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Author Topic: Blade advice  (Read 3707 times)

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lithicbeads

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Blade advice
« on: October 03, 2020, 11:16:38 AM »
Looking to purchase a new 18 inch blade. MK 301 or 303 ? Which is better for non jade rocks?
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Ryaly2dogs

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Re: Blade advice
« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2020, 09:48:33 PM »
I had a similar quandry and ended up buying both.  The segmented 303 is a wider kerf and chews up more rock per cut but is a workhorse; I use it for all my sphere preforms.  I have the continuous rim 301 on a second 18-inch saw and use it for softer or more valuable materials if I want to limit waste.  The 301 is a bit thinner so entails more precision in cutting.  Either cuts agate well, if you are cutting a lot of agate/jaspers, my recommendation is the 303.

Interested in other's opinions on this as well.
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vitzitziltecpatl

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Re: Blade advice
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2020, 10:07:29 AM »
Really like the 18" 301 we got a few months ago. Cut much more smoothly than I thought it might, and has chewed through all types of stone very easily.

One plus of segmented blades, though, is they're easier to fix if a chip wedges in the cut. I've straightend a single segment on a couple of the 10" Hot Dog blades I use for hand-slabbing after I've bound them up somehow.
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irockhound

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Re: Blade advice
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2020, 01:29:30 PM »
Exact same thoughts as Ryaly2dogs  The segmented is like an old Toyota, dependable and nice to have the thinner kerf on more expensive or rare material.  I only have 1 18" saw so I keep the 303 on it.  Fortunately most of the later fits my 12" that is my go to saw.  One of the days I will have the time to fire up the 24" I got 14 years ago and have never used lol.  My garage shop is just too small to put it in, new shop in the future, can't wait.
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lithicbeads

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Re: Blade advice
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2020, 05:28:15 PM »
Thanks for your help.
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vitzitziltecpatl

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Re: Blade advice
« Reply #5 on: October 05, 2020, 05:59:47 AM »
The rim on my 301 measures .090". Don't have a 303, so can't give you that one.
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lithicbeads

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Re: Blade advice
« Reply #6 on: October 05, 2020, 01:19:53 PM »
The blade is a gift or someone who lives in the boondocks in Canada. They collect extremely unusual rocks  which I enjoy buying .I got the 303s as it seems the most robust and the rough is self collected so not especially expensive. The fact that a segment may be adjusted if bent was a selling point also.Thanks.
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