Wandering bandsaw blade
 

Hi ...

I'm trying to make friends with my new Sears 10" bandsaw. I'm trying to
cut some 1/4 inch hardboard for some templates and the blade tends to
twist as I'm follwing my curves. The manual says nothing about blade
tension. I've lowered the guide so it's just above the cutting surface.
Any suggestions of what I need to do to keep the blade on track will
be appreciated.

Cap'n 321

Wandering bandsaw blade
 

"Cap'n 321" wrote in message
om...
Hi ...

I'm trying to make friends with my new Sears 10" bandsaw. I'm trying to
cut some 1/4 inch hardboard for some templates and the blade tends to
twist as I'm follwing my curves. The manual says nothing about blade
tension. I've lowered the guide so it's just above the cutting surface.
Any suggestions of what I need to do to keep the blade on track will be
appreciated.

You have to adjust everything. You do have the guide lowered, but there is
a bearing behind the blade that should almost, but not quite touch. There
are guide blocks that should sit just behind the teeth and clear the blade
by about the thickness of a dollar bill doubled. They you have the same
below the table. The blade must be riding on the wheel properly, and, of
course the tension must be tight enough. They you must use the proper width
blade for the curves you are cutting.

Once adjusted, you also have to push the work through properly. It is very
easy to try to turn the work while it is not moving and twist the blade too
far. I've never done that, of course, but I've heard stories about others
doing it.

Wandering bandsaw blade
 

Dave Marks from DIY channel Woodworks did a great segment on tuning a
bandsaw. It's documented on the DIY site:
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/wk_too...278285,00.html
Respectfully,
Ron Moore


"Cap'n 321" wrote in message
om...
Hi ...

I'm trying to make friends with my new Sears 10" bandsaw. I'm trying to
cut some 1/4 inch hardboard for some templates and the blade tends to
twist as I'm follwing my curves. The manual says nothing about blade
tension. I've lowered the guide so it's just above the cutting surface.
Any suggestions of what I need to do to keep the blade on track will be
appreciated.

Cap'n 321

Wandering bandsaw blade
 

On Tue, 23 May 2006 23:29:59 GMT, Cap'n 321
wrote:

Hi ...

I'm trying to make friends with my new Sears 10" bandsaw. I'm trying to
cut some 1/4 inch hardboard for some templates and the blade tends to
twist as I'm follwing my curves. The manual says nothing about blade
tension. I've lowered the guide so it's just above the cutting surface.
Any suggestions of what I need to do to keep the blade on track will
be appreciated.

Is it the blade that came with the saw? If so that may be the
culprit, and before you pull your hair out trying all manner of
adjustments to the saw you may want to try a good quality blade -
timberwolf is what usually gets recommended here. I've been using the
Woodcraft house brand. The blade that came with my Delta wandered all
over the place for the 15 seconds it was on the saw - though the Delta
blades I used to get for my old 9" saw weren't bad.


-Leuf

Wandering bandsaw blade
 

In article ,
says...
Hi ...

I'm trying to make friends with my new Sears 10" bandsaw. I'm trying to
cut some 1/4 inch hardboard for some templates and the blade tends to
twist as I'm follwing my curves. The manual says nothing about blade
tension. I've lowered the guide so it's just above the cutting surface.
Any suggestions of what I need to do to keep the blade on track will
be appreciated.

My first thought is that you're trying to cut too tight a curve for the
blade you're using -- or, conversely, using too wide a blade for the
curve you want to cut.

How wide is the blade, and what is the approximate radius of the curve
you're attempting?