Carter Band Saw Guide Advice Please

mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:48 pm

I would like to set up my newly acquired band saw with a 1/8 inch blade but I do not like the current guide system on the small blade. Is there anyone out there using the attached carter guide. If so please give me some feed back. http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/fullpres. ... howsingle=

Thanks
Mark

curiousgeorge · Post by **curiousgeorge** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:52 pm

If you are looking to use the 1/8th inch blade you should use cool blocks. They work great and don't cost you an arm an a leg ...

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... blocks.htm

With the cool blocks you can set them right up against the blade.

ldh · Post by **ldh** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:57 pm

mbcabinetmaker wrote:I would like to set up my newly acquired band saw with a 1/8 inch blade but I do not like the current guide system on the small blade. Is there anyone out there using the attached carter guide. If so please give me some feed back. http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/fullpres. ... howsingle=

Thanks
Mark

Mark,
Use the Search Function and just search Carter and you will find a wealth of info on your bandsaw questions.

ldh

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 3:25 pm

mbcabinetmaker wrote:I would like to set up my newly acquired band saw with a 1/8 inch blade but I do not like the current guide system on the small blade. Is there anyone out there using the attached carter guide. If so please give me some feed back. http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/fullpres.exe?PARTNUM=958-399&search=Machinery%20Accessories%20-%20Band%20Saws&smode=&showsingle=

Thanks
Mark

Carter actually has two systems for the Shopsmith (though they only talk about one), and I have both. I first purchased the one you usually see advertised and it works great on small blades (<1/4") but is terrible on larger blades. I have used cool blocks and this guide is much better. I also use the ball bearing guide Carter sells for larger blades and resawing and it greatly improved the results. I no longer use cool blocks for anything.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 4:32 pm

paulmcohen wrote:Carter actually has two systems for the Shopsmith (though they only talk about one), and I have both. I first purchased the one you usually see advertised and it works great on small blades (<1/4") but is terrible on larger blades. I have used cool blocks and this guide is much better. I also use the ball bearing guide Carter sells for larger blades and resawing and it greatly improved the results. I no longer use cool blocks for anything.

Paul
I know this has all been posted before but for expedientacy would you post the part number for each setup and approx cost? Thanks

mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 6:41 pm

Paul

Is the one you have for smaller blades a single guide for the upper only? That is the way I read it from Carter. I plan to set it up for 1/8 inch only as I have 2 stand alone band saws. One is set up for re-sawing and I use Wood Slicer re-saw band saw Blades from Highland Woodworking. They work great.

Thanks
Mark

PS..... Thanks to all for helping

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 1:27 am

mbcabinetmaker wrote:Paul

Is the one you have for smaller blades a single guide for the upper only? That is the way I read it from Carter. I plan to set it up for 1/8 inch only as I have 2 stand alone band saws. One is set up for re-sawing and I use Wood Slicer re-saw band saw Blades from Highland Woodworking. They work great.

Thanks
Mark

PS..... Thanks to all for helping

Yes the small blade one is upper only (you can use cool blocks in the bottom). I don't remember the price but I think they were about $50 each, Wood-crafter sells this one and I think only Carter direct sells the other and it is not on their website (I found out about it by accident when I was having trouble installing the small blade one and the women thought I had the other (so I purchased it because that is actually what I needed for what I was doing).

I have also replaced all my bearing with new ones following the instructions posted elsewhere.

Next upgrade is a toothbrush to clean the wheel as soon as I can figure out the mechanics.

RobertTaylor · Post by **RobertTaylor** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 7:35 am

fwiw. carter sells a tire cleaning brush. it is available at woodcraft.

http://www.woodcraft.com/product.aspx?P ... ilyID=5321

mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 8:01 am

Thanks Paul that is the one I am looking at but is now $89.00 at Woodworkers Supply. I will shop around before ordering one. I have cool blocks on it now but still get a lot of blade wandering on tight scroll work.

Mark

ldh · Post by **ldh** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 10:47 am

Mark,
For what its worth take a look at the upper and lower double backup bearing modification I posted a few months back. A PDF of my drawings was posted for those interested in modifying, also the ceramic blade guides work very well and a fair amount has been posted on them. I have a Delta 14" with the Carter guides, but in all honesty my 11" Shopsmith will out-saw it. Unfortunately I am restricted to just 6" resaw.

ldh

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Carter Band Saw Guide Advice Please

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