Can the Shopsmith Bandsaw Be Quieted

[dusty]

If it can, it will likely be temporary but I am going to give it another try.

I have two and they are equally noisy. My first task will be to isolate the source of the noise, if that is possible. It may be that every possible source is, in fact, an active contributor.

One of my band saws resides on a Power Station. That will have to change while I am doing this. The Power Station is also a big noise maker. I will do all of the work directly related to this task on a Power Stand.

I have no needle bearings for the upper wheel. In fact, I am not certain that it is user replaceable. Has anyone attempted to replace this bearing? If so, what is the part number?

[JPG]

So this is the reason for vxb acquisitions.

[Gene Howe]

Hey Dusty,
Glad you are back in the shop. Ya feeling better?
My band saw got noticeably quieter with the exchange of guide systems from the stock SS system to the Carter, though it's not by any means silent. I kinda miss the squeaks and squeals.

[JPG]

Hey Dusty,
Glad you are back in the shop. Ya feeling better?
My band saw got noticeably quieter with the exchange of guide systems from the stock SS system to the Carter, though it's not by any means silent. I kinda miss the squeaks and squeals.

That indicates a need to remove the guides while fiddling with bearings.

[dusty]

So this is the reason for vxb acquisitions.

Yes, this is the reason but I screwed up and did not order everything I need (or might need).

The lower wheel in both band saws run about as quiet as I believe they can be. The upper wheel in both band saws make a bit more noise than I like but I may have to live with that.

By the this process of elimination, the backup bearings and the Auto-track bearings are the only possible contributors to the noise. Since the upper backup bearing is contacted only during a cut, it can be eliminated as the cause of noise when the band saw is idling.

So what is left? The lower back up bearing and the auto-track bearings I don't think so. If it was that simple I would have had this machine purring long ago and neither of my band saws purr.

I'm wondering (yet to be verified) if maybe the band saw shell acts as a resonator. I've often thought about filling some of those saw dust catching cavities with foam. Maybe, just maybe now is the time.

Yes, Gene, you are absolutely correct. I may be coming to that point where I too must give the Carter guides a try.

BTW - I am now allowed in the shop but I am still on medical restrictions (limited weight) and the band saws are probably a little over weight.

[BuckeyeDennis]

What kind of noise are you getting with only the lower back up bearing and the auto-track bearings engaging the blade?

If you touch a piece of wood lightly against the outer races (some pressure, but not enough to stop them), does it change the noise?

[dusty]

Yes, stopping the suspect bearings from spinning does change (lowers) the noise level but it does not eliminate all of the noise that I think could be eliminated.

The offensive noise can be (at times) called a squeal otherwise it is just a low level grating sound. I have, in past exercises to quiet the band saw, come to a conclusion that the squeal is the blade rubbing on the bearing (bearing not spinning fast enough).

[Lodgepole]

Perhaps you can post a video with sound?

[BuckeyeDennis]

Yes, stopping the suspect bearings from spinning does change (lowers) the noise level but it does not eliminate all of the noise that I think could be eliminated.

The offensive noise can be (at times) called a squeal otherwise it is just a low level grating sound. I have, in past exercises to quiet the band saw, come to a conclusion that the squeal is the blade rubbing on the bearing (bearing not spinning fast enough).

If you touch a bearing lightly with the wood, but don't press hard enough to stop the outer race, does it affect the squeal?

[dusty]

I don't know. I'll do that and let you know.

A problem with this entire exercise is that sometimes the noise level is much less. The squeal is intermittent (on/off).
'
I received the bearings today. I have yet to install any but "in my fingers" they sure do feel different.

I was disappointed, however, when I discovered the VXB is a distributor and not a bearing manufacturing company. VXB distributes foreign made bearings that I think are all Made in Japan. Now that is not, in itself. bad. VXB has a good reputation; that is why I ordered from them. I hoped that I would know who the manufacturer was. The online documentation for VXB leads me to believe that the bearings were manufactured by Nachi, NB or FYH. This tells me nothing.