Woodworking 13 - Bandsaw Setup/Tuneup

[K8Nicole]

This guys nuts. I like him,he's silly.

[chaddythewoodpecker]

hmm i have a small clarke entry level bandsaw and as you said the side blade guides are metal, but i see yours are blocks. can i use dowel rod mabey some oak or other hardwood. hope you can work out what i am tying to say thanks. :)

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@chaddythewoodpecker You can actually buy "cool blocks" from a woodworking supply. Should do the trick nicely.

[HarderThanCalculus]

Love your vids...very informative and helpful. I need to adjust the blade tension on my Rikon 14" 10-325. Can I borrow your wife to help me get the blade tension set properly?

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@HarderThanCalculus lol sure. but she is quite expensive. Services like that are hard to find. :)

[jaramima]

Good info, you are a good sport with great humor.

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@jaramima Thanks very much!

[andersonec1]

Hi, Is it enough to just have the fence at right angles to the cut/drift? surely the whole table must also be set otherwise the miter track will be out, any cuts using the Miter gauge would take the timber off the line of the drift.

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@andersonec1 It depends on how you use your saw. I can count on one hand the number of times i have used the miter slot on my bandsaw. So if you expect to use it a lot, you will definitely want to take that into consideration.

[gamingSlasher]

Incredible well performed and explained.

[oisincasey]

Marc, I do indeed use the T9.. I guess it's just the climate out here.. well anyway, I went with 400 grit wet sandpaper from Rockler and used Mineral spirits and it can out super clean. I have a good coat of T9 on overnight and plan on wiping off the excess and give it a good waxing in the morning.hopefully that does the trick. I was on your website again and was wondering do you have a list of upcoming guild projects.thinking of joining up as I have already learned a lot from you on youtube

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@oisincasey I don't have a list unfortunately. I like to keep my options open so I only know the next project in line, which is an adirondack chair done up in the Greene & Greene style. Should be pretty sweet! If you ever have the urge to joint, we'd be happy to have you!

[oisincasey]

Hey Marc, great video.. I used your technique for cleaning the surface and it worked great.. trouble is, I live in boston and my shop is not heated so as you can imagine rust builds up quick to point now that my table is pretty rusty and the usual elbow grease with a kitchen cleaning pad is not doing the trick.. I have seen other guys using 800 grit sand paper that seems to work but I am worried it might damage the surface... any ideas /tip would be greatlly appreicated

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@oisincasey Sorry to hear about that. And you use the T9 Boeshield stuff?? That's suppose to be bullet proof against rust. Well, to clean off the new rust, I would lubricate with some WD-400 and scrub it down with an abrasive pad. YOu can get them at the home center. It won't be as aggressive as sandpaper and you can scrub all the rust out.

[MrDanthefisherman1]

Hi, I have been interested in buying a small to mid sized band saw that would fit in my garage.  I have been looking at a delta 12 inch band saw, craftsman 12 inch or a ryobi 9 inch. Which would you recommend? I will probably get it used. Thanks Dan

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@MrDanthefisherman1 Without knowing more about each saw, I would probably go with the Delta.

[NancyToday]

What a great help you have been. Lots better than my instruction manual! When I am cutting a block of wood, it cuts incredibly slowly, like a mm per five seconds. As soon as I put any pressure on it, the blade touches the little brake behind it. is my wood too wet?

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@NancyToday I think you might just hav a very dull blade. If the wood were wet, it might actually cut faster. So I would try installing a new after-market blade.

[pat383ram]

Thanks so much! Great Vid

[OLDMANSBALLBAG]

hi there, please could any1 help me ! i have just purchased a 350w bandsaw, i am using it to cut 20mm hardwood, it seems to work fine in a straight line but when i try and cut a curve the blade stops moving, my blade is 1425mm x 6.35mm x 0.3mm, any advice would be much appreciated, john

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@OLDMANSBALLBAG hey john. have you gone through the full setup and calibration procedure recommended in this video? Also, make sure you have a nice sharp blade installed. Hopefully its just a dull blade and not something wrong with the saw.

[pianoman9876]

One thing i didn't see discussed here was alignment of the guide height adjuster. I have a tannewitz 20" that doesn't seem to raise and lower properly with the blade. I notice that the guide bearings will be adjusted well at one height, and then after adjusting the guide height one or the other bearings will rub the blade. This is also true with the thrust bearing. At one height there will be clearance and then after adjusting the height it will rub the blade.

[mondovila]

Entertaining and informative video. I have never used a band saw, only a scroll saw, and I have very little woodworking experience. This video has helped me feel less afraid of buying and setting up a band saw. I'm looking forward seeing more of your videos.

[desb63]

Thanks Marc,I moved the blade to a more central position,and sprayed some belt dressing under the tyre on the bandwheel this is used on alternator belts on cars to stop them slipping,so far so good,fingers crossed and thank you for your advice.

[desb63]

Hi Marc,I am having problems with my new startrite 502e bandsaw,the tyre on the upper bandwheel keeps slipping and jamming the machine,I think it may be my blade position as I set the teeth just forward of the bandwheel,this is what I was told to do,but I am thinking now it may be best to take the blade into the centre of the tyre. tension is set with the pointer inside the machine to match blade size,Any help would be appreciated thank you.

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@desb63 Well I would definitely try the blade in the center. The other thing you may want to try is putting some sort of adhesive between the wheel and the tire. Just enough to stop it from slipping.

