Shopsmith Forums

I finally got my bandsaw up and running, new tires and bearings, and I noticed that there seems to be a lot of vibration when it is running. The blade is running true after following the posts here and the video from Carter online. I have checked and re-checked the coupler alignment and everything is level. I currently have a 3/8" resawing blade on it not that I think that makes a difference but I am curious if this is normal or not.

I have a set of three short videos showing what mine looks like and sounds like. I believe this should be pretty much standard for the shopsmith band saw so take a look and compare.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w35qkOG1eZE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUWJRIuPqKo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fblBc33CXqI

Very little vibration.

Ed

I can not claim that my band saw sounds as good as Ed's but I do not have much vibration. I see some movement in the videos but I believe it to be camera movement and NOT the band saw.

Ed's is a good band saw against which to compare.

My band saw definitely does not sound as good as Ed's and after taking my own video I cannot see it but you can feel it when you put your hand up against it. I guess I was just wondering how much vibration is normal?

I guess I should do a cup of water video.... but not now.

I would uncouple the saw from the headstock and then run the headstock and feel the bandsaw. If the vibration is gone then it is something to do with the bandsaw, if not then it is something with alignment or maybe just from the headstock, worn belts or what not.

I don't have the off set legs but I have heard that they can cause some odd behavior. I'm also running off a powerpro so that makes a difference too.

You should have very little vibration. An old test was to set a nickle on edge and if it stayed that way you were good to go. I've not tried that on the bandsaw but I think it would be fine on mine.

Ed

I will have to try the nickel test and see what happens. Funny that you mention uncoupling the headstock from the band saw because I just finished doing that very thing. It was time to apply some overdue lubrication and after doing that I did some extra inspecting and everything still looks good. I do not have the offset legs so I know that the vibration is not coming form there and as far as the belts go; both belts are less than a year old.

Haven't gotten a chance to view the vids, since I can't at work, but I've experienced some intermittent vibration myself. I've found that it pays to check the mounting lock to make sure both sides are equally engaged and that the Shopsmith itself is sitting solidly on the ground before I start using the bandsaw. Then, if I still get vibration I undo and then reconnect the coupler. If I'm still getting vibration I reseat the blade. Usually one of these things helps me. Perhaps, they'll help when you are troubleshooting yourself.

Ed, thanks for posting the videos.