Comments on: My Favorite Band Saw Blade

By: AeroClassics

AeroClassics — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 09:59:49 +0000

I think you will find that if you tension your blade as suggested by the Timberwolf folks, i.e. looser then you would on another blade you will get a better cut. On my 14″ Grizzly, I tighten until the blade tracks. Start the saw running and notice the flutter in the blade. Start tensioning until the flutter just stops. The I back off about 1/8 of a turn.

I like their blades very much and they always give me a good cut. Another good resaw blade is the Wood Slicer from Highland.

Doug

By: Adam

Adam — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:09:06 +0000

Suffolk Machinery has something to say about tensioning that makes sense to me.

“When you are done cutting for the day, take the tension off your blade. Band saw blades, when warmed up from cutting, always stretch; and upon cooling shrink by tens of thousandths of an inch each cooling period. Therefore, blades, when left on the saw over tension themselves and leave the memory of the two wheels in the steel of the band, which will cause cracking in the gullet. When you leave the band on your saw under tension, not only do you distort the crown and flatten out the tires (which makes them very hard), but you also place undue stress on your bearings and shafts. Believe it or not; you can, and will damage your wheel geometry sooner or later and considerably shorten bearing life. You are also crushing your tires or V-belts.”

Just some thoughts on detensioning.

By: Bradinsc

Bradinsc — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:07:22 +0000

I agree totally! I dont de-tension my blades anymore either, havent for years. I have found the same thing, I dont have to spend the time readjusting everything and it does not seem to affect the life of the blades or tires. Slow feed and sharp blades are the ticket for sure!

By: Bradinsc

Bradinsc — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:05:00 +0000

Thanks DD, I really appreciate it! I will steer clear of those for sure. I was somewhat doubtful that a low tension blade would NOT drift! I am going to try the number gumpbelly posted as well. I appreciate the info!

By: Gary Smyth

Gary Smyth — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:49:25 +0000

That’s SMYTH.

By: D.D.

D.D. — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:42:18 +0000

Have bought two Timber Wolf blades – both for Deltas, one
with the riser. . .didn’t invest the 100-200, but wish I
had had info from gumpbelly Either I don’t know what in
the world I’m doing, or they aren’t what they’re touted to be. Seem sharp enough, but after having rn tension just below what I think would be weld-breaking point, each still drifted (with accurately setup, shop-made re-
saw fence) in walnut and curly maple, to the point where
I didn’t want to try it in basswood! I wasn’t a happy
camper, and will call number from gumpbelly’s info!

By: tpmccann@gmail.com

tpmccann@gmail.com — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:09:41 +0000

I don’t de-tension my bandsaw anymore. I found that de-tensioning and re-tensioning led to constantly adjusting the tracking with consequent fiddling with the blade guides. Haven’t had a blade break on me since I adopted this regime. In the commercial shops that I know they never de-tension the bandsaw blades.

I found the secret of the bandsaw was a sharp blade and slow feed.

By: DanD

DanD — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:17:04 +0000

Joe,

One word: OWWM.ORG. Mecca for old industrial WW machine users. Lots of good stuff there on 36″ band saws and everything else, including all about tires.

-Dan

By: JV Sullivan

JV Sullivan — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:57:03 +0000

Chris (or anyone else):

Do you know anything about really big band saws? My father in law is breaking up his equipment hoard and giving me a 36″ saw. It has a couple of horse motor driving it. I hope to saw logs and resaw wide oak and walnut with it.

However, it has no tires. My FIL didn’t use them, and for what he did, it seemd to work. However, in resawing my precious wide boards, I don’t want to take chances.

So the question is: should this saw be fitted with tires of not?

Joe Sullivan

By: rickb

rickb — Sat, 12 May 2012 05:38:25 +0000

My bandsaw and a joiner are the only power tools I use too. I don’t really use the joiner much. I recently had a guy tell me it was “laughable” that I would try to use a bandsaw for jobs only a table saw could do, such as ripping. Wish I’d had this article to send him.