Slitting Saw Arbor..Precision..Near flush cut

[mklotz]

Another parallel project JR to what I've been contemplating. I have a import slitter saw arbor that while runout is ok, the retainer is thick like your original. Of course it was in the way the last time I used it and wondered a couple of things.

I guess the retainer is so thick because they have not idea what you're going to try and cut with it. Mine also is stepped to take different size ID holes so it makes it so you can't down the retainer too much. But why don't any of the affordable arbors have a Keyway to take advantage of the key slot in the saw blade? I wondered how much you could cut down the retainer if you had a key? Seems like most of the torque of cutting would be taken care of and it would take minimum thickness of the retainer. Knowing you, you have already explored this.......

In a hobby environment you may not want a key. Slitting saws are brittle and hang up easily. With a key that means a broken blade.

In an industrial setting where centering, alignment, speeds and feeds are under tight control, a key probably makes sense. In Garaj Mahal I'd rather have the saw slip then be buying saws in gross lots.