Bandsaw sled question

[NHProFF]

I was planning on making a sled for my band saw for cutting pen blanks. I browsed around the inter-web-thingy and it seems that the consensus among "pro" woodworkers is that you have to account for blade drift regardless of the blade/bandsaw you are using. It appears to me, however, that all of the many fantastic sled designs I have seen on IAP are all designed with the fence being 90 degrees to the miter chanel and there is no way to adjust for blade drift.

Question time. Is blade drift non existant when cutting such a small piece or when using a sled?

PS. I have tuned my bandsaw according to instructions I found on the web and it has a brand new blade, but I still have to hold the board at a slight angle when ripping it.

 

[D.Oliver]

For pen blanks it doesnt' matter if the cut is a perfect 90 because once you drill a hole and insert a tube, you will use a mill or sander to square ends up the blank up (90 degrees to the tube).

 

[whegge]

Where I have a problem with stright cuts is when I try to cut a blank in half length wise. When I do this I want it as straight as possible but I do not need it perfect. For this I clamp a speed square to my 90 degree fence. This gets me close enough on pen blanks.

Wes

 

[randywa]

The only time I have a problem with blade drift is when I hurry the cut by pushing too hard, or when the blade is getting dull.

 

[Rick_G]

If your blade is drifting doing pen blanks try tweaking the tension up or down slightly you will likely get rid of the drift. For the small stuff we do as penturners blade drift usually doesn't become a problem, let the blade do the cutting and don't push any harder than necessary to move the wood forward.

 

[moke]

I have an 1940's 14" craftsman, that I have spent way to much time and money on. I do get drift when am doing flat work, but have successfully made lengthwise/ripping and crosscuts on pen blanks. I have a fence with an "L" shaped 3/4" wood bracket so I don't have to be right against the fence, I go slow, have a good 3/8 blade and surprisingly have no drift.

I have a great TS and sleds, but the blade width is "costly" in the material lost, so I continue to mess with this band saw...

 

[NHProFF]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I will not account for blade drift when make my sled then.