Shopsmith Forums

reible wrote:... Keep in mind the gauge is a good starting point but sometimes you might want to adjust from that point and that can mess up your counting method....

And yes I still un-tension. I seem to recall reading that as pointer somewhere in the shopsmith documentation, PTWFE, manual (several versions of these) or perhaps a note on the back of the blade package???? I don't feel like looking now but I'm sure I've seen it somewhere.
...Ed

(Me 2. Somewhere in SS documentation it says untension. Don't know where, don't care.)

Coincidentally ran across similar discussion that makes another really good point. Many bandsaw users, maybe most, either at times or routinely, or mebbe for a special project, tweak the tension. The specific comment indicated it was a norm to add one setting to a blade install so as to get a better performance setting. Example, install a 1/8 blade and use the next highest or 1/4 setting. Struck me that this alone would be a good enough reason to UNtension at the end of work. (I might go a little further and say some folks don't trust their tension-o-meter, so who's to say your blade may be overtensioned at the seemingly correct setting anaway? And then there's the phase of the moon...)

I have installed a piece of plastic so I can see tension w/o removing cover. To remind me to tension b4 cutting I hang my spare rod by that window. Has worked for me so far.
Forrest

reible wrote: Keep in mind the gauge is a good starting point but sometimes you might want to adjust from that point and that can mess up your counting method....
Ed

I for one have never trusted the gauges on bandsaws. Most of them are a little strip of metal, usually red, that you can bend up or down two or three blade sizes with your fingers. I have always gone by feel and I can say for sure that my blades are never on the assigned setting on my SS bandsaw. Maybe it's just my saw but if I set them at the assigned tension for the width, they would have far more play than I'm comfortable with.

I still haven't noticed any of the problems you are all referring to. My tires are starting to crack from the dry heat and their age, but they aren't wearing out or deforming.

Who knows these things anyway? ."................

Yes, I do release tension. Here is a photo taken a couple years back, when I needed a reminder to release and tighten tension.

I started releasing tension, after I had an upper wheel deflection. Took about a decade to cause the deflection. After hearing Nick say that frequent re-canting the upper wheel will cause the arm to weaken and thereby cause more problems. (that was in one of the Sawdust Sessions

charlese wrote:Yes, I do release tension. Here is a photo taken a couple years back, when I needed a reminder to release and tighten tension.

I started releasing tension, after I had an upper wheel deflection. Took about a decade to cause the deflection. After hearing Nick say that frequent re-canting the upper wheel will cause the arm to weaken and thereby cause more problems. (that was in one of the Sawdust Sessions

This is a trial to see if photo only copies

shipwright wrote:I still haven't noticed any of the problems you are all referring to. My tires are starting to crack from the dry heat and their age, but they aren't wearing out or deforming.

Who knows these things anyway? ."................

I have been using belt conditioner on the black bandsaw tires for years which seems to help prevent the drying and cracking of these bandsaw tires. I just installed another set of Blue Max bandsaw tires. I am really impressed with the quality, easier to install with the tool provided and the life time warranty of these tires.