Rocklinizer

[Log-ic]

Hi,
Is there anybody who has experience with "rocklinizing" tips of a bandsaw?  It's a machine that allows you to apply a (very thin) layer of tungsten carbide or titanium carbide to any metal.  It should cosiderably extend the life time of the cutting edge of theeth.  My experience so far is mixed, I.e. in some circumstances it doubled the cutting time between two sharpenings,  but it also doubled the time spend per band in the sharp shop.

Also, in case of contact with dirt the layer will be gone very fast.  finally, I hit several nails with a rocklinized band, and I was quite impressed.  Although I had to replace the band after the accident, it was in each and every case perfectly possible to continue to cut.  The saw continued to go straight after the contact, allowing to finish the engaged cut. 

I also started "rolling" my bands a few years ago, that also resulted a tremendous difference in cutting speed and sawing quality.

[Coltbodi]

What does rolling your bands mean?

[Log-ic]

In short, the toothed side of a band has a tendency to elongate due to heat and friction.  This loss of inernal tension will soon result in wavy cuts, unless reducing the feed force.  It is not possible to reverse this phenomenon.  However, the effect can be compensated by elongating the back of the band (and/or the central part for wide bands) in a rolling bench.  You will then elongate slightly the steel molecules whith as a result that the back (and/or the central part) of your band will elongate.  By doing so the toothed side is tensioned again, allowing to cut fast and straight.  I even roll a convex back in new bands before even using them, they perform really much better.  The wider the bands are, the more important tension will be because on wide bands it is not possible to compensate lack of internal tension by increasing the strain. 

[JRWoodchuck]

Could you post a photo or video of your roller? This is the second thread I've read about rolling bands lately and I'am intrigued. No help on the Rocklinizing though.

[Revival Sawmill]

Could you post a photo or video of your roller? This is the second thread I've read about rolling bands lately and I'am intrigued. No help on the Rocklinizing though.

Cook's saws has some videos out where they talk about rolling bands and anti-clastic-curvature - the first one is at https://youtu.be/DdpCvHVTml8

[Log-ic]

That's right, Cook's have probably the best suitable equipment for rolling narrow bands, their expanations are crystal clear too.  Unfortunately they have no representatives in Europe..  The machine I use is a Vollmer, pretty similar to  the rolling bench in this video from Zenz.  Mine is over 50 years old but works still perfectly.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VjqF71i7wlk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjqF71i7wlk

(embedding the vid doesn't seems to be that easy here but just copy/paste the youtube link in your address bar)...

[Jeff]

Or maybe it's easier than you think.