Urethan Tires: Anyone Like Them?
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Urethan Tires: Anyone Like Them?
It is time to replace my bandsaw tires. They are cracked and have taken a set and my 1/4 inch blade no longer make contact with the autotrack bearing.
I am looking for feedback on urethane versus rubber. Has anyone who has made the switch been satisfied with urethane?
Thanks,
Al
I am looking for feedback on urethane versus rubber. Has anyone who has made the switch been satisfied with urethane?
Thanks,
Al
Gale's Law: The bigger the woodworking project, the less the mistakes show in any photo taken far enough away to show the entire project!
I didn't have my bandsaw long before a SNAFU required that I replace my aging rubber tires (hint: don't turn the machine off on a high speed setting, connect it to the bandsaw, then turn it back on!). So I don't have much experience to compare to, but the urethane seems to be serving me quite well. I chose urethane because I just didn't want to mess with glue to install the rubber tires.
The urethane tires weren't as hard to install as I had feared. Just follow the instructions and have a couple clamps on hand.
Another thing you might want to try is some "belt conditioner" on the tires. My old rubber tires were dry and cracked and I think the belt conditioner did soften them up a bit and increase their useful life. No telling how long they would have lasted had I not destroyed them by not paying attention to what I was doing.
The urethane tires weren't as hard to install as I had feared. Just follow the instructions and have a couple clamps on hand.
Another thing you might want to try is some "belt conditioner" on the tires. My old rubber tires were dry and cracked and I think the belt conditioner did soften them up a bit and increase their useful life. No telling how long they would have lasted had I not destroyed them by not paying attention to what I was doing.
Heath
Central Louisiana
-10ER - SN 13927, Born 1949, Acquired October 2008, Restored November, 2008
-10ER - SN 35630, Born 1950, Acquired April 2009, Restored May 2009, A34 Jigsaw
-Mark V - SN 212052, Born 1986, Acquired Sept 2009, Restored March 2010, Bandsaw
-10ER - SN 39722, Born 1950, Acquired March 2011, awaiting restoration
Central Louisiana
-10ER - SN 13927, Born 1949, Acquired October 2008, Restored November, 2008
-10ER - SN 35630, Born 1950, Acquired April 2009, Restored May 2009, A34 Jigsaw
-Mark V - SN 212052, Born 1986, Acquired Sept 2009, Restored March 2010, Bandsaw
-10ER - SN 39722, Born 1950, Acquired March 2011, awaiting restoration
I will look into belt conditioner. It's gotta be less expensive than new tires and if it works it will save time and money. Any brand/source of belt conditioner you could recommend?heathicus wrote:I didn't have my bandsaw long before a SNAFU required that I replace my aging rubber tires (hint: don't turn the machine off on a high speed setting, connect it to the bandsaw, then turn it back on!). So I don't have much experience to compare to, but the urethane seems to be serving me quite well. I chose urethane because I just didn't want to mess with glue to install the rubber tires.
The urethane tires weren't as hard to install as I had feared. Just follow the instructions and have a couple clamps on hand.
Another thing you might want to try is some "belt conditioner" on the tires. My old rubber tires were dry and cracked and I think the belt conditioner did soften them up a bit and increase their useful life. No telling how long they would have lasted had I not destroyed them by not paying attention to what I was doing.
Gale's Law: The bigger the woodworking project, the less the mistakes show in any photo taken far enough away to show the entire project!
No specific recommendation. I know mine is in a red can. 

Heath
Central Louisiana
-10ER - SN 13927, Born 1949, Acquired October 2008, Restored November, 2008
-10ER - SN 35630, Born 1950, Acquired April 2009, Restored May 2009, A34 Jigsaw
-Mark V - SN 212052, Born 1986, Acquired Sept 2009, Restored March 2010, Bandsaw
-10ER - SN 39722, Born 1950, Acquired March 2011, awaiting restoration
Central Louisiana
-10ER - SN 13927, Born 1949, Acquired October 2008, Restored November, 2008
-10ER - SN 35630, Born 1950, Acquired April 2009, Restored May 2009, A34 Jigsaw
-Mark V - SN 212052, Born 1986, Acquired Sept 2009, Restored March 2010, Bandsaw
-10ER - SN 39722, Born 1950, Acquired March 2011, awaiting restoration
Pretty sure this is what I have:algale wrote:I will look into belt conditioner. It's gotta be less expensive than new tires and if it works it will save time and money. Any brand/source of belt conditioner you could recommend?

But, I say go ahead and replace them with the urethane tires if you can. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Heath
Central Louisiana
-10ER - SN 13927, Born 1949, Acquired October 2008, Restored November, 2008
-10ER - SN 35630, Born 1950, Acquired April 2009, Restored May 2009, A34 Jigsaw
-Mark V - SN 212052, Born 1986, Acquired Sept 2009, Restored March 2010, Bandsaw
-10ER - SN 39722, Born 1950, Acquired March 2011, awaiting restoration
Central Louisiana
-10ER - SN 13927, Born 1949, Acquired October 2008, Restored November, 2008
-10ER - SN 35630, Born 1950, Acquired April 2009, Restored May 2009, A34 Jigsaw
-Mark V - SN 212052, Born 1986, Acquired Sept 2009, Restored March 2010, Bandsaw
-10ER - SN 39722, Born 1950, Acquired March 2011, awaiting restoration
Yep I read that link. Especially "Also, they come with a crown which allows the blade to track better on it. ".
SS 500(09/1980), DC3300, jointer, bandsaw, belt sander, Strip Sander, drum sanders,molder, dado, biscuit joiner, universal lathe tool rest, Oneway talon chuck, router bits & chucks and a De Walt 735 planer,a #5,#6, block planes. ALL in a 100 square foot shop.
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Bob
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Bob
- dusty
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beeg wrote:Yep I read that link. Especially "Also, they come with a crown which allows the blade to track better on it. ".
I assume we are discussing the urethane tires used on a Shopsmith. If that is the case, the "crown comment" confuses me. I don't think I want a crown.

The Shopsmith does not work well with a crown - does it?
"Making Sawdust Safely"
Dusty
Sent from my Dell XPS using Firefox.
Dusty
Sent from my Dell XPS using Firefox.
- JPG
- Platinum Member
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Consider the 'source'!dusty wrote:I assume we are discussing the urethane tires used on a Shopsmith. If that is the case, the "crown comment" confuses me. I don't think I want a crown.
The Shopsmith does not work well with a crown - does it?
Not the first time for irrelevant 'advice' from there.

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╟JPG ╢
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Goldie(Bought New SN 377425)/4" jointer/6" beltsander/12" planer/stripsander/bandsaw/powerstation /Scroll saw/Jig saw /Craftsman 10" ras/Craftsman 6" thicknessplaner/ Dayton10"tablesaw(restoredfromneighborstrashpile)/ Mark VII restoration in 'progress'/ 10E[/size](SN E3779) restoration in progress, a 510 on the back burner and a growing pile of items to be eventually returned to useful life. - aka Red Grange
╟JPG ╢
╚═══╝
Goldie(Bought New SN 377425)/4" jointer/6" beltsander/12" planer/stripsander/bandsaw/powerstation /Scroll saw/Jig saw /Craftsman 10" ras/Craftsman 6" thicknessplaner/ Dayton10"tablesaw(restoredfromneighborstrashpile)/ Mark VII restoration in 'progress'/ 10E[/size](SN E3779) restoration in progress, a 510 on the back burner and a growing pile of items to be eventually returned to useful life. - aka Red Grange