Axminster AWBB Bandsaw - Big Problem!

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RayArdia

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Joined
18 May 2010
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Location
Atlantic Coast NW Spain
I have an AWBB which is now about three years old.
Yesterday whilst once again trying to fine-tune the saw to cut without wandering I fitted a new blade, and eventually had the tensioner up to the top (spring fully compressed),; there was a big bang and I have a broken upper wheel mounting assembly casting.
I have some photos of the broken parts and would really welcome any advice about where I go from here.
 
In your place the first thing I'd do would be to contact Axminster to see if they can help with spare parts.
 
ouch,

sounds like you were overtightening - one of the biggest problems I see when helping people set up their bandsaws is that they overtighten the blades thinking the tighter they are the better they will cut - Wrong!

Hope you can get it sorted - speak to Axminster their parts department are pretty good

Rog
 
Hi Ray,

If you could send me your email address I can forward you a parts diagram so we can get the bandsaw up and running again!

Richard.
 
Ray,

You sound frustrated, evidently with some reason.

I'd strongly recommend, once you get it fixed, that you try Tuff Saws' thin kerf blades and have a look at Steve Maskery's "Workshop Essentials" DVDs on Bandsaw tuning (prob. do Steve's DVDs first!). I did this, and it's made a huge difference to the results I get from my SIP 12" machine.

Incidentally, part of the rework I did on my SIP involved the tensioner system. As installed it was out of alignment and couldn't move freely - needed a thorough clean and filing-out of the mounting holes to bring it into proper alignment.

I find too that I need to keep the tensioner screw and block well lubricated (grease). It's not ideal as it collects sawdust, but I clean it regularly and it vastly improves the ease of adjustment.

Finally, at risk of granny-sucking-eggs, etc. You need to spin the wheels by hand all the time you're adjusting the tension, especially important the more tension you apply. Spinning the wheels by hand spreads the tension through all of the blade, rather than just the bits between the wheels.

I've been surprised how much the wheels effectively "clamp" the blade where it's touching them, and stop the tension being evenly distributed. Try this experiment (when your saw is back together): adjust the tension (a small bit!), without moving the wheels, then 'twang' the blade as you rotate them by hand, you'll hear the pitch change significantly as the new tension gets redistributed through the whole blade. It indicates that quite a few revs are necessary before the tension becomes even throughout.

I wouldn't contemplate adjusting the tension with the saw running, either. It's far more dangerous than moving the wheels by hand.

Hope this helps,

E.

PS: I Googled for your bandsaw, but couldn't find any pictures: how big is it, and are you able to post pics of the damage?

PPS: I'm very happy to declare that Steve's a personal friend, but my endorsement of his DVDs is based only on how much I learned from them! I've no connection at all with Ian (Tuff Saws), apart from being a delighted customer!
 
Thanks to everyone for their replies, especially to Richard Beer of Axminster Tools (incidentally, I emailed Customer Services Axminster ONLY this morning and had a reply from Richard, saying that he had also replied to myUKW post!); that's what I call customer service!
Nice to hear the phrase "when the saw is up and running again"_I had the direst forebodings of a huge piece of scrap in my workshop.
Mention of Steve Maskery leads me to say that I have his DVD's and rate them very highly indeed.
I'm no expert but it seems to me that the AWBB is at 'screaming poin' when tesioning a 3/8 or 1/2 in blade, both seem to require me to wind it up (turning blade by hand meantimes!) until the spring is just about fully compressed for 3/8 and tight against the stop for a 1/2 in blade .
Will take the point made re greasing the slides 'WHEN' I reassemble it. :)
Ray
 
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