Band Saw Tension

tcleve4911

Without fancy gadgets, how do you guys adjust the tension in your bandsaw?

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mikeswoods

My band saw was an indicator -pointer--

Mostly I pluck the blade like a violin string--I know the proper tone--I've had it for a long time--Mike--

Cole82

Well mine has knob at the top you turn and it pulls the top pully further away from the bottum pully tightening the blade.































How much tension, just enough not to break the blade. I pluck the blade and listen for the right tone. Mine doesn't have a fancy pointer.

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Cole's Custom Creations
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

What is this "work" you speak of?

tcleve4911

What note are you listening for when you "pluck" the blade?

C'mon guys. There has got to be a better measurement than Plucking...no?

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Inner10

The tone depends on the distance of the two pulleys.

I think on my little saw its a sharp C.

tcleve4911

thanks.................

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Back in Maine
Dubbin' Around
Doin' good stuff ......

Cole82

If I remember correctly it is some thing along the lines of 1/4" deflection over 2 feet.

Cole

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Cole's Custom Creations
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

What is this "work" you speak of?

bcaka

This approach works for me:

1) Raise the height adjustment as far as it will go, and withdraw the upper (and lower if you have them) guide blocks, and back away the thrust bearing(s) so the blade is unhindered.

2) Tighten the blade like others have described, that is, until you have about either about 1/4" deflection or you hear more of a 'clear' tone rather than a 'dull' tone when you pluck the blade.

3) Make sure the pulley tracking/alignment is correctly set when rotating the blade by hand, then turn/off the saw a few times and make sure it tracks straight with no deviation.

4) Turn on the saw, and watching the blade closely about in the middle between the top and the table surface, gradually release the tension on the blade. Typically, after a few turns of the tension knob, you should see the blade start to 'flutter'. (Depending on your saw, you might also even hear the blade starting to 'slap' on the blade guard on the riser side.)

5) Tighten the tension knob until the flutter stops, then depending on your saw, turn about 1/2 to 1 full turn past that point.

You will probably find that at this point that you have about 1/4" deflection and hear a clear tone, just like the other folks said!

In any case, the proof is in the pudding - run some tests using scrap and see how it cuts...You should expect straight cuts with no 'bowing', and if you do having bowing you should increase the tension by 1/4 - 1/2 turn and retest.

This may sound overcomplicated but it seems to work well on my saw which is an old Ridgid BS1400.

bcaka

Oops, forgot to add - be sure to reset your guides and thrust bearings before cutting!

KillerToiletSpider

I tighten mine till there is no blade deflection, but my bandsaw uses 1" wide blades and is for cutting metal, not wood.

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world llc

mine has an indicator aswell... different spots for different blades...

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