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.
Remove the blade guards from the saw – it is easier if the blade guides are not interfering with the blade tracking. Adding more tilt to the blade requires loosening blade tension, adjusting tilt, and then re-tension of the blade. There is no use in proper blade tracking if the saw blade is bent, damaged, or in poor condition.
Note in the upper corner of the wheel you can see the blade on the right but on the left there is no blade because it has run off the wheel at that point any ideas what I can do thanks Mike. What you describe makes no sense unless 1) something is interfering with the blade and pushing it forward/backward somewhere, 2) the wheels are way out of spec and one is seriously out of whack, or 3) the blade is defective. Brad you are right it don’t make sense, when i try to get the blade in the blade guide to go back som I can move the blade back on the wheel i can’t get them to line up, I loosened the thrust bearing up and moved them back but it don’t make any difference.
I imagine a 1/2″ blade won’t track the same as a 1/4″ blade. You will have to back off the guides while you set the tracking and tension, then re-adjust the guides to the new blade. I mounted the blade exactly according to directions and it said nothing about tracking only tensioning the blade correctly.
A catalyst for this seems to be Jim Cummings article “Home Shop Bandsaw” in Fine Woodworking #63. From the hundreds of bandsaw owners I’ve talked with since the article appeared, it seems there are lingering questions on how to adjust a bandsaw blade, the blade choice and operation. “To find the correct tension, you can start with the tension scale on your saw, but you will probably need to fine tune the adjustment. With the saw unplugged, increase the tension on the blade until pushing on the side of the blade with your finger using a moderate amount of force deflects the blade about a 1/4” from its normal position. An interesting experiment is to set the side guys too far from the blade and notice how increased feed pressure and turning make the blade wander.
bandsaw blade not tracking properly Related Question:
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.
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 mill blade wander?
When you’re sawing a soft wood with hard knots, the engine will slow down each time you hit a knot. If the blade speed drops below about 5000 FPM, the blade will start to wander. The governor will kick in to get the engine back up to speed but by the time that happens you’re through the knot.
Why are my bandsaw cuts wavy?
Re: Band saw Cutting Wavy Cuts. The clasic cause for wavy lumber is pushing a dull blade past it’s limits. Sharp don’t get it. On these low powered mills, the blade gotta be razor sharp..
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 do bandsaw blades break?
Machine Defects Even the best blades can fail if there is something else wrong with your bandsaw, and even a small misalignment of bearings or guides can put a twist in the blade as it goes around. Resulting in tension being applied in all the wrong ways which will lead to early breakage.
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.
Is it worth it to sharpen bandsaw blades?
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.
Can bandsaw blades be sharpened?
If you’re looking to sharpen your band saw blade, you have two options: manually sharpen the blade yourself or use a mechanical sharpening machine.
Can Diablo blades be sharpened?
To ensure your Diablo cutting tool continues its high performance standards, please contact one of our approved “Authorized Sharpening Service Centers”.