Bandsaw questions

[Ives]

Just got my new used Ebay bandsaw today! I had a very quick try on it with the rusty blade, about a 2 inch cut on a piece of oak about 1 and a bit inches thick. It cut in a curve. So I felt the blade to see how the tension felt and it could turn a bit to the left and right if I tried. Is the tension wrong? I only know scroll saws, so this is all new to me. I just ordered some blades from Tuffsaws, so will get them next week I guess, just trying to learn about bandsaws now!

 

[beech1948]

generally with a bandsaw the higher the tension the better. Bear in mind that most hobby bandsaws struggle to get the blade up to the required tension so cranking it up to the higher ranges is usually better.

The rusty blade won't help as it will struggle to track and is probably blunt as well.

If you search you tube you will find many videos on setting and using a bandsaw. OR you could go to Steve Maskery web site and buy his CD about setting up bandsaws.

Al

 

[davem62]

+1 for steve's dvd

 

[humblewood]

+1 (+2?) for Steve's DVD. Tuffsaws is the right choice too. =D> =D>

Bob

 

[marcros]

Ives, what bandsaw did you get in the end?

 

[Ives]

I got a Black and Decker variable speed. I can't find videos on bandsaws like mine. It has 3 wheels inside. What can I type in to get ones like this? All the videos are huge tall ones.

 

[Steve Maskery]

The principles are exactly the same for 3-wheelers as for two-wheelers, there is no difference at all in the procedure for setting up. Alignment, blade choice, tracking, speed, guides, fence - it's all the same whether you have a little hobby bandsaw or an industrial resaw.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Ives]

Thanks!