The Best Bandsaw Advice EVER!

The really ironic thing is that if my bandsaw was working, I could probably build “Not Just Any Box,” enter the competition, and have a shot at winning a new Steel City bandsaw (which I could really use right now.)

-- Happy woodworking! http://www.blakeweber.us

The only thing I can think of is blade tensioning. I would think that if something were screwed up as far as being true or aligned that it would be consistant.

The only dynamic thing is the blade cut itself. If the tension were too light the blade could twist and cut both ways like you describe.

Try slowing down your cut, use soft wood, and then re-tension the blade in that order and see if you can narrow it down.

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

I’m pretty sure that an older hand than myself will have the answer, but just to give you a pat <pat>, I thought I’d give it a go. I would replace the belt with a link belt. The bowing in the cut seems likely to be a tension issue. Can you crank it up anymore? What sort of resaw blade are you using? I’ve heard the Timber Wolf line is better than some others at tracking without going nuts on the blade tension issue.

There may also be some things you can do to balance the wheels. If I recall from reading Lonnie Bird’s book you can do some things to check and correct balance. Another thought, are the tires original issue?

Okay where’s Dick Cain, Karson and the old hands with the real answer.

Again, my most sincere <pat>. Most of my machines and I maintain a love-hate relationship.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Blake; I’m not trying to be a( smarter than u) kind of guy but have you ever changed the tires. I have a bandsaw that looks just like yours and I started it one day before I put the sides back on and the tires literily raised off the wheel. I changed tires. the blades ride much better with new tires.

-- grumpa,Michigan

Looking at the picture of your fence, it looks like it’s pretty tall. How much above the workpiece is the top guides for the cut you’re trying to make?

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Wow, already some good things I hadn’t thought of yet! (In only ten minutes… I love this place.) Please keep it coming!!! Thanks.

-- Happy woodworking! http://www.blakeweber.us

who lives nearby? Go use their bandsaw; build that box; win the contest; and get that new bandsaw into your shop! :)
I can’t help you with any of the technical stuff, but I’m thinkin’ about you.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Carter makes a tire out of some kind of poly stuff that is supposed to be really good. I also bought their bearing kit and it really helped for resawing.

I have a brand new 9” ryobi band saw, nothing special, just for cutting small things, and I’ve tuned this thing 10 times and it does the same thing you’re describing. I can’t cut a straight line in 1/4” pine with the upper guides right on top of the stock. If I try to cut anything thicker, forget it. The blade ends up snaking its way through the board and stops! I’m thinking the blade itself is screwy. I hear the weld every time it goes by. Any thoughts?????

-- Tony, Ohio

Tony – Throw it away like I did mine and get a good 14”

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

Definitely the tension…. (maybe)

On preview, like grumpa said the tires could be messing it up for you by changing the tension of the blade as they spin due to uneven wear…

Can you see any vibration in the wheels when the saw is running?

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

Ok, tension is what I thought. But more or less? I’m not sure if I can get enough tension out of my blade on this saw.

-- Happy woodworking! http://www.blakeweber.us

More. Gotta stop that blade from stretching/bouncing around.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

Tony hearing the weld is normal, try a wider blade and up the tension.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

Blake,

Unfortunately, just because your bandsaw says Rockwell on it doesn’t mean it’s that old. My Delta/Rockwell bandsaw was made in August of 1981 and unfortunately that was not a very good decade for the Rockwell bandsaw. The quality was not nearly as high as bandsaws made in the 60’s and 70’s.

You might want to check out the Old Woodworking Machines. Create a login ID, start doing some reading on any of the forum entries for 14” bandsaws.

Here is a topic I made re: my 15” Rockwell drill press and my 14” Rockwell bandsaw and some of the things I had to go through and fix to remove the major vibrations from mine.

Ethan's Rockwell Bandsaw Forum Entry=

I also have a catalog from a company in the southeast (Georgia?) who specifically makes replacement and upgrade parts for bandsaws. I’ll try to dig that catalog up and get you the contact information. It took them a few weeks to get it to me, but it has a ton of information in it and you can order a replacement part for any part of your bandsaw.

I have yet to do it, but I plan on replacing my two pulleys next and then I’d like to set myself up with some new guide blocks. I found a half destroyed carver’s mallet on eBay a few months ago for real cheap. A big part of the mallet head had split off – I really just wanted it for the lignum vitae so I could cut it up and make guide blocks.

As soon as I started getting ready for that, I found out the guide blocks currently set up were round… great. So in addition to the new pulleys, I’ll probably order a new guide block setup, as well.

Anyway, hope that helps.

-- Ethan, http://thekiltedwoodworker.com