Shopsmith Forums

Do most of you "detension" the blade after use? Any particular brand of "Silicone Spray"...I don't think I've seen just ''Silicone Spray''?

beeg wrote:Yep I always release the tension on the blade when I'm done with it for the day. Why ya wanting silicone spray? Should be able to find it in any hardware store.

On the other hand, I don't touch the tensioner unless I am changing blades or have it set wrong for the kind of wood I am cutting. I'll bet that he wants to spray something with silicone because he thinks it's a good lubricant. If he stains a piece of wood that he is going to finish natural, he won't want silicone anymore (at least not in his wood shop). I buy mine at Ace Hardware. I go to the neighborhood Ace before I shop anywhere else for anything that Ace might handle.

PS I use silicone spray very sparingly and with caution to spray only what I want lubricated I use it on the speed control (pork chop) and on the gears under the speed control dial cover. When spraying in the headstock, I protect the belts with a rag and I don't spray enough to have any drips or runs.

dusty wrote:On the other hand, I don't touch the tensioner unless I am changing blades or have it set wrong for the kind of wood I am cutting. I'll bet that he wants to spray something with silicone because he thinks it's a good lubricant. If he stains a piece of wood that he is going to finish natural, he won't want silicone anymore (at least not in his wood shop). I buy mine at Ace Hardware. I go to the neighborhood Ace before I shop anywhere else for anything that Ace might handle.

He's probably referencing my post (last post of page 2). Both "belt conditioner" and silicone were recommended to me in another thread as treatments for dry and cracked bandsaw tires. I've used the belt conditioner, but not the silicone. The instructions for using the silicone were to spray it on a rag and wipe that on the tires. Of course you want to remove the blade, disconnect the power, and turn the wheels by hand.

I was going to see if I could recondition the belt by using the Silicone spray suggested in the linked thread.
I keep looking at the Belt Tensioner and I realize this is a dumb question but how do you tell which fraction the belt is tightened to?? I see 1/4, 3/8 etc but I'm not seeing a mark or marker to align anything to?
So Dusty, you don't "untension" the blade after use?

I sprayed my blade with silcone ONCE, the blade immediatly came off the wheels. I will never do that again!

The 'red bar' is a spring. The calibration marks indicate the position of the edge of the bar when it has been 'bent' far enough to provide correct tension to the blade for the size blade indicated.

Being a spring, it likes to be 'relaxed'. Also when under tension, the upper bearing and arm are also under tension. The arm/bearing are not a spring, and do deform under extended lengths of being under tension. This deformation can be 'corrected' by pulling out the bottom of the upper wheel while pushing in at the top, but this flexing will eventually weaken the arm and require more frequent 'correction'.

Bottom line - It is best to relieve the tension when not being used for extended periods of time. This is not necessarily every day. The bandsaw gods will not rain on your parade if you do not do this religiously, but tis a good idea.

The tires like to relax also!;)

A Picture Rather Than Words

[ATTACH]8560[/ATTACH]
Tension is set for a 1/8" blade.

mark-b wrote:I sprayed my blade with silcone ONCE, the blade immediately came off the wheels. I will never do that again!

Good Idea!!! In my experience, silicone is a good lubricant to use on rubber bandsaw tires and on the adjusting screw shown in Dusty's photo above!

However Since your blade came off the wheels, let me suggest you check the tilt of the upper wheel! A straight edge placed across the upper wheel should leave a 1/8" to 1/4" space in front of the lower wheel.