In the last few months (maybe 6) I read an article on a shop made
lever/arm affair that a fellow had made to replace the knob on his
bandsaw tensioning system. It was a quick release and tensioning lever
that was mounted to the top of his bandsaw so that the blade's tension
could be released when not in use. I thought the article was in
Finewoodworking or Woodsmith, but I was unable to find the article in
the indexes.
This is my first post and I do enjoy the group's postings, except the
war deaths. I don't mind an opinion, but this is not the place.
If anyone can guide me to the article it would be much appreciated.
Jim

Don't know about a home made unit, but if you decide that you really
need a quick release unit then Hartville tool sells one.

http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/11261

wrote:
In the last few months (maybe 6) I read an article on a shop made
lever/arm affair that a fellow had made to replace the knob on his
bandsaw tensioning system. It was a quick release and tensioning lever
that was mounted to the top of his bandsaw so that the blade's tension
could be released when not in use. I thought the article was in
Finewoodworking or Woodsmith, but I was unable to find the article in
the indexes.
This is my first post and I do enjoy the group's postings, except the
war deaths. I don't mind an opinion, but this is not the place.
If anyone can guide me to the article it would be much appreciated.
Jim

Agreed. I made a crank for mine, instead of a knob. That is quick enough
for me.
3 or 4 quick turns does it.
--
Gerald Ross
Cochran, GA

Never use a preposition to end a
sentence with.





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On 4 Feb 2006 19:31:51 -0800, wrote:

In the last few months (maybe 6) I read an article on a shop made
lever/arm affair that a fellow had made to replace the knob on his
bandsaw tensioning system. It was a quick release and tensioning lever
that was mounted to the top of his bandsaw so that the blade's tension
could be released when not in use. I thought the article was in
Finewoodworking or Woodsmith, but I was unable to find the article in
the indexes.
This is my first post and I do enjoy the group's postings, except the
war deaths. I don't mind an opinion, but this is not the place.
If anyone can guide me to the article it would be much appreciated.
Jim

I made a wooden crank (from pallet wood) that fits over the existing
knob of my Delta 14" bandsaw. The crack is secured with a metal plate
and three screws. To install it I had to remove the tensioning knob
and rod, but made no modifications to the bandsaw. I can post a
couple pics in the bin group if you wish.

The article was on page 4 , issue 161 of Woodsmith. (Oct/Nov 2005)
John

I would appreciate the photos.....and ideas other than a lever.

Anyone considered an inexpensive battery operated "screwdriver"?

Thanks for all the suggestions. I didn't ask, but what are the opinions
on leaving the tension on a band saw blade in between uses? Sometimes I
don't use it for a week or two.
Minnesota Jim

On Sun, 05 Feb 2006 16:25:55 GMT, "John Eppley"
wrote:

I would appreciate the photos.....and ideas other than a lever.

Anyone considered an inexpensive battery operated "screwdriver"?


I posted pictures in a.b.p.w. This crank makes it super easy and
simple. The only complaint I have is that I wish I had done it years
ago.

It's a good idea to release the tension between uses. This saves wear
and tear on the tires, helps keep the wheels coplanar, and keeps the
spring from wearing out. All these things need attention during a
band saw tuneup (this task is not too fun.)


On 5 Feb 2006 11:30:53 -0800, "minnesota jim"
wrote:

Thanks for all the suggestions. I didn't ask, but what are the opinions
on leaving the tension on a band saw blade in between uses? Sometimes I
don't use it for a week or two.
Minnesota Jim

Thanks John, thats the article!!
Minnesota Jim

On 5 Feb 2006 02:22:01 -0800, "Upscale" wrote:

Don't know about a home made unit, but if you decide that you really
need a quick release unit then Hartville tool sells one.

http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/11261

I think it's kind of strange that there are no knock off's of the
Carter. Just about every band saw maker has their own version of it
now, and you can get cheap roller bearings, but no cheap quick
release.


-Leuf

I'm new at this. Where do I find Phisherman"s photos?

At the risk of offending someone (which is not my intension), I think
bandsaws lived quite happily with tensioned blades until the economy got so
bad that out of work mechanical engineers were forced to earn a living by
writing articles for woodworking magazines. Bandsaws are one of the most
rough and ready, extremely useful tools in the workshop, but get real, this
is not a precision tool and IMO does not need all the care and attension
that some would make you believe it does. The only reason to have a quick
tension release mechanism is if your work requires you to change blades
often.

