On a typical wood or metal cutting blade the hook or of point of the blade should be pointing down for a vertical blade bandsaw, or for a horizontal blade saw the hook of the teeth should be pointed such that they enter the workpiece first as the blade moves. During regular cutting on a well set up bandsaw the blade will move or bow backwards a bit as you press the workpiece into it. The side guides will assist in keeping the blade cutting straight, but they are not an iron lock on the blade forcing it to cut straight.
Tim Inman: Because band saw blades ride on crowned wheels, they always have a little “Camber” angle relative to the vertical axis of the wheel. Using a rip fence on a band saw, like a rip fence you might find on a table saw, will nearly always cause grief – especially when you try cutting long boards. Chris Marshall: A point fence works wonders! My band saw’s rip fence can also be adjusted for front-to-back blade drift, and I’ve actually had good luck using it for resawing once I adjust for the saw’s drift that day.
“Cutting tenons on a bandsaw seems like a fairly simple operation. Several woodworking articles have suggested the 1/4 x 6T blade for cutting tenons. Not sure why I can’t get these 1/4″ blades to cut straight. Since you only have this problem on the SS with a 1/4” blade I suspect the blade. “The first thing I did was replace the backup bearings. Next I aligned the fence to the miter slot. Once I had that squared away I then aligned the table to the bandsaw blade. To do that I used a new 3/8” blade and the Carter FAST jig to help better see the orientation of the blade.
Bandsaw blade manufacturers recommend a tension of between 15,000 PSI and 20,000 PSI for a typical carbon-steel blade. The cutting teeth on a bandsaw blade should always point towards the direction of blade rotation. Once you are satisfied that the blade is stable on the band saw wheels at full speed, very slowly reduce the tension on the blade while watching the blade between the wheels.
If you have the question, why does my bandsaw blade wander so often in mind, keep reading, as we discuss the reasons and possible cures for this problem. When the bandsaw blade is keen and sharp, pushing the material against the blade and getting a cut does not require much force from the user. A keen blade with a fast blade velocity, as well as a personal fence, will help a great deal when your bandsaw blade wanders when resawing and cutting.
I find it impossible to make a straight, linear cut with my bandsaw. I have to veer the wood off at an increasing angle to cut along a marked straight line. I’ve gotten good at this compensating, but it seems that it must not be adjusted correctly if I have to do that.
why does bandsaw blade wander Related Question:
What causes bandsaw blade drift?
Drift is cause because the blade buckles under the load. You can see that by stretching a ribbon between 2 points and applying a pressure to one of the edges, it will turn sideway easily. A sharp blade and high blade speed will help a lot with that.
Why does my bandsaw blade cut crooked?
Using too much force when feeding the work piece through the cutting area can cause the band saw blade to twist and cut the piece crookedly. Use light pressure when feeding the work piece through the cutting area to achieve a straight cut. A dull blade will twist when cutting the work piece and cut the piece crookedly.
How tight should my bandsaw blade be?
The blade should deflect no more than 1/4 in. A good place to begin is to tension the blade until the meter reads proper tension for the next wider blade. For example, if you’re tensioning a 3/8-in.
Why does my bandsaw blade wobble?
The blade on a saw left idle for long periods of time can leave an impression in the rubber tire which might cause erratic tracking. Purchase and install aftermarket replacement tires. (Search for “bandsaw tire” at woodcraft.com.) If you still see a back-and-forth motion, the culprit is probably the wheel itself.
Why does my metal bandsaw not cut straight?
Blade is Running in the Wrong Direction Make sure the blade is running in the correct direction. On machines powered by three phases power so it is common to get the wiring reversed and have the blade running the wrong direction. On all vertical blade bandsaws the working portion of the blade should go down.
Which way should the teeth face on a bandsaw?
Installing A Bandsaw Blade Make sure the teeth point downward.
How long should a bandsaw blade last?
On average your bandsaw blade should last 6 months to as long as a few years depending on what your cutting with it. Make sure to match your blade strength and quality to the project and material your cutting.
Why does my bandsaw bounce?
A lack of straightness in either the blade or weld could be causing the blade to bounce. Next, it is important to check the blade tension and make sure that it is high enough to keep blade bounce to a minimum. That way, your blade won?t take as much damage.
Where should a bandsaw blade sit on the wheel?
Make sure the machine is disconnected from the power supply. When tracking, you always want to make sure that the blade is sat on the crown of the wheel, with the deepest part of the gullet in the centre.