A blade guide for resawing without a riser block

[kenny474]

Nice idea! Seems to work quite well with little to no real investment.

As for the blade tension, you can buy a stronger spring and get more tension, and aftermarket options are available for the more popular saws as well. (not an issue, as you have a better saw now)

I have a Grizzly G0555P with a 6" riser, and I have plenty of room left to apply more than enough tension, even with a 3/4" 3tpi skip tooth blade. Also, the saw is very well designed, and even with the riser, it's super rigid.

[Bear5177]

@kenny474 I've been thinking about purchasing that particular model of bandsaw for my little shop. Did you purchase the riser block from Grizzly or did you go with another resource? Do you know of any resources where this would be available besides Grizzly?

[kenny474]

@Bear5177 I got my saw and riser from Grizzly both at the same time. They are the only supplier I know of for a riser for this saw, and since it comes with a longer blade guide rod, blade guide and all the pieces necessary to make it work, it's really your best bet. It also has locator pins to keep everything lined up properly. If you used a different riser, they may not line up properly.

I think I only paid around $60 for the complete riser kit, which is a good deal in my book.

[futureboy00]

I think I might star making things from wood because of your videos :D

thanks

[VladTepesh00]

Hi! As always, a new video of yours is a treat for me on a tuesday morning. I was wondering, though, about bandsaw blade tracking. Your cast iron saw and indeed your two wooden ones seem to track perfectly. My saw (a Metabo 3 wheel saw) doesn't do that, despite my efforts in setting it up. The blade seems to turn about the vertical axis and never stays still, so my cuts are never straight. Could you be so kind as to explain what works for you?

Regards from Slovenia,

Vladimir

[Matthiaswandel]

Could be insufficient tension. With blade guides far apart, and low tension, the blade can sort of "buckle". This is not unlike the blade in a hacksaw blade buckling when you start the cut in metal. But tightening up the tension cuts down on this.

Also a function of how much "crown" your wheels have. You could try taking the tire off, and adding a few layers of narrow tape underneath to get more crown on the wheels. Never tried this myself though.

[Av3rnus]

"this doesn't really cut it anymore" LOL :D

[inouveaution]

Get the right tool for the right job, can't agree enough with that. As always thanks for the video.

[Patriot1776]

I'm now just waiting for you to put up the news you've gotten rid of your 14" bandsaw. You don't like it now, and consider it junk.

I gather though you're going to keep it around because there are hobby woodworkers who also have one and haven't yet built their own better one or don't have the experience yet to.

[T4nm4y]

@Karmakameleeon mee too :P

[ploetzlich30]

the ending line "if you need to do a lot of resawing, you get a better a better bandsaw, or you build one!" a in combination with your eyebrow-movement at the very end, was AWESOME! thums up.

[WolfClant]

or you can just lay down the piece of wood.

[igbhd]

i think you mess with machinery way too much

[soapy05]

3:36 thats pun-tastic :D

[Chinkygamer]

You sir put the man in mancave

[JaredChacon]

"This [saw] just doesn't really cut it anymore" :P

[drstampfli]

With enough blade tension, blade guides can be eliminated entirely. Many of the old-time cast iron monsters can cut fine with no guides top or bottom. The Carter stabilizer guide system uses NO bottom guide at all. Their system only works well with small - scroll cutting - blades.

In theory, a wide blade would track just fine without guides, but as you explained - there is no way to get enough tension on the blade. The frame on a 14 inch saw would break before gaining proper tension.

[TirianB]

@drstampfli Wouldn't you get an imprecise cut without a blade guide? I would imagine that the blade woud flex too much from side to side (giving a curved cut) even if it can handle the back to front preassure.

[drstampfli]

@TirianB With proper tension, the cuts are precise with very little side to side movement of the blade. Undertensioned blades wil move in all directions. The Carter guide I mentioned has no side bearings on top or bottom - only a back bearing on the top. That guide requires a slight forward tension on the blade, but I think that's only to prevent the blade from pushing off the top wheel during the cutting. (because (and again) the saw's frame is not sturdy enough to hold a higher tension)

[MrZbank]

your a genius

[Sodabowski]

A bendy saw sounds like a nice recipe for disaster :)

I used another method on my 4-incher: cut into the metal to raise the guide into the frame, and hack a wide blade for a longer saw to fit into it. No need for a bunch of tension and it cuts like crazy. Nevertheless your own bandsaw is what I consider as the utmost in terms of quality, serviceability, price, and coolness :)

[thethethetheluis]

Why can't YOU be my schools woodshop teacher lol.

[MrLeonard55]

Good Job.

[Wolfcritic64]

How does a riser block affect how much tension you can put on the blade?

[Matthiaswandel]

It doesn't, but it makes the frame longer, which makes it more bendy.

[RDJim]

You need to speak to the Discovery Channel people about getting your own show.

[nhmllr725]

@RDJim It would be better than "Ax Men"

[xxbondsxx]

Dang your own saw is so much better! Go patent that bad boy

[KrisKross010]

3:38 <--- No pun intended I'm assuming :p

[pberglin]

Matthias, how have your plans been selling?

[watzupdawg]

At which point in time does it become obvious that you bought the wrong machine.

[Karmakameleeon]

i am not even remotely involved in wood working but for some reason, i am always intrigued by your videos. :)

[poptheman1]

@Karmakameleeon

SAME lol.

[neettim]

@Karmakameleeon me too ahha

[Meehuuu]

Exactly the same here. Well, I do some woodwork at school but that's that. This guy knows how to make videos interesting xD

[Pengin002]

You always make me want to build something big... like a house

[danxl5]

The tips just never stop!

And I hope they dont!

[Shuhnyxia]

@danxl5 dont stop till you get enough

and when talking about tips. it can go a long way ^^

btw wandel, always enjoy your vids ;)

[D00mPuppeh]

I always get so excited when I see a video from you in my subscriptions :D

[tombatom]

@D00mPuppeh It' the same with me