"minnesota jim" wrote in message
ups.com...
Thanks for all the suggestions. I didn't ask, but what are the opinions
on leaving the tension on a band saw blade in between uses? Sometimes I
don't use it for a week or two.
Minnesota Jim

Comments regarding Max Mahanke's opinion.

I started my career as an "apprentice"in the machine shop of a very large
corporation in the year 1954. In those days, an apprentice was the lowest
form of animal life in any machine shop. All the "grunt" jobs were lowered
to the apprentice. You learned, or you "got out". One of my menial jobs was
using one of the many large bandsaws in the machine shop. That included
rough cutting raw stock to size, cleaning and maintaining the bandsaw. I can
not remember "releasing tension" at any time. Once the tension was set, the
machine was in a ready state for use.

Could there be some significant difference between the machines....I doubt
it. We assumed that once a tire had a "set" the alignment would stay until a
new tire was required. In other words, a groove was established that helped
regulate the bandsaws performance. Maybe things have changed......

I ended my career as an electronic physyicist and a very avid woodworker. I
am still learning and I am readily open for opinions regarding my prized
woodworking tools.

One other comment. Way back then, an apprentice learned to sharpen tools. We
learned to sharpen using a grinding wheel for rough forming, then finished
using several stages of finer "emery" cloth, which is a form of sandpaper.
We are now back to using sandpaper. What goes around, comes around.

John

Thank you John.

"John Eppley" wrote in message
. ..
Comments regarding Max Mahanke's opinion.

I started my career as an "apprentice"in the machine shop of a very large
corporation in the year 1954. In those days, an apprentice was the lowest
form of animal life in any machine shop. All the "grunt" jobs were lowered
to the apprentice. You learned, or you "got out". One of my menial jobs
was
using one of the many large bandsaws in the machine shop. That included
rough cutting raw stock to size, cleaning and maintaining the bandsaw. I
can
not remember "releasing tension" at any time. Once the tension was set,
the
machine was in a ready state for use.

Could there be some significant difference between the machines....I doubt
it. We assumed that once a tire had a "set" the alignment would stay until
a
new tire was required. In other words, a groove was established that
helped
regulate the bandsaws performance. Maybe things have changed......

I ended my career as an electronic physyicist and a very avid woodworker.
I
am still learning and I am readily open for opinions regarding my prized
woodworking tools.

One other comment. Way back then, an apprentice learned to sharpen tools.
We
learned to sharpen using a grinding wheel for rough forming, then finished
using several stages of finer "emery" cloth, which is a form of sandpaper.
We are now back to using sandpaper. What goes around, comes around.

John

John and Max,
That was always my feeling(have had a Craftsman 12 in. for 25 years and
never worried about the tension) I guess the articles about bad things
happening by leaving the tension on may not apply to me as the bs still
has the same "tires"and still works well, although they are a bit
frayed. I recently bought a used Laguna 16 and didn't want to harm my
new $35 blade or the machine. Is $600.00 a good buy?

I've been working in machine shops for about twenty years. Never seen a
bandsaw detensioned unless it was to change a blade.

"John Eppley" wrote in message
. ..
Comments regarding Max Mahanke's opinion.

I started my career as an "apprentice"in the machine shop of a very large
corporation in the year 1954. In those days, an apprentice was the lowest
form of animal life in any machine shop. All the "grunt" jobs were lowered
to the apprentice. You learned, or you "got out". One of my menial jobs
was
using one of the many large bandsaws in the machine shop. That included
rough cutting raw stock to size, cleaning and maintaining the bandsaw. I
can
not remember "releasing tension" at any time. Once the tension was set,
the
machine was in a ready state for use.

Could there be some significant difference between the machines....I doubt
it. We assumed that once a tire had a "set" the alignment would stay until
a
new tire was required. In other words, a groove was established that
helped
regulate the bandsaws performance. Maybe things have changed......

I ended my career as an electronic physyicist and a very avid woodworker.
I
am still learning and I am readily open for opinions regarding my prized
woodworking tools.

One other comment. Way back then, an apprentice learned to sharpen tools.
We
learned to sharpen using a grinding wheel for rough forming, then finished
using several stages of finer "emery" cloth, which is a form of sandpaper.
We are now back to using sandpaper. What goes around, comes around.

John