Bandsaw Blade Tracking Adjustments Etc.

[JPG]

How are you determining where 'center' is?

I suggest a string pulled taut tangent to the front of both wheels.

That line of travel is where the blades ideally will travel. Then the guides will take care of warped blades.

[dusty]

Yes they do. And thanks for mentioning pulling back the cool blocks; a must do before making any adjustments. Resetting them was the last step in finishing this. Why would good unwarped blades track off center?

Is it the blade or is it the bearings that are not right? Does changing tension change tracking location? It should not unless tension is way too low.

[db5]

Tension does not change tracking location. Only the warped blade did not track in center of bearings. JPG's String Test is an excellent suggestion; however, it eliminates the NEED to buy a new blade; e.g., "Honey, I'm going to have to buy a new bandsaw blade so I can get my bandsaw set up correctly." Once you've explained this to her you can use it anytime you want a new blade. She probably won't think of a String Test. Mary Burger would but she probably would "turn a blind eye" which can't be done with a lathe.

[dusty]

Tension does not change tracking location. Only the warped blade did not track in center of bearings. JPG's String Test is an excellent suggestion; however, it eliminates the NEED to buy a new blade; e.g., "Honey, I'm going to have to buy a new bandsaw blade so I can get my bandsaw set up correctly." Once you've explained this to her you can use it anytime you want a new blade. She probably won't think of a String Test. Mary Burger would but she probably would "turn a blind eye" which can't be done with a lathe.

I'm waiting to hear how this string test works out (for this purpose). I have used the taunt string approach for determining the position for the bearings but not for this.

[BuckeyeDennis]

Tension does not change tracking location. Only the warped blade did not track in center of bearings. JPG's String Test is an excellent suggestion; however, it eliminates the NEED to buy a new blade; e.g., "Honey, I'm going to have to buy a new bandsaw blade so I can get my bandsaw set up correctly." Once you've explained this to her you can use it anytime you want a new blade. She probably won't think of a String Test. Mary Burger would but she probably would "turn a blind eye" which can't be done with a lathe.

I'm trying to follow. Did you use the warped blade to position the bearings, which then caused them to be mis-positioned for all the good blades?

Regarding the warped blade itself, I once bought one that was warped at the weld. It was pretty obvious when I turned on the bandsaw, as it would make a once-per-loop whump-whump-whump noise as it passed through the cool blocks. Not wanting to drive back to Woodcraft, or wait for an online order to arrive, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Literally. Using nothing but finger pressure, I bent the offending curves in the blade back toward "straight", going just a little bit at a time and sneaking up on it. When the blade was as straight as I could manage, I took a whetstone and dressed the grinding marks off of the weld. End of problem -- it ran and sounded just fine after that.

And you don't have to tell the Missus.

[JPG]

Tension does not change tracking location. Only the warped blade did not track in center of bearings. JPG's String Test is an excellent suggestion; however, it eliminates the NEED to buy a new blade; e.g., "Honey, I'm going to have to buy a new bandsaw blade so I can get my bandsaw set up correctly." Once you've explained this to her you can use it anytime you want a new blade. She probably won't think of a String Test. Mary Burger would but she probably would "turn a blind eye" which can't be done with a lathe.

I'm waiting to hear how this string test works out (for this purpose). I have used the taunt string approach for determining the position for the bearings but not for this.

Is not "this" the same? Using a funky blade to adjust the bearing position makes no sense. The guides should guide the blade to the correct location.

[dusty]

Tension does not change tracking location. Only the warped blade did not track in center of bearings. JPG's String Test is an excellent suggestion; however, it eliminates the NEED to buy a new blade; e.g., "Honey, I'm going to have to buy a new bandsaw blade so I can get my bandsaw set up correctly." Once you've explained this to her you can use it anytime you want a new blade. She probably won't think of a String Test. Mary Burger would but she probably would "turn a blind eye" which can't be done with a lathe.

I'm waiting to hear how this string test works out (for this purpose). I have used the taunt string approach for determining the position for the bearings but not for this.

Is not "this" the same? Using a funky blade to adjust the bearing position makes no sense. The guides should guide the blade to the correct location.

[dusty]

I don't know! That is why I am waiting. The blade positions itself on the wheels due to the cant. Where do you position the string?

[JPG]

I don't know! That is why I am waiting. The blade positions itself on the wheels due to the cant. Where do you position the string?

It makes no difference as long as the string is positioned on the 'cant' the same on both wheels. That is what the guide bearings do with the blade.

We be nitting again.

[dusty]

I don't know! That is why I am waiting. The blade positions itself on the wheels due to the cant. Where do you position the string?

It makes no difference as long as the string is positioned on the 'cant' the same on both wheels. That is what the guide bearings do with the blade.

We be nitting again.

No. I don't think so. I was seeking information. I don't always have all the answers.