Band Saw

desperado · Post by **desperado** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 8:51 am

Just got a bandsaw attached to a power station. Paid $200 for the whole thing. It runs great except for the following.
There is an intermittent noise, like a squeal, that seems to come from
somewhere around the bottom wheel.
I can't seem to find the source.
Has anyone else experienced this problem?

Thanks...

twoblocked · Post by **twoblocked** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:40 am

desperado wrote:Just got a bandsaw attached to a power station. Paid $200 for the whole thing. It runs great except for the following.
There is an intermittent noise, like a squeal, that seems to come from
somewhere around the bottom wheel.
I can't seem to find the source.
Has anyone else experienced this problem?

Thanks...

Probably the blade guide bearings. They are available, even from the local bearing shop. There are bearings in three places that the back of the blade rides on. One is above the table , one below the table, and one near the tension adjuster. The one near the tension adjuster is actually two bearings. the back of the blade rides in the groove between them. The other two bearings are wide and much more expensive.

What I did was replace the wide ones with a pair of bearings the same size as the ones by the tensioner. This gave me a much more stable blade. I had also changed the tires to the thinner orange ones and I think this helped the geometry. The orange tires supposedly did not need cement, but I ended up gluing them in with PVC-E because they moved around on me.

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:58 am

twoblocked wrote:What I did was replace the wide ones with a pair of bearings the same size as the ones by the tensioner. This gave me a much more stable blade. I had also changed the tires to the thinner orange ones and I think this helped the geometry. The orange tires supposedly did not need cement, but I ended up gluing them in with PVC-E because they moved around on me.

What is the PVC-E glue. Where did you purhase it? Did you apply it before installing the tires or after. If after, how did you get a smooth application (no lumps) on the wheel or tires. Thanks.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 10:08 am

The Bandsaw is notoriously noisy but then again the Power Station does not run quiet.

If reducing the noise level is your objective - start but removing the bandsaw from the Power Station and acquaint yourself with the noises that come from there.

Do not drive yourself crazy by trying to make it "quiet". That can not be done. But get acquainted with the noises that it does make.

Now install the bandsaw.

Back the guide bearings (right hand side) away from the blade and pull the cool blocks away from the blade. I suggest that you DO NOT cut in this configuration.

Now when you turn the Power Station on the only bearing that should be turning is the Auto-Tracking Bearing (left hand side).

If it is the source of noise you now know. To confirm that, I CAREFULLY reach in behind the band and stop the bearing from spinning while listening for the "bearing noise". You are now convinced whether or not that bearing is part of your noise source.

Now, one at a time, adjust the Guide Bearings so that they barely make contact. Do they add to the noise level?

You could save yourself all of this trouble by simply ordering a replacement set.

twoblocked · Post by **twoblocked** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 10:23 am

billmayo wrote:What is the PVC-E glue. Where did you purhase it? Did you apply it before installing the tires or after. If after, how did you get a smooth application (no lumps) on the wheel or tires. Thanks.

PVC-E is just craft glue, like Aleene's: http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/prod ... ID=prd6066 But what I had was a little thinner. It can be thinned with water. I put it on the wheel with my finger, making a smooth, even coat. Then stretched the tire on by hand. It did not seem to me that heating the tire in hot water did much even though the directions say to do so. Then I slid the tire as far back as I could against the raised edge on the wheel. A little warm water on a rag cleaned up any glue that squeezed out. I let it dry overnight. It stays flexible like contact cement, but can be removed with warm water at any time.

desperado · Post by **desperado** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 3:28 pm

Once again, the experience on this forum is invaluable.
Thank you all.
I'll replace the bearings.
I can take any other noise, as long as it doesn't sound like it's going to
sieze up..

thanks..

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 3:41 pm

desperado wrote:Once again, the experience on this forum is invaluable.
Thank you all.
I'll replace the bearings.
I can take any other noise, as long as it doesn't sound like it's going to
sieze up..

thanks..

Even if these bearings were to freeze up, there would be no damage done. There might be an increased level of noise as the blade passes over a bearing that is not spinning.

Be aware, even after you install new bearings, the bandsaw will not be quiet. Furthermore, the new bearings will not remain silent for long.

You may want to pull the upper wheel and repack that bearing with grease.

The lower wheel bearing is sealed and cannot be lubricated. I have two that are over twenty five years old and are running fine.