[missionron]

Very helpful Mark, thank you.  I know your very busy. You have everybodys dream shop,im surprised to can peel yourself away from from it. Even with the wife! cheers!

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@missionron haha thanks. That is the old shop though. I am currently in a 3-car garage, which is still nothing to laugh at. But definitely much smaller than the old space.

[missionron]

did you sand down the tires on this bandsaw? and is your saw sitting directly on concrete? also, was it necessasary to adjust for drift,or was that just a demo to show your viewers? Thanks Mark,

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@missionron I didn't go as far as sanding the tires, but that's not a bad idea if you want to achieve the absolute BEST setup possible. The saw is indeed on the concrete. And the drift adjustment was necessary. Any time I switch out a blade, I adjust for the drift.

[32bala]

thanks for the answer this is my band saw(JWBS-14CS ) i can not pass the nickel test. but this might be silly but it will hold aPocket Hole Screws standing

thanks again marc

[32bala]

hi narc

great video , i got my first band saw ,and i have some vibration,how much vibration is acceptable in band saw.

big fan man thanks

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@32bala Vibration is a hard thing to quantify. The less vibration the cleaner the cut (usually). So the question then becomes how clean of a cut do you need. And that's a question you can answer. Heavy vibration usually indicates that something is out of alignment or possibly bent. But a small amount of vibration is normal.

[wilson2262]

Marc, thanks for a great job. I still have a question. After you talked at length about adjusting the fence to get the blade to track straight you mentioned that the fence needs to be straight to the table. Why doesn't that ruin all that you just did?

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@wilson2262 You might have misunderstood Wilson. The fence never really needs to be set to the table.  It only needs to be set to the angle of the blade.

[missionron]

How would i true the bandsaw tires? (i have the same saw as yours here) 24" its the only thing i havent tried, i want to get a grip on the vibration...i know there was tension on the tires for a long time. (i did buy new tires but cant get the darn things on! So ill try whatever you can spare the time to tell me Mark. Your podcasts are unmatched in detail and cherished by many woodworkers i suspect . Thank you!

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@missionron Thanks man. I have been pretty lucky with my bandsaw tires and I never really had to attach new ones. I don't envy the project. Perhaps it might slide on easier with a little soapy water?

As for truing the tire, the best method I saw for this was using a little adjustable jig on the inside of the case under the wheel. Sandpaper on an adjustable piece of wood.

[BCER83]

thanks for the info man....I'm gonna give my saw a tune up!

[stewartx5]

Sadly, your wife wasn't readily available for me to poke in the arm and knock off balance. Thus, without that handy pressure guide, my bandsaw blade tension is not likely correct.

Seriously, you mentioned trueing the rubber tires, which my dictionary defines as "make level." With most bandsaws, isn't there supposed to be a crown (hump) in the center of the tire to help the blade track properly?

[TheWoodWhisperer]

I could have explained that better. I didn't mean to take the crown out of the tire, but to make sure the wheel is concentric to the shaft. And FYI, poking any unsuspecting female in the arm will work for reference purposes.

[stewartx5]

TheWoodWhisperer > ".. poking any unsuspecting female in the arm will work .."

Great. I'll poke my neighbor tomorrow. Of course, if she fusses, I'll simply explain that you recommended the procedure. ;) Take care.

[mackachanak]

Excellent explanation of the process,well done.

[dallaslinn58]

Very helpful! thanks! I wish I could get you over for coffee to help me sopr thru some problems!

[mithrandir10001]

You might want to mention vacuuming the saw before rounding over the back of the blade. Sparks and sawdust aren't a good combination.

[sohnrog]

Great job! Keep the videos coming!

[moonshinesarocking]

great video!!!! just curious im trying to set up my bandsaw and when i try to cut a piece of wood the blade starts to turn to one side and ends up cutting off the wood at an angle please can some one tell me how to remdy this

[TheWoodWhisperer]

Have you set the fence for the drift. Bandsaw blades rarely cut perfectly straight, but they do cut at a consistent angle.  You need to set your fence to that exact angle in order to make cuts using the fence.

[masterlockproduction]

Rofl You cracked so many jokes

[torgy91766]

i have a skill band saw an OK starter saw. It has metal rods to keep the blade from any right or left play and a bearing behind the blade. They all have round stock. So do either of the 2 types of non metal come in round stock

thank you Chevy Chase

LOL

[TheWoodWhisperer]

Hey torgy! Unfortunately man, I don't think they come in round. But, you could always use a wooden dowel if you want to switch to something non-metal. Hard maple might work. Not sure how well it will perform though compared to the metal that's there now. Sure would be quieter though.

[jeria4]

wannanunanuna

[bossasuz]

Great vid, Marc.  I think the REAL trick to folding the blade is the "Wa-na-na-na-na-na" sound effect !! (:^D) I especially liked the cast iron table top prep info...good stuff.

[RugerSniper22]

I always look forward to your videos and think I have seen most of them that are on here. I really really needed this one!!!  Thanks for all of the ideas and help you have given me with these.

[JereHakala]

I never liked woodworking at school :E But I enjoy these videos, it's nice to see what other people can do hmm..

[VeryTucker]

LOL "not that finger you silly guys" Good show due to that fact that I forgot how to fold a band saw blade.

[psychodelicdragon]

great advice, got to use these on my new bandsaw!!

[bealone88]

Mineral spirit

Um...same as white spirit right?

BTW epic poke

[TheWoodWhisperer]

Yup, same stuff.