These are newbie type questions I hope to get some help with. My
brother and I recently bought a Rigid Bandsaw. After assembly, it
seemed to vibrate rather badly so we worked on it some. We took small
amounts of medal from the wheels (with a drill) and now the wheels
rotate much much more evenly. Vibration has been reduced alot but
there is still a little. We don't know how much is too much but are
considering the following actions; replacing the belt with a better
one (suggestions are welcome) and maybe working on the motor mount.
It is rubber mounted and we are not sure there is much to be done with
it. We have the saw on wheels but retracted; would adding weight to
the stand help? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Also, we are planning on doing a little resawing with this bandsaw.
So far attempts have been frustrated by the wood being pulled away
from the fence resulting in a banana shape cut. What are we doing
wrong? The fence is a substantial aluminum square tube (2x4) clamped
with C-clamps to the table. We have been practicing using the stock
blade that came with the saw however we do have a 3/4 in blade bought
specifically for the purpose of resawing. Blade tension was set a
little higher than specs called for. Any help on this?
Thanks in advance.
Steve
We took small amounts of medal from the wheels (with a drill) and now the
wheels
> rotate much much more evenly.
Oh MY! The metal removal won't help your warranty. Oh well!
Are you dealing with vibration in terms of shaking or a buzzing sound. If
it is shaking it is likely to be wheels that might have be replacable under
warrant y(bondo?) If it is a buzzing, it is likely loose covers, part or
stability. In addition to wheel retraction on the base, are you sure the
saw is setting firmly on the base itself at all corners.
Resawing with a band saw is not like ripping on your table saw. Drift can
be caused by several things like blade tension adjustment, height of the
blade guide above stock, technique, the blade you are using and the fact
that resawing requires a little more attention. Wider blades are suitable
for resawing. The main thing I had to get used to is just concentrating on
the blade, vs cut-line and correcting. If your saw has a resaw-post on the
fence it helps with the corrections. If not your can easily clamp a
makeshift post on to the fence to help. I have even used the upper edge of
a large C-clamp itself when resawing smaller stock.
Don't get discouraged. All shop tools have personality and you are getting
acquainted with your band saw. Great machines with a little practice.
Ron
"Steven Laughmiller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> These are newbie type questions I hope to get some help with. My
> brother and I recently bought a Rigid Bandsaw. After assembly, it
> seemed to vibrate rather badly so we worked on it some. We took small
> amounts of medal from the wheels (with a drill) and now the wheels
> rotate much much more evenly. Vibration has been reduced alot but
> there is still a little. We don't know how much is too much but are
> considering the following actions; replacing the belt with a better
> one (suggestions are welcome) and maybe working on the motor mount.
> It is rubber mounted and we are not sure there is much to be done with
> it. We have the saw on wheels but retracted; would adding weight to
> the stand help? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>
> Also, we are planning on doing a little resawing with this bandsaw.
> So far attempts have been frustrated by the wood being pulled away
> from the fence resulting in a banana shape cut. What are we doing
> wrong? The fence is a substantial aluminum square tube (2x4) clamped
> with C-clamps to the table. We have been practicing using the stock
> blade that came with the saw however we do have a 3/4 in blade bought
> specifically for the purpose of resawing. Blade tension was set a
> little higher than specs called for. Any help on this?
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Steve
First of all, those WW'ers who say that a BS cuts wrong or that the
tension is wrong and that is why your blade wanders is wrong. They
don't even know what makes a BS work right.
Your first step is to get the vibration out of the unit. If it is a new
Ridgid BS, take it back and get a Delta. There are a number of other
brands that are better than a Ridgid BS and I'm sure other WW'ers will
agree. There is no reason that any BS should have vibration in the
wheels and it might mean getting a new set of wheels and bearings. The
Ridgid is not the unit for resawing.
Second, Contact TWC (The Woodworker's Choice) and get a BS stabilizer
for your BS. This unit costs about $65 and is mounted where your upper
cool blocks are. There is a grove in a wheel that rides along the rear
of the blade. After installation, the stabilizer is moved up against
the blade where the grove is and actually pushes the blade forward
another 1/8".
