In keeping with our ongoing "frugal woodworker" theme, I found this thread on Woodcentral about re-using dull band saw blades. Editor

"I'm a pack rat. I save my old band saw blades. Some of them are broken. Either tell me what someone can do with old blades for a Delta 14" saw with a riser block, or convince me to throw them away." Barry

Not surprisingly, readers came up with several very good suggestions. Editor

"With a torch, a brazing rod, and a simple jig you can actually repair broken blades. I have brought useful life back to old blades with a chainsaw file; a little time consuming but do-able" Rick

"I use sections of broken blades to rake my bowl buffs when they get too loaded with compound." Carole

"I've used old band saw blades when making rolled sheet hangers (think aluminum foil and freezer paper in large rolls). Construction is basically a U-shaped piece with end brackets. When the rolled sheets are placed in the rack, the free ends fall to the front. Pull off as much as you need and raise it to meet the band saw blade piece that is installed on the back of the front piece. It tears nicely." Bob

"The wider ones can be cut up to make bow-saw blades." Bill

"I resharpen mine until they are really dead, then don't feel bad about throwing them out. Sharpen with diamond hone on top of teeth and a chain saw stone in Dremel tool for the gullets. You can also clamp a bunch of sections together to make a crude and very aggressive rasp." Brian

"The one thing I have found for a really old one is cutting Velcro sanding disks." Mark

"The wider ones make great stock for a beading tool. Cut off a bunch of two inch segments, put them together with a small clamp or other fastener, then go to the grinder to make whatever shape you would like to use for a bead, say, on the bottom of an apron. You will need a shop built holder for the blades; just a piece of wood with a set screw or something to hold the blade. You can glue another piece to the holder and use it as a fence if you want to get fancy. Set the blade in the tool to the appropriate offset, and gently run it down the length of the apron or whatever you are beading. Works great for a small groove for inlay as well." Jesse