I have been fighting with my bandsaw for quite a while and could not get it to cut straight. Thanks so much for this video. I reduced the tension and it tracked perfectly. It reduced my tension too.
There was one point where I was so fed up with the crooked cuts of my bandsaw that I made the guides super tight against the blade! Thank you so much for sharing this very important and vital information
Dale, I was taught to chase a thread on a 14" South Bend when I was 13 years old. I am now in my mid 70's, been in the machinist trade all my life and now am a metal working hobbyist. No one has ever taught me how to adjust a bandsaw till now. Thanks for the tip, will try it the next time I turn on the old Walker Turner. Dick B.
THANK HEAVEN! Somebody knows WTH about bandsaw blade running crooked. I can’t thank you enough, sir. You have my deepest sympathy for being a craftsman and a good one. Bless you. WHAT A RELIEF!!!!! PHWEW!
Hey, that was good. I like how you take all the mistery out of the whole thing, it's a pertinent role to play for guys like me who are "like a hen looking at a knife" as we say in French, ie pretty clueless. By the way, I bought recently, here in France, a 1950s 14" wood/metal bandsaw (local licensee of Delta Rockwell I surmise). Wait until I've finished rebuilding our kitchen and i'll complete the bandsaw's overhaul. Also, thanks to guys like you, I'll probably acquire a 12" lathe mañana, a model probably from the 1920s. I have absolutely no need for it, but the craving has become unescapable. Anyway, cheers and keep on trucking !
You showed me that "apex" trick when you came to video my shop and it yielded immediate results. I did not realize the tension affected it too. I tension it initially by feel and with the teeth on the apex I get good tracking. So for me anyway, when it feels right to me it's about there. As always, nice tip.
Thanks for a timely lesson , just had a Walker-Turner wood and metal follow me home . I replaced the capacitor and installed new poly tires and cleaned it up....It replaces an old craftsman wood bandsaw. Didn't really have much idea about the set up and tension, but really missed the boat on the way it rides on the top wheel ....It came with a lot of old blades not sure of the shape they are in ...they feel sharp, Thanks again
Good Job, information not fluff! This is timely as I just replaced the tires on my band saw as one broke! Now I will relieve the tension until I use it again, Thanks
Great tip on the effects of tension. Also the importance of getting the teeth to the apex. (Which must be done with all guides retracted away from the blade; after blade is tracking where you want it on the wheel, bring the guides back to just touch the blade without moving it out of alignment.)
Nice! I would have said it was the guides but I really never though about it that much as I don't have a delta style band saw. Now you should do one on the horizontal cut off style band saw, there the guides are super important!
Would not have believed it if I hadn't seen it. On to the apex with my bandsaw. I still think the guides ad thrust bearing clearances are important, but clearly not as important as apex and tension. Thanks, Dale.
Couple of years ago I bought a 14" Jet wood band saw. The gentleman selling it said he could not get it to cut straight. I built a new stand for it and used a jack shaft and a second set of pulleys to slow it down to metal cutting speed. With it all set up fresh and the Teflon guides carefully aligned I tested it out and it was not running true. My solution was to fit the saw with Carter type full roller guides. It was an expensive fix, close to $200, which is more than I spent buying the basic saw. But that is not the important issue. Before I had a worthless saw. After I have a saw that I use all the time. Obviously Dale knows what he is doing and he successfully cut a straight line without guides. If he had tried to cut a radius the blade would have turned into the cut and it would have been hard, if not impossible to stay on the line. So, when you are turning your 14" band saw upgrade to Carter style all roller guides. You will be glad you did.
Wow, you scare me running that thing without the guard attached.. I was given a bandsaw a while ago, it sat in my shop without even being used because it was missing the guard.. until my recent video that is, I've now made a replacement panel.. Good videos my friend, keep em coming. Thanks
you brushed my concern off, i just got my band saw and noticed my table is not square with the machine. so if my table isn't square how can my cuts be and there doesn't seem to be any adjustment on it.
Also helps to start with a good quality blade. Harbor Freight blades, the tension changes daily. Just like my cut accuracy. I ended up throwing out the bandsaw. In retrospect, there was nothing wrong with the bandsaw. I was just too cheap to recognize the error of my ways.
