[SEL] Saw Outfit Blade finish

[Curt]

Rick,
You know how I like pretty finishes on these old engines and carts, but 
I fear you may have made a bit of a mistake blasting your blade. That's 
the one part that is still a dull rusty color on my Herc and Famous 
sawrigs. Perhaps you did not have a choice but unfortunately blasting 
places the surface of the metal in compression and will make a saw blade 
"wavy". Blades are hammered in the center area to create some dish. When 
the blade is spun up to speed the blade "tightens" and become flat 
again, making the outer edge of the blade "tight". Hammering places the 
center and mid sections of the blade in compression and the outer area 
in tension.
Blasting places the entire blade in compression. When spun the outer 
edge will wobble all over the place.
The same thing happens when there is incorrect set in the teeth. Drag 
will overheat the outer area of the blade making the blade scary wavy.
Can you chuck the blade up and use some sandpaper to polish the blasting 
efforts away making it look more like original?
Then oil it and send it to a blade smith having him sharpen, set, 
balance, and hammer it again. Hammering is a technique best left to the 
experts. I had mine done by a fellow in SC years ago.
Before my blade was hammered I was shocked at how wavy it was when up to 
speed. The blade wobbled enough that I was certain it was going to hit 
the sawrig frame! As some point in it's life the table had been hit 
numerous time by the blade.
Curt Holland
Gastonia, NC
Time 2:35 EST

Richard Strobel wrote:

>  Any suggestions as what kind of finish to use on the circular saw blade? 
>I believe it's ~30 inches in diameter.  I've got it blasted now.
>
>   Also thinking about using cold Gun-Bluing on the flywheel faces.  Whatcha 
>all think?
>
>  I was typing at the Gal Man this a.m. and mentioned that the countdown to 
>crank-up can begin.  Probably a week..maybe a little more.  I'll fabricate 
>and install the gas tank lines today.  Then about all I need is a small 
>spring for the Lunk and a couple decals.
>
>  It's taken all my restraint to keep from crankin' this baby up, but I knew 
>I had to completely finish it first.
>
>  
>