When to replace a blade or belt.

Blades and belts rarely fail all at once. They get slowly worse, and because the change is gradual, most people keep using them long after they should have changed. A worn blade or belt costs more in slow work, burnt wood, wandering cuts and tired arms than a new one costs. Here are the signs, what makes them last longer, and what to do with the old ones.

A bandsaw blade is worn when…

• You have to push harder to make the same cut, or the saw slows down in wood it used to cut easily.
• The cut wanders or drifts more than it used to, especially in thick stock.
• The wood burns even though the blade is clean and the feed is steady.
• The cut surface is rough or torn where it used to be smooth.
• Teeth are missing or damaged, or you hear a click on every turn. Replace it at once.
• Cracks appear in the gullets or along the back edge. Replace it before it breaks; see bandsaw blade problems.

Some blades can be resharpened. Carbide-tipped blades usually are worth sending to a sharpening service; most carbon-steel blades are cheaper to replace.

A sanding belt is worn when…

• It stops cutting and just warms the work, even after cleaning with a cleaning stick.
• It looks shiny (glazed) or has bare patches where the grain has gone.
• The edges are frayed or torn, or the joint shows cracks. Replace it at once; a belt can break at speed.
• It leaves burn marks at normal pressure.

Cleaning a loaded belt often brings it back; see sanding belt problems. A glazed or bald belt can’t be cleaned back to life.

Making them last.

• Use the right blade or belt for the job: the right teeth and width for the cut, the right grit and grain for the material.
• Keep it clean. Remove resin from blades and use a cleaning stick on belts.
• Check the machine: correct tension, tracking and guide settings make blades last; a worn platen or tracking problem eats belts.
• Watch for hidden metal in reclaimed wood.
• Store them well; see folding and storing a blade and storing sanding belts.

Disposing of old ones.

Blades are steel and can usually go for metal recycling. Fold an old blade into a coil, tie it, and wrap the teeth in cardboard or tape so nobody handling the waste is cut. Sanding belts are usually general waste, but belts used on paint, varnish or treated wood may count as hazardous waste where you live. Local rules differ, so check with your local council or recycling centre.

When you take the last spare, add the size to your shopping list in My Workshop so the next one is ready; see keeping a spares list.