Great Tip! I never knew that the teeth wanted to be on the apex of the wheel, but now allot of my band saw issues make so much more sense. Do you know what gear reduction you have on your saw to slow it down enough.
need to get it down to about 100 surface feet per minute, normally a wood cutting saw is set to closer from 2000CFM, if this is the case you need 20 times less... normally a reduction gearbox is employed to do the work, plus a couple of pulleys to have a couple of speeds available.
Sound advice but to add to it, often it will be found that once a blade has been used for circle cutting it will not cut straight again, probably due to uneven tooth wear. Also when fitting a new blade, give it an easy life to start with. It seems that you can damage the teeth of a new blade with heavy cuts while you may potentially have burrs from the grinding, much like you can damage teeth by not having a fine enough pitch blade for thin stock. Not seen the evidence but it sounds reasonable.
Sorry about the blinking light. I turn all the power off to my machines at night. When I turn the power back on in the morning the DRO wants special attention to remind me that it needs to be reset after the power goes out. LOL
I see, that means your DRO has no on-board memory to store your settings. No wonder the blinking. No worries, I was just afraid that your machine having problems.
About the sharpness/tracking of blades: I have seen too many blades (and thus tracking) screwed-up by someone sawing into a piece of metal rough-cut by an acetylene torch. The remaining slag on the torch-cut is much harder than the steel. Unless you grind this slag off first, it will almost certainly damage the blade and make it track poorly.
I have been having the same problem lately. My problem stems from the blade sliping on the lower wheel. Try making your blade tighter. Caution this could damage you machine. So only do this if you use your bandsaw everyday. it helps balance the stresses out.
i bet your going to get a ton of comments on this one. every one has an opinion on how to set up a band saw. even the manufacturers cant seem to agree on the proper setup. you cant go wrong with norm abrams advise ." read ,follow and understand the manufacturers instructions ". and then "tweek"
I have been fighting with my bandsaw for quite a while and could not get it to cut straight. Thanks so much for this video. I reduced the tension and it tracked perfectly. It reduced my tension too.
😄
There was one point where I was so fed up with the crooked cuts of my bandsaw that I made the guides super tight against the blade! Thank you so much for sharing this very important and vital information
Dale,
I was taught to chase a thread on a 14" South Bend when I was 13 years old. I am now in my mid 70's, been in the machinist trade all my life and now am a metal working hobbyist. No one has ever taught me how to adjust a bandsaw till now. Thanks for the tip, will try it the next time I turn on the old Walker Turner.
Dick B.
THANK HEAVEN! Somebody knows WTH about bandsaw blade running crooked. I can’t thank you enough, sir. You have my deepest sympathy for being a craftsman and a good one. Bless you. WHAT A RELIEF!!!!! PHWEW!
I really enjoy the small tips that others may overlook that you add while you discuss what you are doing. Great video
thanks
Hey, that was good. I like how you take all the mistery out of the whole thing, it's a pertinent role to play for guys like me who are "like a hen looking at a knife" as we say in French, ie pretty clueless.
By the way, I bought recently, here in France, a 1950s 14" wood/metal bandsaw (local licensee of Delta Rockwell I surmise). Wait until I've finished rebuilding our kitchen and i'll complete the bandsaw's overhaul.
Also, thanks to guys like you, I'll probably acquire a 12" lathe mañana, a model probably from the 1920s. I have absolutely no need for it, but the craving has become unescapable.
Anyway, cheers and keep on trucking !
You are traveling down a dangers path. Soon you will have a shop full of tools and projects like me. LOL
You showed me that "apex" trick when you came to video my shop and it yielded immediate results. I did not realize the tension affected it too. I tension it initially by feel and with the teeth on the apex I get good tracking. So for me anyway, when it feels right to me it's about there. As always, nice tip.
