The bandsaw is useless – and dangerous – if the blade keeps slipping off. If your blade slips off after you exert additional pressure, yet the blade isn’t dull, then your blade may be falling off of the rubber tires. The last possible reason why your bandsaw blade keeps coming off is from wheel wobble.
You have to get the blade tracking in the middle of the tires with the blade guides backed off and not touching the blade, just keep turning the top wheel by hand and adjust the tilt until it tracks in the middle of the tire, then turn it on and make sure it stays there, then after your satisfied with the tracking of the blade set up your guides. If your blade is damaged there is a good chance you won’t get it to track properly, you would be better off to throw your old blade away and start with a new blade right from the start of the set up. P.S. you never said anything about the blade if it is the original ,I would suggest getting a new 1/2″ 3TPI blade and trying that first, thats the size of blade I run on my 14″ Delta for 95% of my bandsawing.
Blade Tension Is Too Loose The most common reason why the blade is slipping off is that there isn’t enough tension to keep it on. If the saw blade is sharp and the blade slips off the wheel even when you only use light pressure to push the work piece through the cutting area, check the rubber tires for damage or wear that could lead to the blade slipping off the wheel. If you run the blade on the metal wheel itself, it will eventually wear the set off your blade and wear the running surface of the wheel.
Bandsaw blades will break if you force timber into it, apply too much or too little tension, you use the wrong type of blade for the cut, the blade tooth pitch is incorrect, the blade is installed incorrectly, the thrust bearings are not adjusted, the blade is blunt, the blade has a faulty weld, you are cutting too tight a curve or you are not using the correct run in sequence. If you have gone through all of these items to see why your blade has broken and you are still not sure, it is possible you have a faulty blade or faulty weld on the blade. I hope this article was helpful in explaining the most common reasons why your bandsaw blade keeps breaking.
why does my bandsaw blade keep coming off Related Question:
How tight is a bandsaw blade supposed to 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.
What do you do if the blade comes off the band saw?
Tighten blade tension if you can easily push the blade in more than 1/4-inch. If blade tension is okay, a dull saw blade could be causing the problem. If the saw blade is dull, you have to push the work piece with more force to move it through the cutting area. The extra force could push the saw blade off the wheel.
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.
How is a band saw blade tracked?
Tracking describes the in-plane “front-to-back” motion of a bandsaw as it runs on the bandmill wheels. Bandsaw tracking stability returns the sawblade to its initial position after any in-plane side-to-side displacement caused by a cutting force.
How do I get my bandsaw to cut straight?
Band Saw: Why won’t my band saw cut straight? When the band saw cuts crooked, a dull blade, improper feeding, loose blade tension or not using a work piece guide could be the cause. Use the rip fence or miter gauge to guide the work piece uniformly through the cutting blade to make straight cuts.
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.
How many times can a bandsaw blade be sharpened?
It often makes sense to replace a dull blade with a new one, but you can sometimes get the best value out of merely sharpening an old blade instead of replacing it altogether. You should typically be able to get two to three sharpenings before you need to change your blade completely.
Are bandsaw blades worth sharpening?
Since a carbide-tipped bandsaw blade will cost well over $100, spending a third of the cost of the blade (or more) to get it sharp and working like new again can make financial sense. However the majority of bandsaw blades, the Wood Slicer included, are not worth spending money to have sharpened.
How often do bandsaw blades break?
Some can last under six months, and some can last years! Some of the most important variables to consider are what you are cutting, the condition of the machine and blade, how long you are using the blade, and even how you are feeding the wood through your saw as well.
What causes bandsaw 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 wander?
The crown of the bandsaw wheels is what keeps the blade in place. The blade will always try to climb to the highest point of the wheel, the top of the crown. If the wheels are worn and do not have a distinct top to the crown then the blade will not know where to go, and may wander around.
Why does my bandsaw blade burn the wood?
A majority of issues with wood burning is because of a dull saw blade. These blades may not be sharp enough to efficiently cut the wood, and thus create enough friction to heat and burn the wood. What is this? Dull blades make it more challenging to cut, which causes friction as you pass the wood through.
Why it is important to check the tracking on a band saw?
A blade needs to be properly tracked in order to ensure a smooth operation, secure operator safety, and to keep the bandsaw running optimally and smooth. It would be a waste of time and money to cut materials without first tracking the saw blade. Without it, crooked cuts result, equating to wasted materials.