you pinch one like some will easily.
Last edited by danielplace; 08-30-2021 at 10:02 AM.
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Re: Best portaband blade?
The Lennox blades are definitely good. No doubt about that. I can usually get a couple months out of a blade.
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Re: Best portaband blade?
I should add that I just cut an adjustable wrench in half with a Lennox WolfBand blade.
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Re: Best portaband blade?
52 ford you mean you just turned one hammer into two!
I always liked the crescent adjustable wrenches, great bang for the buck, but my favorite is the channel-lock wide-azz - they are just expensive to lose. The crescents go on sale every black friday and sometimes other holidays, 2 pack 6" and 10" comfort grip for 20 bucks.
Lennox has always been good to me, unfortunately the local lowes started getting spotty about having them in stock, and any variety when they do (if you need 14 tpi they got you).
There was a period of time where it seemed every now and then I would get a crack prone set from morse - maybe they had production and/or material issues? I haven't had that experience in a long time though.
The milwaukee blades always crack early on me.
Last edited by SlowBlues; 08-30-2021 at 10:15 PM.
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Re: Best portaband blade?
Originally Posted by
SlowBlues
52 ford you mean you just turned one hammer into two!
I always liked the crescent adjustable wrenches, great bang for the buck, but my favorite is the channel-lock wide-azz - they are just expensive to lose. The crescents go on sale every black friday and sometimes other holidays, 2 pack 6" and 10" comfort grip for 20 bucks.
Lennox has always been good to me, unfortunately the local lowes started getting spotty about having them in stock, and any variety when they do (if you need 14 tpi they got you).
There was a period of time where it seemed every now and then I would get a crack prone set from morse - maybe they had production and/or material issues? I haven't had that experience in a long time though.
The milwaukee blades always crack early on me.
Actually, I cut it down and wailed on it with a hammer.
Needed a short wrench for a 1-11/16" left hand nut on a washing machine (because standard size hardware is too easy?). I was about to make a socket, then I though cutting a wrench down would save time.
Turns out the nut is seized on and I need a socket, anyway.... I ended up just gluing the wrench back together with some 6010 and putting it away. Going to buy a 1-11/16" deep well socket and put the impact on it. Spent enough time on it, already. Think it's $30 at the store.
Sucks that a washing machine can't even last 10 years.
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Re: Best portaband blade?
I've got a few "modified" tools too.... a brand new 1 1/16 socket I had to grind down to fit into a hydraulic pump is one. I tossed a 3 yr old oven that almost burned our house down twice and just tossed a 6 yr old drier that wasn't worth fixing. Touch wood, the washing machine that came with it is still going...
250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC Stick
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Vevor MIG 200A
Victor Medalist 350 O/A
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Les
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Re: Best portaband blade?
Couldn't find the socket in the store. Ended up making the socket. Put the impact on it and got the nut loose in a couple seconds. I was gonna order the socket, but it didn't take but maybe 20 minutes to make it. steel plate with a 1-11/16" hex cut in, welded that to some steel pipe. I welded an impact socket to another piece of plate, so I didnt have to waste time cutting it square. Welded that on the back, then painted it all black... 'cause impact sockets are black.
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