Hows it going? I Just subscribe to your channel. good information. :-)
Thanks for a timely lesson , just had a Walker-Turner wood and metal follow me home . I replaced the capacitor and installed new poly tires and cleaned it up....It replaces an old craftsman wood bandsaw. Didn't really have much idea about the set up and tension, but really missed the boat on the way it rides on the top wheel ....It came with a lot of old blades not sure of the shape they are in ...they feel sharp, Thanks again
Congratulations on the new saw. Try the old blades if they don't work toss them. :-)
Good Job, information not fluff! This is timely as I just replaced the tires on my band saw as one broke! Now I will relieve the tension until I use it again, Thanks
Im Glad you liked it.
Great tip on the effects of tension. Also the importance of getting the teeth to the apex. (Which must be done with all guides retracted away from the blade; after blade is tracking where you want it on the wheel, bring the guides back to just touch the blade without moving it out of alignment.)
Thank you so much! Really cleared things up!
Thanks Dale, very informative concerning bandsaw set up.
Thanks
Very nice and helpful. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos!
thanks
Good video Dale I am going too try this in morning.
glad I could help
Tention? More troll food!
Nice vid Dale. I'm on my way to the shop now for blade adjustment!
LAUGHT OUT LOUD
Hey Thanks for the great tips!
Nice! I would have said it was the guides but I really never though about it that much as I don't have a delta style band saw. Now you should do one on the horizontal cut off style band saw, there the guides are super important!
Thanks for your comment. Your right the guide are in portant on horizontal saw.I will put you request in my video QUE.
Would not have believed it if I hadn't seen it. On to the apex with my bandsaw. I still think the guides ad thrust bearing clearances are important, but clearly not as important as apex and tension. Thanks, Dale.
You need a sign in the shop that reads "Please feed the Trolls"! Am really enjoying your channel.
Thanks I get on printed
Couple of years ago I bought a 14" Jet wood band saw. The gentleman selling it said he could not get it to cut straight. I built a new stand for it and used a jack shaft and a second set of pulleys to slow it down to metal cutting speed. With it all set up fresh and the Teflon guides carefully aligned I tested it out and it was not running true. My solution was to fit the saw with Carter type full roller guides. It was an expensive fix, close to $200, which is more than I spent buying the basic saw. But that is not the important issue. Before I had a worthless saw. After I have a saw that I use all the time. Obviously Dale knows what he is doing and he successfully cut a straight line without guides. If he had tried to cut a radius the blade would have turned into the cut and it would have been hard, if not impossible to stay on the line. So, when you are turning your 14" band saw upgrade to Carter style all roller guides. You will be glad you did.
Thanks for your comment . :-)
Good information. A no frills informative video, two thumbs up. 👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks, And 3 thumbs up for you> :-)
Great video...best one yet. (also tension vs tention. )
Great job. Enjoyed it.
Thanks
Leading edge or teeth not entire blade on the apex! Brilliant. I think that is my issue here. Thanks for making this video.
Thanks< Im glad you liked it.
Thanks for the tip. Could you please make a video about setting up 4x6 horizontal metal cutting bandsaw ?
I would love to show you how to set up a 4x6 bands, But I don't have one. :-)
Wow, you scare me running that thing without the guard attached..
I was given a bandsaw a while ago, it sat in my shop without even being used because it was missing the guard.. until my recent video that is, I've now made a replacement panel..
Good videos my friend, keep em coming. Thanks
Very interesting. I will give that a try. Keep on keeping on.
Thanks, I will
I think he basically covered alot ,its just a basic band saw.
you brushed my concern off, i just got my band saw and noticed my table is not square with the machine. so if my table isn't square how can my cuts be and there doesn't seem to be any adjustment on it.
Ok question.. Hitachi cb75f resaw bandsaw runs a 3" wide blade on 3" wide wheels so how would you adjust it.
thanks for the effort and a nice video
Thanks
Loving the channel. New subber :-) Trying to start my own tool making business starting from scratch, nothing but the rags on my back :-)
Good luck. I have been there more then once in my life.
WHERE DID YOU GET THE FENCE FROM> GREAT VIDEO 👍👍👍👍🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Misspelled tension. Helpful video
Joe cool for sure.
Thanks
Also helps to start with a good quality blade. Harbor Freight blades, the tension changes daily. Just like my cut accuracy. I ended up throwing out the bandsaw. In retrospect, there was nothing wrong with the bandsaw. I was just too cheap to recognize the error of my ways.
