Local saw shop has automated bench that speeds turnaround
Bay Area Saws and Services has customers as far north as Newark. The company, owned by Jonathan Byers, is the first to offer the automated bench, a machine that can easily sharpen commercial grade blades.
“We go up to San Francisco three days, picking up,” Byers said. “It will help us speed up turnaround.”
The automated bench is a machine that is usually just available at commercial operations that can level and tension blades so that they work like brand new again. The machine was recently acquired at a cost of $120,000.
During use, especially when cutting through surfaces such as lumber or metal, saw blades can become dented, bent or cracked.
“They come in beat up all the time,” said Randy Barnes.
In the past, workers had to tap out the dents by hand.
“It makes you want to scream,” Barnes said. “You can lose your place.”
The circular saw slides into the machine like a belt. The machine is computerized and recognizes dents in the metal as it moves it along. There are four metal rods, two are convex and two are concave. They tap in the direction needed to knock out the dent.
One of their customers from Newark, a staff member with Golden State Lumber Yard, complimented Bay Area Saw and Service staff on the outcome with the automatic bench.
“The metal is all back where it belongs,” Byers said.
In addition, the company makes custom carbide saws, bandsaws, water, shaper and carbide planer knives.
They deal with blades from 3 inches to 34 inches and saws from 16 to 42 feet long.
