Here’s a simple guide to understanding SAW BLADES from @riogrande! I think something any experienced jeweler can agree on is investing in quality saw blades is worth it. So when I was presented with an opportunity to show off Laser Gold Saw Blades, I jumped on it! I’ve been using these for a decade! What makes these saw blades top-notch is they are created from a special alloy of high-quality steel and they’re electronically tempered. The steel and tempering lead to saw blades that are sharper and more flexible. Because of that, you will break far fewer saw blades. You’ll also cut straighter and more precisely because of the sharper teeth. Laser Gold Saw Blades have an extra thickness along the backs which gives them extra rigidity and reduces breakage too. Now that I’ve convinced you to invest in nicer saw blades, the question is: which sizes do you get? Laser Gold comes in 14 sizes: #6 (the thickest) through #8/0 (the thinnest). These two sizes are extremes though and most of us work with saw blades that fall somewhere in the middle. I love the Sampler Pack (#110314) because it has a dozen of each size—8/0, 7/0, 6/0, 5/0, 4/0, 3/0, 2/0, 1/0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. It allows me to experiment! I'm also using the Hardwood Saw Blade Organizer (#112015) and labeled each space with the corresponding sheet gauge that would be ideal for that size blade—the perfect cheat sheet! You’ll notice that 2, 1 and 1/0 can all be used for 18g… Ultimately it is subjective and you’ll find what works best for you. These saw blades are great forever unless they get rusty. I don’t live in a humid climate, so I can leave mine in the organizer and they are good. If you struggle with rust though, keep them in a ziplock bag and even throw a little silica pouch in there for good measure! @riogrande is offering our community 10% off the Laser Gold Sampler (#110314) and the organizer (#112015) with code MTLSMITH5 now through 10/2. It’s an awesome time to upgrade if you’ve never tried them *this promo code cannot be combined with other offers! A big thank you to @riogrande for sponsoring this and supporting the page! #sponsored #metalsmithsociety #sawingjewelry