StewMac fret blade arbor size

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Cutty
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StewMac fret blade arbor size

Post by Cutty » Sun Mar 29, 2020 11:39 am

G'day again,

Two questions in one day, hope I'm not exceeding my quota :D Just shows that during the lock-down I'm finally making progress on the now 2 year acoustic build.

I bought the Stew Mac table saw fretting blade (https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/T ... Blade.html) and went to fit it to the table saw yesterday only to discover that the blade has a 5/8" arbor but the saw is 20mm.

Anyone else had the same issue and can provide some advice?

(I'm guessing I'm likely going to have to go to a machine shop and get them to bore it out).

Cheers,

Iain

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kiwigeo
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Re: StewMac fret blade arbor size

Post by kiwigeo » Sun Mar 29, 2020 4:16 pm

You can get adapters. Here's one from an American supplier: https://www.mcfeelys.com/saw-blade-arbo ... 13287.html
Martin

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Re: StewMac fret blade arbor size

Post by kiwigeo » Sun Mar 29, 2020 4:19 pm

Martin

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Cutty
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Re: StewMac fret blade arbor size

Post by Cutty » Sun Mar 29, 2020 4:46 pm

Ok I thought it was other way around. A machine shop should be able to machine the blade hole out to 20mm.


Thanks Martin,

If only it were that easy :-( I actually have the opposite problem to that, the arbor on the blade is 5/8" and the spindle on the saw is 20mm so the arbor needs to be larger on the blade i.e. honed out to fit the 20mm of the saw/drive.

Cheers,

Iain

Andos
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Re: StewMac fret blade arbor size

Post by Andos » Sun Mar 29, 2020 9:43 pm

You could set it up in the drill press. Block of wood underneath it, clamp it down and drill it out to 20mm. The local engineering store should stock drill bits. Ask for a 1/2 inch parallel shanked, 20mm drill bit.

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Re: StewMac fret blade arbor size

Post by simso » Sun Mar 29, 2020 10:58 pm

It is very difficult to drill or ream or machine the centre of a saw blade, anything slightly of centre and you will have balance issues, cut issues and so forth.

Maybe consider getting a drop saw, that is what i use.

Steve
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kiwigeo
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Re: StewMac fret blade arbor size

Post by kiwigeo » Mon Mar 30, 2020 6:37 am

It's a job for a machine shop.....they can mount the blade so it's centred and then make the hole bigger. Sometimes the teeth will need a dress up if the blade is slightly off centre
Martin

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Cutty
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Re: StewMac fret blade arbor size

Post by Cutty » Mon Mar 30, 2020 11:42 am

Thanks all,

After a couple of calls this morning, Central Saw and Knife Works here in Adelaide are able to increase the bore size for me.

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Phil Mailloux
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Re: StewMac fret blade arbor size

Post by Phil Mailloux » Thu Apr 02, 2020 9:55 am

Definitely a job for a machine shop. The blade is fully case hardened. I got a shop to do mine years ago and they even broke a bit on it because of how hard that bore was
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Cutty
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Re: StewMac fret blade arbor size

Post by Cutty » Thu Apr 02, 2020 11:06 am

Thanks Phil.

Crikey, hope I'm not going to experience wallet shock when I go to pick it up tomorrow :o
Phil Mailloux wrote:
Thu Apr 02, 2020 9:55 am
Definitely a job for a machine shop. The blade is fully case hardened. I got a shop to do mine years ago and they even broke a bit on it because of how hard that bore was

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