Metal cutting bandsaw issue

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Howard,

I too had to make a proper spacer, rather than the section of thin tube that was the original, It could be that I have made this to an incorrect length which prevents me from tightening the blade tension adjuster to the correct extension for the bimetallic blades. Must check this when I next change a blade.

This could take some time as the blade never breaks, but slowly wears out!

Andrew.

P.S. I may well be talking rubbish here, as I cannot remember what function the piece of tin tube provided. I leave things well alone when the saw is working correctly. I shall take a look at the next blade change.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Andrew,

The tin tube is just a spacer between the upper and lower bearings. On mine, it failed, went through the bearing, and ruined the lower bearing and the oil seal.

Measured the gap between the bearings, and turned up a brass spacer. Since then no problems.

Recently changed the blade, the label said that it had been in use for at least 4 years before it started to show signs of cracking

Howard

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

The wheels on mine could be out of plane. I did spend some time trying to adjust the moveable one, but if the machine is worn badly then this process will only go so far.

 

The biggest difficulty in threading a new blade seems that the adjustable wheel cannot be wound inwards quite far enough to allow slipping the slack blade over both wheels. It may be possible to achieve this by fitting a longer adjustment screw.

 

Oh, I agree the guide rollers must be set correctly, but quite how is another matter. It appears a rather hit-and-miss process: the ball-bearings that form the guides either contact the blade or not, though obviously must not clamp it. One of the two vertical guide rollers works, the other does not and this appears incurable.

If the guides are supposed to hold the blade on the wheels’ common tangent, despite the abrupt twist between guide and wheel, they don’t.

 

One improvement I made was to deepen the countersinks in the table and guide used in vertical mode. Previously the screw heads projected slightly above the table, obstructing free feed of the material and risking gouging its surface.

The other big improment was to put the machine on a purpose-made trolley to replace the frankly dreadful pair of wheels and bent-rod handle.

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