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Problem with wider bandsaw blades
Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 2:07 pm
by jalt
I recently started using a Shopsmith bandsaw that that I acquired last year from my father. It needed some maintenance when I first got it, but after replacing the tires, installing an aluminum table upgrade, lubricating and aligning everything, it has been functioning very nicely. For the past couple of months I've been using a 1/4" blade. This weekend, I tried installing a wider blade so I could try resawing some lumber for the first time.
I tried to install a 5/8" bandsaw blade that I bought from Shopsmith, but it seemed too wide to fit correctly on the lower wheel. Then I tried installing a 1/2" bandsaw blade that my father had used. The 1/2" blade is also too wide, because the teeth of the blade overlap with the metal rim of the lower wheel.
I've read the instruction manual and followed all the procedures for aligning the bandsaw, but nothing seems to work. Can somebody advise me about what might be wrong? Thanks in advance.
Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 2:31 pm
by dusty
jalt wrote:I recently started using a Shopsmith bandsaw that that I acquired last year from my father. It needed some maintenance when I first got it, but after replacing the tires, installing an aluminum table upgrade, lubricating and aligning everything, it has been functioning very nicely. For the past couple of months I've been using a 1/4" blade. This weekend, I tried installing a wider blade so I could try resawing some lumber for the first time.
I tried to install a 5/8" bandsaw blade that I bought from Shopsmith, but it seemed too wide to fit correctly on the lower wheel. Then I tried installing a 1/2" bandsaw blade that my father had used. The 1/2" blade is also too wide, because the teeth of the blade overlap with the metal rim of the lower wheel.
I've read the instruction manual and followed all the procedures for aligning the bandsaw, but nothing seems to work. Can somebody advise me about what might be wrong? Thanks in advance.
I think that you are saying - "The blade tracks too far forward". Is that correct?
Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 3:31 pm
by jalt
Yes, the blade is too far forward on the lower wheel. However, it is centered on the upper wheel.
How do I get it centered on both wheels?
Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 4:02 pm
by beeg
Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 4:04 pm
by JPG
jalt wrote:Yes, the blade is too far forward on the lower wheel. However, it is centered on the upper wheel.
How do I get it centered on both wheels?
Move the blade guides to the rear. The blade should be allowed to seek its position by being controlled by the blade guide bearings in the upper left part of the housing. The cutting guides are adjusted to just clear that position.
Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 4:41 pm
by dusty
jalt wrote:Yes, the blade is too far forward on the lower wheel. However, it is centered on the upper wheel.
How do I get it centered on both wheels?
The blade does NOT center on the tire
on a Shopsmith bandsaw. It will tend to run toward the rear. Others are explaining how to do the adjustment so I'll not add any confusion.
Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:24 pm
by charlese
Although not specifically mentioned - beeg's link to a Bill Mayo post alludes to your problem. The upper wheel must lean "top to the rear" a bit. Grasp the upper wheel at the top and bottom and pull the lower part out and push the upper part back. This will re-bend the arm to where it was. Use the 1/8" measurement. A little more won't hurt. If the straight edge is too far away don't try to bend back, just use it. The slight backward lean of the upper wheel keeps the blades toward the rear of the wheels and against the guide bearing on the upper left of the saw.
When you finish using your saw for a while, don't forget to take the tension off of the blade. This will help keep this problem from re-occurring.
Also check the upper wheel's needle bearing. The wheel should not wobble and the bearing should be greased regularly. I think 50 hours.
Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:34 pm
by SDSSmith
charlese wrote:Although not specifically mentioned - beeg's link to a Bill Mayo post alludes to your problem. The upper wheel must lean "top to the rear" a bit. Grasp the upper wheel at the top and bottom and pull the lower part out and push the upper part back. This will re-bend the arm to where it was. Use the 1/8" measurement. A little more won't hurt. If the straight edge is too far away don't try to bend back, just use it. The slight backward lean of the upper wheel keeps the blades toward the rear of the wheels and against the guide bearing on the upper left of the saw.
When you finish using your saw for a while, don't forget to take the tension off of the blade. This will help keep this problem from re-occurring.
Also check the upper wheel's needle bearing. The wheel should not wobble and the bearing should be greased regularly. I think 50 hours.
I was under the impression that this was done when folks were having issues with the blade coming off of the wheels. Before jerking the upper wheel, I would follow JPG's guidance above and make sure that the blade is not running hard against either of the guides above and below the table. The automatic tracking requires the blade to ride on the guide roller/bearings on the left side of the bandsaw.
Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 2:10 am
by heathicus
charlese wrote:Also check the upper wheel's needle bearing. The wheel should not wobble and
the bearing should be greased regularly. I think 50 hours.
I guess I've overlooked this little tidbit until now. How do you grease that bearing?
Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 6:39 am
by dusty
You take the upper wheel off, pack the bearing full of grease, remount the upper wheel and you are done.
heathicus wrote:I guess I've overlooked this little tidbit until now. How do you grease that bearing?