Shopsmith Forums

I read alot about the SS bandsaw here on the forum and after some trial and error, mine cuts fairley well. It has no upgrades and is dated 88 I believe, but it's the cast table. The constant during all my trials and different blades ect. is a squeal that is rather annoying and increases as you feed into it. Is this normal? My bearings seem to spin ok ect, broke a blade once and the wheels spun free until way after I had the cover off as well?
As usual, some thoughts here. (I take way more than I give )

mrhart wrote:I read alot about the SS bandsaw here on the forum and after some trial and error, mine cuts fairley well. It has no upgrades and is dated 88 I believe, but it's the cast table. The constant during all my trials and different blades ect. is a squeal that is rather annoying and increases as you feed into it. Is this normal? My bearings seem to spin ok ect, broke a blade once and the wheels spun free until way after I had the cover off as well?
As usual, some thoughts here. (I take way more than I give )

I would say that it is "typical" but it is not "normal".

You can eliminate the squeal by replacing the bearings and doing a complete alignment of the bearing set.

It is probably not the bearings under the table that are squealing but you can tell which ones by momentarily stopping the bearings (one at a time) until you have identified the culprit.

The band saw won't cut any better after you have stopped the squeall but it will sure be more fun to use.

Anyone tried waxing the blade? I have been tempted to do so.

JPG40504 wrote:Anyone tried waxing the blade? I have been tempted to do so.

I have not but I have oiled the outer surface of the bearings (oiled soaked rag) and that works for a short while. This is what convinced me that the squeal is possibly not the result of the bearing itself but rather friction between the bearing surface and the blade.

It does get louder as pressure (wood being fed) starts, I like your thoughts of it being the point of contact between the bearing and the blade.hmmm

mrhart wrote:It does get louder as pressure (wood being fed) starts, I like your thoughts of it being the point of contact between the bearing and the blade.hmmm

Rather than oil - which was only effective for a short time - try waxing the edges of the bearings. Wax on a q-tip while the bearings are spinning maybe.

Don't leave tools laying on the band saw table while it is running. I left a small wrench and a screw driver lay there while I was attempting to watch the lower bearing, to make sure it was rotating.

The vibration had the tools walking on the table. Narrowly avoided potentially big problems.

BigSky wrote:Don't leave tools laying on the band saw table while it is running. I left a small wrench and a screw driver lay there while I was attempting to watch the lower bearing, to make sure it was rotating.

The vibration had the tools walking on the table. Narrowly avoided potentially big problems.

Keep yer hands off the table while crouching down to gander at the lower bearing also!:eek::D

Maybe honing the back edge of the blades will help squeal. It also helps turning through tight corners.

Just hold a carborundum stone to the back edges of a blade while it is turning.

I just replaced my bearings on my bandsaw with the SS kit and am impressed with much quieter my bandsaw runs. Just from the change in performance, I wish I had done this quite a while ago.

These bearings and a new 1/2 inch blade solved my alignment problems I have been having.