band saw blades

[chimp koose]

I am probably stating something everybody knows but please bear with. If you break a blade ,do not start the new blade in the old blades groove if you can avoid it. The kerf, or offset of the teeth on the new blade may get pinched down to what the old blade was left with. Reducing the kerf will not allow the new blade to clear its teeth as well ,reducing its effectiveness.When I start a new blade,  I try to find the largest piece of solid shaft I have in the shop and saw a thin wafer off the end at the slowest feed rate I can run the machine. The blades seem to hold their edge better when they are run-in this way.