Repairing bandsaw blade

[DFHicks]

I broke a blade on my band saw yesterday.  I have had it for a while and this is the first one. It is a small saw (10") and the blades are only 1/4" wide not including the teeth.  My question is would the low temp silver solder from Rio Grand be strong enough to repair this break?  A friend of mine recommended that I braze it using a .22 LR casing for the brass. My Mapp torch would certainly be hot enough but would heating this thin steel to red hot weaken it?  Another blade wouldn't be very expensive but I'd like to repair it if possible.
Thanks,
DF

[David Rase]

I have not welded a bandsaw blade in years.  New ones are cheap.  Unless you are using an industrial size saw I don't think ther is a cost benefit.  Also, if you have been using the blade for a while a nice new sharp blade is nice.  As for welding, I don't think silver solder would hold up.  Needs to be brazed or spot welded if  my memory serves me right.
David

[Bob Roller]

I also question the strength of silver solder on this little blade.
The material is quite thin so I doubt if any gas welder will work.
All the saw blades that I used to get made locally were welded
with an electric welder designed for that particular job.After the
weld is completed it is then annealed and the blade filed flat.
One of our local industrial supply shops here used to make  these
blades and I used to watch Marvin Akers weld these blades and he
was fast and every blade he made for me,if it ever broke was broken
someplace other than the weld. He also rewelded old blades if they were
worth the effort.Marvin is long retired and now I must order blades from
who knows where.

Bob Roller

[Lucky R A]

Do yourself a favor and get a new blade with carbide tipped teeth.  Cutting efficency and tracking will be readily evident when you try one---especially on a small saw like you have. 

[Hungry Horse]

 I suspect that unlike the other responders, you know how hard it is to get blades for a ten inch band saw. I own two Delta Homecraft bandsaws that are both 10" models. They are a real pain to get blades for. I had the unfair advantage, for many years, of living near a town with an old fashion saw shop in it. They made up blades for me, in any length, on sight. But, nothing lasts forever, and so it goes with saw shops. I was near the saw shop just yesterday, and noticed that they had closed. 
 Band saw blades are spot welded together, with a special welder. Solder, or brazing won't work. Sorry.

                     Hungry Horse

[okawbow]

I have used a band saw blade that I silver brazed together from 2 broken blades, that has sawed out over 1000 laminated bow blanks without breaking. I use 95% silver braze with white flux. The 2 pieces to be brazed are ground beveled for about 1/2". Flux is applied to both surfaces, and the silver solder is applied after the surfaces are cherry red. When the silver flows properly; I clamp the 2 halves with a pair of vise grips until cool. I only grind enough to make it through the guides. Been doing it this way for over 25 years, and never had a silver brazed joint break. Always goes somewhere else, or wears out.

[Acer Saccharum]

I've brazed the blades together with silver braze. Melts around 1000F. I make a scarf joint and with a proper clamp set up(mine home made), you can braze the blades together easily. Then you have to grind the joint so it will pass thru the guides.

By the time I'm done, I could have purchased three ready made blades already.

I feel the same way about barrel inletting. 

[FL-Flintlock]

60° angle relative to both planes of the joint will distribute the stress over a larger area reducing the likelihood of cyclic stress failure on the brazed joint.
Mark

[Keb]

I have a bandsaw blade welder in my shop but it isn't wired up. The good old "Do-all" saws had the welders attached to the side. You may find a small machine shop in your area that can & will weld your blades for you. It's worth a try.

[Acer Saccharum]

You can buy band material by the roll. That is a way where it might make sense to weld or braze your own blades. If you have a machine that has an odd size, then you might be forced into brazing/welding your own.

[Tim Crosby]

 I get my blades made at Columbus Saw, Columbus Ohio, 614-299-7297. They will make up anything you want, if you’re not sure ask and they will tell you and they will ship them to you. My old 12” BS takes a 90 ½” long blade and they average about 12 bucks each depending on width.

   Tim C.

[mattdog]

My personal experience:  by the time they break they are dull anyway.  Throw 'em out, buy two new ones so you have a spare.  Keep the packaging hanging on the wall near the saw so you know what you bought the last time.  It's always oh-so-nice to have a fresh sharp blade on the bandsaw.

[DFHicks]

Thanks to everyone for the replies.  I think there is wisdom in buying a new blade in my case.  I looked on-line and Lowes has Bosch 72 1/2"blades
which is what I need.  I'll pick up a couple as suggested as they are under $10.00.
Regards,
DF

[FL-Flintlock]

Thanks to everyone for the replies.  I think there is wisdom in buying a new blade in my case.  I looked on-line and Lowes has Bosch 72 1/2"blades
which is what I need.  I'll pick up a couple as suggested as they are under $10.00.
Regards,
DF

Those Bosch blades are very flexible and wander easily, make sure the guides are tight and keep the free-span minimized.
Mark

[DFHicks]

Flintlock,
Thanks
DF