In article , (Marcus Kellermann) wrote:
I just purchased a new 14" Grizzly Utltimate Bandsaw with a 6 inch
riser block which gives it a 12 in capacity. After setting it up and
following the directions for tensioning the blade and setting the
glade guides (it has sealed bearing guides) it decided to test it out
using some scrape 3/4 plywood I had. Cutting straight lines went
fine, sure there was lead but that is to be expected. However when
attempt to cut a curve of about a 6 inch radius, the blade just twists
and the cut remains relatively straight. It has a 3/8 skip tooth
blade that came with the saw. I am sure it is a cheap blade and plan
on replacing it with a 3/16 inch TimberWolf blade. However it seems
like I should still be able to cut a curve with this blade.

Yes, you should.

Any ideas why it just twists? The thrust bearings is are thickness of
a business card from the blade and the guide wheels are just slightly
touching the blade. The blade guard is down to 1/4" above the work
piece.


Well, that's too much gap between the blade and the thrust bearings (the
thickness of a piece of typing paper, or a new dollar bill is more
appropriate). It's unlikely, though, that this is enough, by itself, to cause
the problem you describe.

The guide wheels may not be properly positioned: the wheels should be just
behind the gullets between the teeth. You may not have enough of the blade
supported between the guide wheels.

And you may not have the blade tension set high enough.

You don't indicate your level of experience with bandsaws, so please pardon me
if the following is way off the mark, but the trouble may be in your
technique. To cut a curve with the bandsaw, it is necessary to feed the wood
into the teeth _as_ you rotate it through the curve. Simply rotating the
workpiece, without feeding it at the same time, will twist the blade but not
cut anything. Same principal as driving a car: just turning the steering wheel
won't get you out of a parking space. You gotta be moving forward in order to
turn.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)

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