Third, ask them at TWC to send you a low tension blade such as the Olson
Pro. The low tension blade hardly needs any attention.
When I bought my BS,I was disappointed that the blade wandered all over.
It was at a wood show that I started asking about this. I purchased the
stabilizer and all the low tension blades for my BS. Then I carefully
installed the stabilizer. I just knocked the blade off of the wheels
when I installed the stabilizer and installed the stabilizer where the
upper cool blocks were. ( Can you believe I was looking for better cool
blocks or something that would replace the carbon ones in the new unit)
Well after I got the stabilizer on, I opened up the 1/4" Olsen low
tension blade and snapped it on over the wheels. You could see that the
wheels moved against a spring that was tightened with the tensioner so I
just moved the wheel by hand. A few times around and the blade centered
itself on the wheels. Then I adjusted the stabilizer like the
instructions state and I was ready to see how it works. My first
project was to cut a piece of 3/4" particle board in half, yes two 3/8"
thick pieces. I set my cheap $24 rip fence 3/8" from the blade and made
a rip cut through the core of the particle board. The blade DID NOT
WANDER A BIT. IIRC, I never adjusted the blade tension. And as I
remember. adjusting the blade tension doesn't do anything. The TWC
number is 1-800-892-4866
--
>Steven=A0Laughmiller wrote
>These are newbie type questions I hope to get some help with. My
>brother and I recently bought a Rigid Bandsaw. After
>assembly, it seemed to vibrate rather badly so we worked on it some.
>We took small amounts of medal from the wheels (with a drill)
>and now the wheels rotate much much more evenly. Vibration has
>been reduced alot but there is still a little. We don't know how much
is too much but are considering the
>following actions; replacing the belt with a better one
>(suggestions are welcome) and maybe working on the
>motor mount. It is rubber mounted and we are not sure there is
>much to be done with it. =A0 We have the saw on wheels but retracted;
>would adding weight to the stand help? Any suggestions would
>be appreciated.
>Also, we are planning on doing a little resawing with this
>bandsaw. So far attempts have been frustrated by the
>wood being pulled away from the fence resulting in a banana
>shape cut. What are we doing wrong? =A0 The fence is a substantial
>aluminum square tube (2x4) clamped with C-clamps to the table.
>We have been practicing using the stock blade that came with
>the saw however we do have a 3/4 in blade bought specifically
>for the purpose of resawing. Blade tension was set a little higher
>than specs called for. Any help on this?
>Thanks in advance.
>Steve
--
Woody
Check out my Web Page at:
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"Steven Laughmiller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> considering the following actions; replacing the belt with a better
> one (suggestions are welcome) and maybe working on the motor mount.
Link belts have a favorable reputation amongst the wreck followers.
> Also, we are planning on doing a little resawing with this bandsaw.
> So far attempts have been frustrated by the wood being pulled away
> from the fence resulting in a banana shape cut. What are we doing
Banana? As in drift away and then drift back?
Or a steady drift in one direction?
If the latter, do a Google Groups search in this newsgroup on "bandsaw
drift".
Nutshell: there are two schools (1) drift is natural and unavoidable and
this is how you correct for it and (B) drift is avoidable if you pick the
right blade/tension etc.
I bought a 3/4" blade from Suffolk Saw for my 14" bandsaw with the intent of
resawing.
I had much better success with Highland Hardware's 1/2" WoodSlicer blade.
On Wed, 01 Sep 2004 09:22:33 -0400, Steven Laughmiller
<[email protected]> vaguely proposed a theory
......and in reply I say!:
remove ns from my header address to reply via email
Is this a new saw? If so, as a newbie, before you butcher it any more
try making sure the wheels are actually rotating centrally etc.
If you are concerned contact the manufacturers or the vendor.
WRT the wood pulling. I am assumiong you can't cut a straight line by
using the fence. You may not have enough tension, or you are pushing
too hard on a blade that has "too many teeth" per inch and therefore
will cut slower. You may have your guides set up wrong. The blade may
have a "set".
