Band Saw 101

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IPD_Mrs

IPD_Mrs

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I am working on some ideas for a new design and have some questions about the best way to get the most out of band saw.

Because of blade drift it is next to impossible for me to get an absolute straight line cut that is perpendicular to the side of the blank. I don't have the best saw in the world (Delta 10") and have used the saw for mainly pattern cutting. I could make a sled but that will not help in the blade drift and what I am doing needs to be pretty accurate.

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Mike
 
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Mike.. You always have to set a band saw for drift. Next, let's assume you have a good blade, not sharp, but good! If you are running the OEM blade, but a Timberwolf blade and then start adjusting things. To make a "drift adjustable" sled, design the fence so it has a povit point on one side and an adjustable one on the other. Now you can dial in the drift to the blade at will.
 
Lee we use Timberwolf which are great blades. The problem is that you do not tension them as tight at say an Olsen or other blade of lesser quality. This gives so much flexability that the blade doesn't tent to stay on the same drift. So in an essence we get a somewhat snake like line.

Mike
 
I have the same saw. It is difficult at best to get a straight cut. I switched blades to the widest one I could find and it helped. I spent alot of time on set up for my saw and check it often. I have found that if I go painfully slow, I can get a decent cut. It is not ever perfect but better than it was.
 
Hi,You may not beleive this but i had a lot of brass to cut so i put in a 1/4" metal blade to do that task,well i never took it out and have been cutting blanks with it and it has been doing a super job on segments..I haven`t tried to rip with it yet just cross cutting and angle cutting,If you go slow you get a very smooth and straight cut.I have a sears 12"the old type early 90s.. Carl
 
what bandsaw are you using? I had an small unit that did that exact same thing when I used certain types of wood like bastogne walnut.

I know that the speed of the blade, the force you apply to the block and the size of the motor makes a huge difference in that wobble. If you have to feed it painfully slow then there's a good chance you need a larger/better bandsaw.

Ed
 
Mark, I have better luck with bigger blades, but I am wanting a smaller kerf and am dealing with 1/4" at the moment.

Ed, it is a Delta. One of this years purchases will be to upgrade the band saw as we are having an increase of product sales on items that require it's use. I am holding out for the Powermatic, but right now we need to sell some of the equipment we have replaced before I can put anything else in the shop.

Mike
 
I have been thinking about this very thing. I have a delta just like that and I have a 14" Grizzly. I would really like to get into some segmenting and I think that the Sears miter saw that was just on sale for $70 may be the best route for me.
 
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