[TheForge] Band saw

[Andrew Vida]

Washington, Aubrey O. wrote:
> I wish I knew how to "fool" with mine.  I have a problem with the blade jumping off the wheels with little or no provocation.  I'm not very sophisticated about such machinery, so I don't know where to start in figuring out what the problem is.
> 
	You should examine the wheels to verify that they have enough crown. 
If they are flat you will have fits trying to keep the blade tracking. 
The main function of the guide is to keep the blade in position when 
cutting, but a secondary function is to aid in maintaining the blade on 
the the wheels as well.  Crown is absolutely essential on at least one 
wheel, the one that adjusts the tracking.  Crown should be subtle, but 
definitely noticeable with the naked eye.  I would try to examine a well 
functioning saw and note the crown.  If yours is flatter, I would not 
hesitate to re-profile it.

The guide is the other really important aspect of a bandsaw.  If the 
guides that came with it suck, then invest in a set of Cool Blocks. 
They are well worth the few dollars.

Also, the bearings on which the wheels rotate are critical.  They must 
be tight so that the blade will track - if they are wobbly you will have 
unpredictable tracking and tracking adjustment.  Speaking of tracking 
adjustment, a good one will be very linear and predictable.  If you 
don't have one like that, it isn't the end of the world so long as once 
you lock things down the adjustment doesn't change or does so in a 
predictable fashion.  These are the few quick things one can do to tune 
up a band saw.  I've worked almost exclusively with very expensive saws, 
so I have not had to mess too much with bad designs and poor-ish 
quality, but adjustments must be made even to the finest equipment and 
failures occur there as well, so you will have to get to know your tool 
almost no matter what sort you buy.