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Blade Tracking on the Laguna 14/12 Bandsaw

5K views 12 replies 6 participants last post by  Andybb 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Recently purchased has ed my first bandsaw and am trying to set it up. I have been watching and following the Laguna videos and everything went fine until I starting trying to track the blade upon initial jnstall.

The blade has popped off every time I have tried turning the wheel to check the tracking.

The blade is a 3/4" and I have been centering it on the top tire and have tried adjusting the tension, as well as the top adjuster knob that tilts the top tire in and out for tracking.

I'm thinking that there is an issue with the bottom tire, but how do I adjust it? The Laguna rep mentioned the bolts, so I am assuming the ones on the back of the machine that hold the tire on?

Anyone else ever have such an issue with initial settup? The tracking wasn't initially off by much, but ever since I adjusted the tracking knob I have had issues.
 
#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
Sometimes is just takes persistence. Start off with the blade installed centered on the wheels adjust the tension to about 3/4 of where it should be by the gauge. Rotate wheel very slowly by hand in the correct direction and watch the blade very closely. If it starts moving to the rear turn the adjustment knob counter clockwise as you slowly turn the wheel, if the bladed continues to drift to the rear stop turning the wheel and give the adjustment knob several counter clockwise turns and then turn the wheel a small amount to see if the blade now starts to drift to the outside (front). If the blade starts by moving outward then turn the adjustment knob clockwise. Counter clock wise should cause the blade to drift to the outside (front), clockwise should make the blade drift to the inside (rear). Once you get it tracking then crank up the tension and do the final tracking adjustment. Mess with the bottom wheel adjustment bolts as an absolute last resort.
 
#3 ·
Thanks whyme!

I rewatched the video a few times and it appears that the adjustor knob was turned way too far one direction. I had been trying to tweak it with that, but had never turned it nearly far enough to correct it. As you mentioned, I needed to go clockwise as the blade wasnt even wanting to stay on the tires despite many adjustments (just not nearly far enough in the same direction).

The 3/4" blade is now tracking very well on the top tire and by hand the thing works great. I had it spinning as fast as I could get it with my hand and it never moved from center on the top tire. On the bottom tire it seems to track forward a little, but not so much that it messes anything up….. just wondering why the bottom tire doesn't track dead center like the top one now is.
 
#6 · (Edited by Moderator)
Thanks for the replies guys. Laguna has a very good 14 short video series on the entire settup of this exact saw. It's just that when this adjustment didn't happen nearly as easily as it looked in the video, I started to be concerned that it was something else.



As for the 3/4" being a bit hefty for this saw…... it's the exact size the Laguna rep is installing in the videos, so hopefully it will work out.
 
#9 ·
I've got the same saw and set it up using the "Snodgrass" method and it's doing great. The wood whisperer had Alex Snodgrass on one episode and they showed the setup in depth.
I just installed a 3/4" Resaw King blade and have been resawing 8-10" Walnut like its butter. Out of curiosity I checked the width of several peices and I was within a couple thousands of an inch. I'll have to fine tune that ;)
Spend a few extra minutes checking the table, blade, guides and fence and you'll be happy with the results
 
#11 ·
This has convinced me that my next major purchase needs to be a bandsaw upgrade. My $50 Craigslist 14" HF has served me well for years and has never really kept me from doing what I need to do but it's time to turn it into a boat anchor.

Serious BS envy here especially after watching the Laguna videos.
 
#12 ·
This has convinced me that my next major purchase needs to be a bandsaw upgrade. My $50 Craigslist 14" HF has served me well for years and has never really kept me from doing what I need to do but it s time to turn it into a boat anchor.

Serious BS envy here especially after watching the Laguna videos.

- Andybb
The rep in the videos really does a great step by step video series on all the settup procedures. Not sure why I hit this one slight snag, but it worked out once I cleared my head and went back through the steps.
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
Don't want to start another "what should I buy" thread. What made you decide on the Laguna over the other choices? Never really considered them but it seems like a really nice solid machine. I like the way it handled that tall resaw with a 3/4" blade. Seemed effortless. The reviews I read said that the nuts for the bolts are welded to the body assuring an accurate assembly. Seems like a good buy for $1K. Might need to go play with one at Rockler.
 
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