Bent blade

[NCDiesel]

I have a newbie question:

Can a bent blade be saved?  While sawing the pecan this past weekend a log moved and popped the blade off the wheels and left a bend in the blade.  About 30 degrees, give or take.  I took it off and put on a new one but I was wondering - can a good sharpener save a blade like this?  Or should it go into the metal recycling pile?

Thanks in advance!

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I would talk to your person that sharpens you blades.
I send my blades to Woodmizer and they make the decision.

But just guessing, I would scrape it.

[Magicman]

Give it a try and hope for the best.  I have had some that could be salvaged and some that could not.   

[hackberry jake]

I have bent them straighish by hand and put them back on and they usually work. You probably have some teeth bent though if it hit anything when it came off the wheels.

[ely]

lay it across a cant and give it heck with a hammer, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain... it already will not work for you. ;)

[DeepWoods]

I would make it as straight as I could and save it for a log that might have iron in it.  Then if I made junk out of it I wouldn't feel as bad losing a blade.

[Peter Drouin]

You might be able to use it but It will never be right. If it was mine I would junk it

[Chuck White]

I agree with Ely, lay it on a flat surface and give it a few whacks with a hammer and when it looks right, set it, sharpen it and use it!

You have nothing to lose except maybe a little time!

[Brucer]

I've bent a couple when I didn't clamp a log tight enough and it rolled. I bent them back into shape (more or less) by hand -- no hammering required. Then I ran them with the blade tension about 500 PSI higher than normal.

Both of them continued to cut well. However, one of them tried to stay coiled so it was always a challenge getting it uncoiled and onto the mill.

[dboyt]

I've bent several, and always straightened by hand, then save for the trash logs.  You can eyeball it pretty close.  It can trash a blade if you have a metal shield, though.

[barbender]

  I've bent many blades, I am a pro at finding ways to pop them off the band wheels : The teeth around the bend will cut like an over set tooth, leaving a pattern in the sawn surface. I think I've read of guys bending a tooth out on purpose to make that pattern. You could probably bend the set out of those teeth around the bent part, and I bet they'd cut fine.

[ladylake]

I've had bent blades last for lots of sharpening's and some that break right away..  Steve

[petefrom bearswamp]

Some work some don't.
I always try to salvage a bent one.

[NCDiesel]

Thanks - I'll carefully straighten, and then mark the spot for the sharpener so they can make sure the set is right.

Thanks a bunch for all the advice!