If the saw or the blade have a "set" then you need to actually "get
used to it" and set the fence to match. draw a straight line on a nice
straight piece of 3x1 scrap maybe 2' long. By hand, cut along that
line. Do NOT try to make the wood straight. Make the cut straight.
Note the angle you have to feed the wood to get this. Stop the saw,
while leaving ghe wood _exactly_ where it is. Draw a lline alongside
the piece of wood. Set fence accordingly.
If it's not within a couple of edgrees, get another blade. The angle
will change if the blade is worn by abuse or use.
The Bandsaw Handbook by Mark Duginske.
>These are newbie type questions I hope to get some help with. My
>brother and I recently bought a Rigid Bandsaw. After assembly, it
>seemed to vibrate rather badly so we worked on it some. We took small
>amounts of medal from the wheels (with a drill) and now the wheels
>rotate much much more evenly. Vibration has been reduced alot but
>there is still a little. We don't know how much is too much but are
>considering the following actions; replacing the belt with a better
>one (suggestions are welcome) and maybe working on the motor mount.
>It is rubber mounted and we are not sure there is much to be done with
>it. We have the saw on wheels but retracted; would adding weight to
>the stand help? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>
>Also, we are planning on doing a little resawing with this bandsaw.
>So far attempts have been frustrated by the wood being pulled away
>from the fence resulting in a banana shape cut. What are we doing
>wrong? The fence is a substantial aluminum square tube (2x4) clamped
>with C-clamps to the table. We have been practicing using the stock
>blade that came with the saw however we do have a 3/4 in blade bought
>specifically for the purpose of resawing. Blade tension was set a
>little higher than specs called for. Any help on this?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>Steve
*****************************************************
I have decided that I should not be offended by
anybody's behaviour but my own......the theory's
good, anyway.
On Wed, 01 Sep 2004 09:22:33 -0400, Steven Laughmiller
<[email protected]> wrote:
>So far attempts have been frustrated by the wood being pulled away
>from the fence resulting in a banana shape cut.
Vertical banana ?
This is called barrelling, and is caused by running a thicker blade
than your saw can tension. I doubt very much if your saw's frame and
spring can cope with 3/4", and even 1/2" may be pushing it.
Try a _thinner_ blade. It'll deflect backwards instead. Looks weird,
but you get a flatter cut.
I suggest a copy of Duginske's "Bandsaw Handbook" too
--
Smert' spamionam
From his discription, I agree it's likely barreling. However, he didn't say
the BS size, nor either the thickness or type of wood, nor the blade type or
TPI. Now, the tension requirement is also dependent on the feed rate. IOW, if
I put any size blade on my BS and 4 or more inch thick material, I can cause
it to crown by feeding sufficiently faster than the blade can clear, and force
more deflection than can be overcome by the tension setting.
On the other hand, I've resawn up to 12" hardwood with good results using a
Suffolk blade which was adjusted to their recommended low tension.
I most agree with your last suggestion on the book. Sounds like they're just
plunging into this and "shotgunning" any problems. It's even possible this is
not barreling, but that something else is far out of adjustment. I also
wouldn't move to a thinner blade without some TPI considerations and, once
again, we don't know what they're cutting.
GerryG
On Wed, 01 Sep 2004 19:02:50 +0100, Andy Dingley <[email protected]>
wrote:
>On Wed, 01 Sep 2004 09:22:33 -0400, Steven Laughmiller
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>So far attempts have been frustrated by the wood being pulled away
>>from the fence resulting in a banana shape cut.
>
>Vertical banana ?
>
>This is called barrelling, and is caused by running a thicker blade
>than your saw can tension. I doubt very much if your saw's frame and
>spring can cope with 3/4", and even 1/2" may be pushing it.
>
>Try a _thinner_ blade. It'll deflect backwards instead. Looks weird,
>but you get a flatter cut.
>
>
>I suggest a copy of Duginske's "Bandsaw Handbook" too