A question..

[arkiewood]

I have cut several Christmas gifts out of 1/4" Baltic Birch using a FRUR #1. Today I started cutting some out of Hard Maple board using FDUR #1. The blades seem to last longer cutting the hard maple board than the plywood.
Am I imagining this or is the plywood harder on blades? I thought maybe the glue in the plywood was causing it.
Anyone have any info I would appreciate it.

[justlarry]

I have read several times that the glue in the plywood dulls the blades quickly.  I still use it though for most of my work.

Larry

[arkiewood]

Thanks that is what I figured

[Bill Wilson]

Something to keep in mind, Baltic Birch is a hardwood, in it's own right.  One of the species used to make BB plywood is Silver Birch, which has a Janka Scale rating of 1210, which is comparable in hardness to red oak, ash and beech.  Sugar (hard) Maple has a janka scale rating of 1450, so the wood itself isn't even all that much softer than hard Maple.  Couple that with the alternating grain pattern of the different layers and the glue and it's easy to see how it can he hard on blades.

[arkiewood]

Thanks Bill I had no idea the Baltic Birch was that hard

[Toneman]

I use 1/8" Baltic Birch plywood a lot, especially on ornaments and portraits stacked in 4's  and use a FD UR #1 and yes it dulls pretty often. I can use the same blade on 3/4" select pine hard wood  and lasts longer if I cut slower. 

[Danny]

Well a man after my own heart.  The FDUR#1 blade I use for 90% of all crafts.  Danny  :+}