Tips on Tuning Up a Band Saw

Make your band saw cut straight again.saw image by Stanislav Pepeliaev from Fotolia.com

If your band saw won't cut a straight line, burns or chips the wood, it might need a tuneup. Simple adjustments are usually all that is needed to make your band saw cut like new again. It can be as simple as built-up dust or blade guides out of adjustment.

Blade Guides

Measure the thickness of your wood before you cut it. If your blade guides are set more than about 1/2-inch higher than the surface of the wood being cut, they're too high. The blade guides are the two roller bearings just above the wood. The blade passes between the guides. They keep the blade at a 90-degree angle to the wood. If the blade guides are too high it allows the blade to bend sideways, making the blade cut to one side, or angle off in the wrong direction. Slide the wood up to the blade with the saw turned off. Loosen the blade guide knob on the side of the machine, and slide the guides to the appropriate height for the wood.

If your blade is running rough, jumping, chattering or moving in and out of the blade guides, the rubber tires around the perimeter of the wheel could be dirty or have sawdust build-up. Start by opening the upper and lower wheel cases. Loosen the tension-adjusting screw on the back of the saw, slip the blade off the tires and set it aside. Use a putty knife to scrape any built-up sawdust residue, pitch or dirt from the tires. Spin the wheels with your hand as you hold the knife against the rubber until the tire is squeaky clean. Finish by rubbing a cloth, dampened with acetone, over the tire. Put the blade back on.

If the blade wanders or twists when you're cutting, your blade tension and tracking might need to be adjusted. Begin by tightening the large knob on the back of the machine. It's the knob highest up on the machine at or above eye level. Tighten it until the knob is hard to turn. Pluck the blade with your fingers, it should sound like a guitar string and deflect no more than about 1/2 inch. Turn on the saw and watch the blade. If the blade will not center between the blade guides, turn the tracking knob left or right. Watch the blade move in or out and turn the knob the appropriate way to bring it out or in until it centers the blade. The tracking knob is on the left side of the tension knob, and a bit lower.