Bandsaw Blade Tension Gauge

I always like watching your videos and boy do you love Dial Indicators LOL …. Great job as always. Going to have to make one of these…. THX

-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"

@Ken – Ha! Yep, I would definitely put the tool in my top three favorites. In my opinion it’s way under utilized by most woodworkers. When I hear that a woodworker owns a table saw but not a dial indicator my jaw drops.

Thanks for commenting!

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Cool idea

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

This is a really cool project and I’m surprised that I missed this video as I watch most of yours.
(They are really cool and I usually learn something too.)
You are the master of dial indicator uses and I think this is one I may have to try, as I have a hard time with the “not so accurate’ tension indicator on my saw.
Thanks and keep up the good work.

-- Eric

@a1Jim -Thank you

@Woodwrecker – You could subscribe to my YouTube channel and never miss a new video. I’m trying to grow my YouTube community and it’s slow going.

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Some good information there….. I am going to make one for my band saw.

-- Rick

Very interesting. Nice way to check the tension

-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net

This is a great gauging system, where are you getting your numbers to set the tension for your blades I’m new at this so please forgive the ignorance I could use all the info. I can get. Thanks

-- ~ Bob ~ Newton, N.H.

The formula for blade stretch is:

(S/D) x 29,000,000 Young's modulus for steel

S = blade stretch in inches
D = length of blade measured in inches

(0.001”/5”) * 29,000,000 = 5,800 psi

“Most blade manufacturers recommend 15,000 psi to 20,000 psi for a common carbon-steel blade.”

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Great video, I will definitely subscribe to your videos on youtube. Is there a reason you used wood for the nuts instead of a regular steel nut on the jig? Is it possible to over tighten?

-- Paul--- Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. — Scott Adams

@tinman65 – There is a steel nut embedded in the wooden knob. It is inlay-ed in an hexagonal recess. Sorry – I should have mentioned that in the video.

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@tinman65 Look at the video at 4:22 and you can see the nut in the second knob in the background. :)

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Way cool jig I’m going to have to make one as soon as I get done with working on my table saw.

Oh I’m a subscriber to your YourTube channel as well.

-- --- Richard Jackson

@rdjack21 – Thanks for the subscription! Hope I don’t disappoint down the road. :)

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GW – You now have another subscriber. Thanks!

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings