Waltz of the Bandsaw

[LeftyTom]

No, my Grizzly isn't dancing around while in use.

I had set the saw up a few weeks ago, and this was the first time I got to really use it. I used the folded $1 bill as a guage, and set the blade guides & thrust bearings.

After cutting some lap joints, I was vacuuming up dust that had escaped the Penn Ind DC. I opened the blade cover and the top wheel had the blade well to the inside of the crown. The lower wheel had the blade close to the outer edge.

I found the lower thrust bearing was pressing the blade outward. A little eyeballing, and I got it readjusted. Tracking is on center on the upper wheel, but not on the lower wheel. I had checked the wheels when I was setting it up, and they are coplanar (best I can see).

Should the blade also travel in the center of the lwer wheel, or is the tracking checked only using the upper wheel?

[McRabbet]

Tom,

The upper and lower wheels should first be set up to be coplanar (done with a blade in place at normal tension) -- a straightedge should be used across the wheel faces and if the wheels are not coplanar, on most 14" bandsaws, you add or remove shim washers from the lower wheel to achieve them being coplanar. The insures the blade will be moving at right angles to the table. Tracking is done on the upper wheel and ideally, the blade should track to the center of the crowned wheel and if the wheels are coplanar, then it should center on both wheels. As you increase tension, the frame bends very slightly and the blade may need to be adjusted for tracking again.

I suggest you get John White's book "Care and Repair of Shop Machines" (Taunton Press ISBN 1-56158-424-X).

[DavidF]

On my bandsaw and I am sure on some others, I can't get a straight edge in to check for coplanarity, so a straight piece of wood with 4 long screws screwed in to line up with the edges of the wheels and set to all be the same same length (set on Joiner or table saw bed, or just measure accurately) will do the same job.

[cpowell]

I set my bandsaw up so the wheels tracked with a 1" wide blade. I have noticed that when I run a narrow blade the band does not center on both top and bottom - close but not perfectly centered. This does not cause a problem in practical bandsaw usage.

I think the problem is either that the tensions are vastly different between a 1/4 blade and a 1" blade, or, the blade welds are not perfect...or a combination. Don't assume the blades are perfectly straight.

Chuck

[LeftyTom]

But, Chuck, that is my secret to reclaiming twisted & warped lumber; cut the non-flat board with a non-flat blade. Works like a charm.

[Howard Acheson]

Here is an excellent video on setting up a 14" bandsaw.

BAND SAW ALIGNMENT