To get the best from your bandsaw you must begin with a correctly corrected blade, guide cubes, push bearings and a squared table. It’s very important to look at each of these factors every time you use your saw, alter your blade, or any time your blade and cubes show some wear. A correctly corrected bandsaw is a delight to use. However, if improperly corrected, it can be a major frustration.
There are five easy steps you must execute in arrangement, to assure a correctly tuned bandsaw.
- Tension the Blade
To do so, you use the “blade trimming” knob that protrudes over the case of the greatest blade wheel. Some saws have signs for various blade widths. These are only approximate signs, so begin by moderately tightening the blade, which has been placed on the wheels.
- Tracking the Blade
Before you begin to plug into the machine, make sure the guide blocks and push bearings are entirely clear of the blade. Rotate the blade wheels by hand. CAUTION: Don’t put your finger through the spokes of the wheel. You could seriously hurt or lose a finger. As it’s rotated, the blade should proceed into the middle of the rubber tire on the top and the bottom wheels. If the blade doesn’t seem to centre, you have to correct the “upper wheel tilt knob” while you hand-turn the wheel. Turn the wheel until you get it monitoring on the middle of the rubber tires as near as possible. You might need a little more tension on the blade, but do not overly compress the wheels.
- Fixing the Guide Blocks/Pins
- Move the very best guide blocks/pins back or forward so the front borders will be directly behind the blade teeth.
- Have a piece of paper the size of a $5.00 bill and fold it from the back around the saw blade
- Move the blade and bank notice between the guides/pins and without deflecting the blade
- Then tighten the guides/pins into a nice fit round the paper
Do the same for the bottom guide/pins.
- Position the Thrust Bearings
Move the very best thrust bearing until it’s nearly touching the blade. It need not roll up when you hand-turn the blade but should roll when you cut timber. Do the same for the bottom bearing. You should now get your blade, guides, and thrust bearings tuned for precise sawing.
- Square the Table
The final step is to set the table 90 degrees to the blade. Place a small square (4? To 6?) On the desk against the blade. In the back, bottom of the desk, there should be an adjusting bolt allowing you to modify the angle of the table. Turn the bolt until the square indicates the table and blade are 90 degrees to each other.
When you’ve finished working with your bandsaw, and won’t be using it for a while, release the blade tension. There’s not any point in developing a flat side in your rubber tires.