laguna LT18 - Blade Care and Breakage Prevention

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Rounding the back of the blade
With most guide systems it is recommended that the back of the blade be
rounded with a stone. As the machine is supplied with Laguna ceramic guides,
this is not imperative as the ceramic will round the back of the blade as it is
used. However, if you decide that you want to round the back of the blade,
below is a procedure.
A round blade back creates smooth interaction between the thrust bearing and
the blade. If the blade rotates slightly, there is no sharp blade corner to dig into
the thrust bearing; also, the rounding process smoothes the weld. A blade with
a round back makes tight turns better because the round back has smooth
interaction with saw kerfs. After the guides have been adjusted and the
machine is running, hold the stone against the back corner of the blade for
about a minute. Wear safety glasses when rounding the blade. Then, do the
same thing on the opposite corner. Next, slowly move the stone to round the
back. The more pressure you put on the back, the faster you will remove the
metal. Be careful that the inside of the machine is free of sawdust because
sparks could start a fire. On small blades such as a 1/8" blade, the pressure on
the back of the blade may bring the blade forward off the front of the wheels.
Therefore be careful not to put too much pressure on the stone. When doing
this, it is also important that the upper guides are positioned right above the
stone.
The blade has teeth and extreme caution must be exercized, as your
hands will be very close to them.
Causes of Blade Breakage
 Excessive blade thickness in relation to the flywheel diameter.
 Defective welding.
 Incorrect tension, particularly if the blade is over tensioned, the tension
spring no longer fulfills its function.
 After use it is recommended to slacken the tension, especially overnight
(placing a visible notice of this operation).
 Misalignment of the flywheels.
 Irregularity of flywheel surface, e.g. an accumulation of sawdust while
cutting resinous materials.
 You can correct these problems by readjusting the machining, changing the
way you operate it, or by changing the blade. Try only one change at a time.