Band saw blade drift is a tendency of the blade to veer to the left or right while making a cut using the rip fence. The point of the last paragraph is that if the band saw is not set up properly and/or does not have a good quality, sharp blade installed and tensioned correctly, the chances of accurately adjusting for drift are minimal at best. Since there is little that we can do about blade drift at the blade, we adjust the fence to match the drift angle to essentially cancel it out.
The amount of drift varies with every blade, but you can compensate for it by clamping your fence to match the drift angle. SINGLE-POINT FENCE. Another way to overcome blade drift is to use a single-point fence like the one shown in the left photo above and in the margin. SETTING THE FENCE TO COMPENSATE FOR BLADE DRIFT. FEED RATE & TECHNIQUES. With either style of fence, your saw will help you determine the feed rate for resawing.
Being a happy bandsaw owner has a lot to do with your approach to coping with the fact that a bandsaw simply will not cut straight, or, in the sage words of veteran woodworkers, “Adjusting for drift.” Even the top performing 14″ bandsaw on the market, Powermatic’s 14 Bandsaw 1791216K, comes with a no-frills fence with 4 bolts on top rather than easy and obvious thumbscrews or knobs that say, “Adjust me here!”. Making the bandsaw cut nice and straight with this fence is a snap.
Ok ,, do me a favor and look at where your blade runs on the bottom wheel if you have the blade in the center of the top wheel. Then i will know what to expect tomorrow when i try out your method. I had always been told you adjust the fence to the saw.
There’s no doubt about it – a bandsaw is one of the tools in your shop that might cause you the most frustration. Every shop needs one, so whether you’re an amateur struggling with blade drift or a professional who is constantly searching for ways to improve your workflow, having a well-functioning bandsaw is worth it. No matter what size your bandsaw is, we offer the always-reliable Timber Wolf bandsaw blades that make perfect replacements and cost-effective upgrades.
how to prevent bandsaw drift Related Question:
What causes band saw 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 band saw cut to the left?
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 wander?
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. This of course can cause poor cut quality and difficulty in setting the guides.
Why does my bandsaw blade keep twisting?
Bandsaw twisting is almost certainly a case of the blade lacking enough tension. Usually, operators will see this issue after changing blades. Bandsaw blades require quite a lot of tension to perform optimally. An inexperienced user might not realize they’ve under-tightened the new blade they’ve installed.
Why does my bandsaw spark?
Ceramics can cause sparks. Or, if your thrust bearing is too far past the blade, more toward the center of the bearing than the edge, then it won’t turn and you’ll get sparks too, and possibly wear a groove in the bearing.
Why are my bandsaw cuts wavy?
The clasic cause for wavy lumber is pushing a dull blade past it’s limits. Sharp don’t get it.
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.
Can a band saw cut curves?
Whether it’s a tight curve or a closed opening, you can cut it on your band saw with a couple of easy tricks. Cutting on the band saw can be the same thing. The narrower the blade, the tighter the spots you can cut; in fact, some band saw blades rival a scroll saw for cutting tight curves.