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My Bandsaw is Smoking!!!!!

4K views 13 replies 12 participants last post by  WhyMe 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have a Rikon 10-325 and I must admit that so far it has been a pretty good machine. I use it infrequently, but whn I do I am cutting 12" logs, which seems to be taking its toll. When I mount my new blade and tension it, the wheel is incredibly hard to turn. Not impossible, but it seems like it should be easier. I can hear a noise that sounds like something is scraping when I turn it. I have looked EVERYWHERE around the blade and I have yet to find and obstruction. When I turn it on, I can smell something that smells like not like wood smoke but a different more oily smoke. I cant see the smoke, but I can certainely smell it. My only though is that the bearing might be smoking from overtension. I do tighten my blades pretty hard. Do you think that's the problem? Please give all advice and experience. Thanks,
Paul
 
#6 ·
Take the blade off and check how smooth the wheel rotates. If it's good then check the belt. The process of eliminating variables helps troubleshooting a lot.

Also, if you're applying that much tension to the blades then you're compensating for some error in your bandsaw setup. Either your guide blocks aren't set right or you have a bad/dull blade. There just isn't a need for excessive tension and you'll either damage the bearings, flex the saw frame or gouge up the rubber tires if you overdo it.
 
#7 ·
Thanks all for the responses! I figured out that the top wheel was grinding on the blade guard when it was raised fully. I believe it is because the wheel was tilted from blade tracking alignment. Off to work to solve the problem. Thanks!
 
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