The other day, I saw where someone had cooked up a router height gauge
that used a dial indicator. I had to have one of these. So I figured
this would be a great quick project that would use my bandsaw and drill
press, two tools I've been wanting to use on a project. (you see, I've
been making a lot of cabinets and such lately...)

So I head over to my bandsaw. It's a Delta 14" with a riser block. I
Noticed that I had my 1/2 inch blade on it. No problem, I'll switch
over to that 1/8" blade which should be perfect for cutting out this
curvy piece of hickory.

An hour later, I had it working. But I learned a couple things:

1. Bandsaws are difficult to adjust correctly.

2. I suck at adjusting bandsaws.

And I've read Larry Byrd's book. I guess I need to read it again.

My main problems were that the tension wasn't right, and I had the
thrust bearing too far forward. And even if I hadn't made these
mistakes, getting the tracking just right was difficult as well.
People talk all the time about dedicating routers to certain bits. I'm
ready to pick up a grizzly 14" bandsaw just so that I can have a 1/8"
blade and a 1/2" blade installed and tuned at the same time. Maybe I
need a third one with a bimetal blade for metal work. And a big fourth
one for heavy resawing.

The VS drill press worked perfectly the first try. :-)

brian

On 6 Nov 2006 10:54:45 -0800, "brianlanning"
wrote:

People talk all the time about dedicating routers to certain bits. I'm
ready to pick up a grizzly 14" bandsaw just so that I can have a 1/8"
blade and a 1/2" blade installed and tuned at the same time. Maybe I
need a third one with a bimetal blade for metal work. And a big fourth
one for heavy resawing.

Right next to my 14" Delta with the 1/2" blade is my 9" Ryobi with a
1/4" blade, and right next to that is the scroll saw. Chances are one
of them can do it. I do still have to put the 1/8" blade on the big
one for thick stock, but it doesn't happen that often.


-Leuf

"brianlanning" wrote in message
oups.com...
Snip


1. Bandsaws are difficult to adjust correctly.

Most are, the better ones are a snap.
I went from an old hard to adjust Craftsman to an 18" Rikon. The Rikin was
better but still a PIA. Now I have a LT16HD Laguna and adjustments take
little time and tracking is almost a non issue. I seldom have to adjust
tracking unless going from a 1/4" blade to a 1" blade. That adjustment
takes about 1/4" turn of the tracking wheel.


2. I suck at adjusting bandsaws.

So did I . You need a much better band saw. :~)



And I've read Larry Byrd's book. I guess I need to read it again.

Yes, some times it is the equipment and not you.

On 6 Nov 2006 10:54:45 -0800, "brianlanning"
wrote:


And I've read Larry Byrd's book. I guess I need to read it again.


Well there's your problem. Larry Byrd's books are about basketball,
not bandsawing.

tommyboy wrote:
On 6 Nov 2006 10:54:45 -0800, "brianlanning"
wrote:
Well there's your problem. Larry Byrd's books are about basketball,
not bandsawing.

I'm having a bad day. I just posted a "nerbie" question over in the
metalwork group.

brian

In article .com,
brianlanning wrote:
The other day, I saw where someone had cooked up a router height gauge
that used a dial indicator. I had to have one of these. So I figured
this would be a great quick project that would use my bandsaw and drill
press, two tools I've been wanting to use on a project. (you see, I've
been making a lot of cabinets and such lately...)

So I head over to my bandsaw. It's a Delta 14" with a riser block. I
Noticed that I had my 1/2 inch blade on it. No problem, I'll switch
over to that 1/8" blade which should be perfect for cutting out this
curvy piece of hickory.

An hour later, I had it working. But I learned a couple things:

1. Bandsaws are difficult to adjust correctly.

2. I suck at adjusting bandsaws.

And I've read Larry Byrd's book. I guess I need to read it again.

My main problems were that the tension wasn't right, and I had the
thrust bearing too far forward. And even if I hadn't made these
mistakes, getting the tracking just right was difficult as well.
People talk all the time about dedicating routers to certain bits. I'm
ready to pick up a grizzly 14" bandsaw just so that I can have a 1/8"
blade and a 1/2" blade installed and tuned at the same time. Maybe I
need a third one with a bimetal blade for metal work. And a big fourth
one for heavy resawing.

The VS drill press worked perfectly the first try. :-)

brian


Perhaps on a more practical note, how about a scrollsaw?


--
Often wrong, never in doubt.

Larry Wasserman - Baltimore, Maryland -

On 6 Nov 2006 10:54:45 -0800, "brianlanning"
wrote:

The other day, I saw where someone had cooked up a router height gauge
that used a dial indicator. I had to have one of these. So I figured
this would be a great quick project that would use my bandsaw and drill
press, two tools I've been wanting to use on a project. (you see, I've
been making a lot of cabinets and such lately...)

So I head over to my bandsaw. It's a Delta 14" with a riser block. I
Noticed that I had my 1/2 inch blade on it. No problem, I'll switch
over to that 1/8" blade which should be perfect for cutting out this
curvy piece of hickory.

An hour later, I had it working. But I learned a couple things:

1. Bandsaws are difficult to adjust correctly.

2. I suck at adjusting bandsaws.

Don't get too hard on yourself. They can be tricky, and it takes a
fair amount of practice to get it tuned in just right quickly.