Watch out for those cheap band saw blades from the online auction site

I bought a pack of five blades for my band saw last month, thinking I saved about $60 compared to my usual supplier. The first one snapped after just two hours of breaking down a side of beef. Not a clean break either, it whipped back and put a nasty gash in my cutting board. The second blade dulled so fast it started tearing the meat instead of slicing it. I lost almost 15 pounds of good brisket to ragged cuts I couldn't sell. I'm out the cost of the blades plus the wasted product, so call it a $200 lesson. Now I'm back to buying from the local shop that knows our trade. Has anyone else gotten burned by off-brand blades and found a reliable brand that doesn't cost a fortune?

3 comments

3 Comments

jackson.phoenix23d ago

Jessica's right, maybe meat's just tougher on blades.

jessicab7023d ago

Honestly I've had the opposite luck. Those cheap blades from the auction site have been fine for my weekend wood projects. Maybe it's different for cutting meat though.

perez.grace5d ago

Actually, cheap blades can be a total gamble even for wood. Ever had one snap or go dull halfway through a simple cut? That's not just annoying, it's kind of dangerous. You might get a good batch sometimes, but why risk it when a decent blade doesn't cost that much more? It's not about the material, it's about getting a tool that won't fail you.