Interesting comment. :-)
Better than a thumbs up....Thank you.
wow! thanks
I will try it and let you know 😊
Great Tip! I never knew that the teeth wanted to be on the apex of the wheel, but now allot of my band saw issues make so much more sense. Do you know what gear reduction you have on your saw to slow it down enough.
need to get it down to about 100 surface feet per minute, normally a wood cutting saw is set to closer from 2000CFM, if this is the case you need 20 times less... normally a reduction gearbox is employed to do the work, plus a couple of pulleys to have a couple of speeds available.
I dont think he was worried about his speeds ,this video was about alignment .
He covered that. Said it was set up for metal but wood made a better demo to show the alignment.
Sound advice but to add to it, often it will be found that once a blade has been used for circle cutting it will not cut straight again, probably due to uneven tooth wear.
Also when fitting a new blade, give it an easy life to start with. It seems that you can damage the teeth of a new blade with heavy cuts while you may potentially have burrs from the grinding, much like you can damage teeth by not having a fine enough pitch blade for thin stock. Not seen the evidence but it sounds reasonable.
Thanks for the comment
Chris ,what do you mean by circle cutting?
Mike Sanchez Perhaps If I had said "cut curves" or "discs" but circle cutting still sounds quite descriptive enough to me. Sorry for late reply.
I have been fighting my delta for years and the times it has cut straight were luck I think. The tension discussion is an epiphany for me. Thanks!
Im gad you liked it. :-)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) ?
My bandsaw sings now! I've always left the teeth unsupported cause that's what was taught but never again.
Great information !! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks
I get it!
+Wildman Tech great😀
Hey Dale, why is your DRO on your milling machine blinking in the background? Anyway. great video.
Sorry about the blinking light. I turn all the power off to my machines at night. When I turn the power back on in the morning the DRO wants special attention to remind me that it needs to be reset after the power goes out. LOL
I see, that means your DRO has no on-board memory to store your settings. No wonder the blinking. No worries, I was just afraid that your machine having problems.
❤❤❤❤❤❤
Does this information apply as well to woodworking band saws?
Stanley Thigpen yes, even better😀
Not all blades have a crown:) My INCA has flat tires, and should be set so that the teeth protrudes slightly off the front edge, as per the manual:)
What if your bandsaw blade is turning in and out when cutting and going in at angle and it’s tension isn’t working
Try aligning the gullet of your blade with the crown of centre of your wheel.
Dale, do both wheels need to have a crown?
Mike.
+Michael D Joven To my knowledge, yes
Thank-you!
Mike.
About the sharpness/tracking of blades:
I have seen too many blades (and thus tracking) screwed-up by someone sawing into a piece of metal rough-cut by an acetylene torch. The remaining slag on the torch-cut is much harder than the steel. Unless you grind this slag off first, it will almost certainly damage the blade and make it track poorly.
Good point.
why do manufactures put guides on bandsaws if they're not needed?
Dale used your bandsaw trick blade was too tight loosened and is much better THANKS.
glad I could help :-)
where's your safety glasses? haha
Tension*
menos charla y mas accion
But if you have any vibration then it's not the blade.
how about it keeps throwing off the wheels ,can,t keep it on. please help.
I have been having the same problem lately. My problem stems from the blade sliping on the lower wheel. Try making your blade tighter. Caution this could damage you machine. So only do this if you use your bandsaw everyday. it helps balance the stresses out.
thank you
Thought you renamed the channel.. but I see there are 2?
yes! I have renamed the channel to my catch phrase "build something cool" do you like it?
not biased towards either; enjoying videos any way. maybe the old one sounded a bit more professional. this one was your outro anyway.
it is a bandsaw not a plasma people need to learn to slow down and let the blade work
LOL
You are totally right dale, thanks again bud.
i bet your going to get a ton of comments on this one. every one has an opinion on how to set up a band saw. even the manufacturers cant seem to agree on the proper setup. you cant go wrong with norm abrams advise ." read ,follow and understand the manufacturers instructions ". and then "tweek"
Thanks for your comment
I didnt know there was that many different ways to set up a band saw?How many other ways are there .The only way i know is how dale did it.