Making bandsaw wheels Many people prefer to use self-aligning bearing flanges for the wheels like the one pictured here. If you go that route, you should glue and bolt the bearings to the wheels very firmly. The wheels are cut from some 20 mm thick MDF. I don’t like using MDF, but people often ask if MDF can be used for the wheels.
This time I’ll show off how I made the saw’s wheels and the pulleys. In the first photo we can see the wheels of the band saw in the SketchUp. Now I can finally place the wheels on the saw so that I can finally turn their edges.
He is saying to make your bandsaw wheels out of 18.75″ pulley’s with a 5/8″ belt stretched on to it. The wheel would be fairly narrow, but from what little I know of bandsaw blade tracking, the blade rides on the crown anyway so there is no need for a wider surface area. I’ve seen a couple that the drive belt wraps 2/3 the way around the pulley, and then goes over sheave on motor, eliminating the need for a second pulley on the drive end.
how to make wooden bandsaw wheels Related Question:
Why are bandsaw wheels crowned?
The reasoning behind the crown on the bandwheel is to help the saw track better on the wheel, and also to keep its position much more stable. A crowned wheel is not always necessary, many sawmills run flat wheels.
Can you crown urethane bandsaw tires?
It is possible to put a crown on a urethane tire. You just have to be careful, since there’s less room for error, due to the urethane tire being thin. The extra thickness of a rubber tire makes the crowning operation easier. I have a Walker-Turner 16″ bandsaw that I put urethane tires on and crowned.
Why are the wheels of the bandsaw fitted with rubber tires?
A primary advantage of rubber band saw tires is that they stretch in place for a perfect fit and offer versatility — they work with virtually any type of portable or stationary vertical band saws. Some rubber tires can even be cut to fit the width of a non-standard wheel.
How much does it cost to build your own sawmill?
The cost of a portable mill is about $1,500 for the base mill, plus an optional $500+ for a mechanical jack-hoist to get the logs up on the bed. A stationary mill, with all components but the engine bought new, would cost $5,000 or $6,000, and about half that used — and you still have to install it.