Roger Tulk
Member
- Messages
- 3,018
- Location
- St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
I am using a 1/8" blade on it at present. It works well, but I've had it pop off the wheels a couple of times, specifically, the lower wheel, usually when I am trying to back up the workpiece to try again at a cut where I've missed outside the line.
Per Mr. Snodgrass's famous video, I haven't worried about the wheels not being co-planar, and run the front edge of the band in the centre of the upper wheel. This results in a nice straight cut, but the band tends to run very close to the front of the lower wheel.
Also, the 1/8" blade does not properly engage the lower guide bearing. It sits just in front of the gap between the blocks, and enters the gap slightly when I am pushing wood through the blade. I have moved the bearing forward as far as it will go, and am considering enlarging the slot the guide moves in, but is there a better idea? The upper bearing is fine.
I had a look at the lower wheel a while back, and decided that if anyone was going to take it off to shim it, it wasn't going to be me. Without detailed, illustrated step-by-step instructions, I'm not going to try anything with that. In a pinch, I could get a mechanic to help me at a reasonable cost.
I have been successful in using the saw. I have made 6 band saw deer and four bandsaw boxes in 8/4 cherry lately, and the saw performed well. I have also used it in every project I have accomplished since I got it. The lower guide is OK with a 3/8" blade in it, and would probably be good with a ¼" blade, but I haven't tested that theory.
Am I overthinking this? Should I just soldier on and not worry, or should I do something about either the lower guide or the lower wheel?
Many thanks!
Per Mr. Snodgrass's famous video, I haven't worried about the wheels not being co-planar, and run the front edge of the band in the centre of the upper wheel. This results in a nice straight cut, but the band tends to run very close to the front of the lower wheel.
Also, the 1/8" blade does not properly engage the lower guide bearing. It sits just in front of the gap between the blocks, and enters the gap slightly when I am pushing wood through the blade. I have moved the bearing forward as far as it will go, and am considering enlarging the slot the guide moves in, but is there a better idea? The upper bearing is fine.
I had a look at the lower wheel a while back, and decided that if anyone was going to take it off to shim it, it wasn't going to be me. Without detailed, illustrated step-by-step instructions, I'm not going to try anything with that. In a pinch, I could get a mechanic to help me at a reasonable cost.
I have been successful in using the saw. I have made 6 band saw deer and four bandsaw boxes in 8/4 cherry lately, and the saw performed well. I have also used it in every project I have accomplished since I got it. The lower guide is OK with a 3/8" blade in it, and would probably be good with a ¼" blade, but I haven't tested that theory.
Am I overthinking this? Should I just soldier on and not worry, or should I do something about either the lower guide or the lower wheel?
Many thanks!
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