Sharpeners

Both the RS8 and RS30 PRO are automatic sharpeners that do a great job bringing dull blades back to life. The main difference is speed. The RS8 runs at a single speed of about 8 teeth per minute, while the RS30 PRO has an extra speed setting and can sharpen up to 28 teeth per minute. The RS30 PRO also features a long-lasting CBN grinding disc and 3 cam profiles to accomodate different blade profiles.

Since both models run hands-free, you can let them work while you focus on something else. So the real question is: how much is your time worth, and how much do you want to invest to get through sharpening faster?

Owning your own sharpener lets you extend the life of your blades or chains by sharpening them multiple times, helping reduce replacement costs and keeping sharp tools ready whenever you need them. It also cuts down on downtime compared to manual sharpening, so you can get back to work sooner. And for those running higher volumes, owning a sharpener can even open up opportunities to offer sharpening services to others.

Both blade and chain sharpeners use a grinding wheel to remove a small amount of material from the cutting edges. This light touch restores sharpness and improves cutting performance, helping prevent issues like drifting or difficult cuts, and excessive wear on your equipment.

Sawing with a dull blade can lead to wavy or uneven cuts, and you’ll often see a telltale pattern in the wood when your blade’s past its prime. It can also become harder to push the blade through the log, and dull blades tend to drift off course, which can ruin your cut.

Keeping your blade sharp helps you make clean, straight cuts and reduces the risk of breakage, saving you time, frustration, and the cost of replacing blades too soon.

The tooth set refers to the pattern of the teeth on your bandsaw blade. Instead of all teeth pointing straight, most blades follow a pattern where two out of every three teeth are bent upwards or downwards. This ensures that you are removing more material than the thickness of the blade, reducing friction and heat built up in the blade.

Over time, the set can come out of the teeth, which affects cutting performance. A tooth setter helps restore the original set, putting the right bend back into the teeth so your blade cuts cleanly and efficiently again.

Not much. Just keep an eye on the condition of the grinding wheels, occasionally check for any loose hardware, and ensure your power source or battery is ready for use. With basic upkeep, your sharpener will deliver consistent results for years to come.