Bandsaw Alignment recommendations

[db5]

Pictures should explain better than words. 1) unaligned, 2) aligned by adjusting that larger Allen screw under the left (facing the headstock) way tube. Question about 3). Headstock moves smoothly; should I "micro-adjust" setscrews beneath the way tubes or just set it back? Yeah, I know I'm one of those. I reset the clocks to the minute. Close counts in horseshoes, hand grenades & government work (well that was last century) but not clocks or Shopsmith.

About the pink thingie. I made a ramp to use when on my back doing plumbing work under cabinets. They are all the same height. I've found all sorts of use for it.

[JPG]

Personally I do NOT recommend adjusting that big set screw for anything other than eliminating way tube twist.

I suggest you move the tail stock etc. to the other end and installing the spur drive in the upper rear shaft and checking the pin to pin alignment there.

Adjust the big setscrew so they align horizontally and THEN resume band saw shaft alignment.


Well I created this post then reviewed the pix and behold thee did exactly as I said.

WELL DONE !!!

P.S. the tail stock off set dial will screw this up if not set correctly.

Adding the way tube setscrews to this after setting biggie and clamping it down(if accessible) would be a good thing so the 'twist' is not stressed.

[db5]

Yep, removed the slight twist with that Allen biggie as thee said. So now I WILL adjust those two set screws. Clamping it down first was what I needed to know but didn't know to ask.

[db5]

"Adding the way tube setscrews to this after setting biggie and clamping it down(if accessible) would be a good thing so the 'twist' is not stressed."

Maybe I don't understand this. IF this is done with the tubes raised, as in pic 3, which is easier to do, wouldn't all the 'twist' be removed because they would both be relaxed? Doing this with them clamped simply means they 'untwist" if there is any. How is the result different?

[JPG]

The purpose of the biggie is to remove any twist as the clamp is tightened. Loosening/tightening the small setscrews MAY introduce twist that the clamping removes. I do not think the set screws are accessible when clamped.

As long as the biggie makes things right, I do not think a small amount of twist when unclamped matters.

The effect of twist is the headstock/carriage will rotate as they move from end to end. That rotation is shown in your first pix. If there is twist, all hope of getting an aux table to align at both ends disappears.

BTW if the tailstock is not square to the waytubes(end casting skew) all already stated becomes moot. Another way of correcting the alignment in your first pix is to skew the end casting on the bench tubes.

Twist/square/. . . It ALL matters.


The Offset spt mounting tubes accommodate a bunch of funky things.

[dusty]

Bandsaw Alignment

Is this discussion really about bandsaw alignment. Absolutely nothing on the bandsaw was mentioned.

[edma194]

If you don't have eccentric tubes for your bandsaw I recommend getting them.

[JPG]

Bandsaw Alignment

Is this discussion really about bandsaw alignment. Absolutely nothing on the bandsaw was mentioned.

Actually the discussion advanced to any spt alignment.

[dusty]

I find the need to perform "spindle alignment" arises much less frequently ever since a got the double tilt.

I wish I now had the opportunity to check all my spt that first time after doing the double tilt. I believe getting rid of the tilt lock made a big difference is alignments.

[DLB]

I find the need to perform "spindle alignment" arises much less frequently ever since a got the double tilt.

I wish I now had the opportunity to check all my spt that first time after doing the double tilt. I believe getting rid of the tilt lock made a big difference is alignments.

I find the same thing with Double Tilt. I also find that offset mounting tubes are no longer needed as there is no horizontal error to correct for with the Double Tilt. (Upper SPT drive only, of course. One must still match for the eccentric.) I like this aspect, the old-school straight mounting tubes for SPTs are much better fits to the bores involved.

- David