The Band Saw- A must have Power Tool

Written by admin on October 24, 2008 – 3:09 pm -

The Band Saw is one of the oldest Woodworking Power Tools.

The band saw was created and patented in England in 1808.

Band saws are now available in many sizes varying from
the smallest,such as the little bench models with 9=inch
wheels to the giants used in mills that at are 84 inches
and more in diameter.  The blades on those monsters are
as much as 16 inches wide and 50 feet long.

The name “band Saw” indicates a cutting blade that is
actually a narrow,flexable,endless band of steel with
teeth on one side.  This blade runs over revolving wheels
or pulleys which have rubber tires stretched over their rims.

The size of a conventional band saw is indicated by the diameter of each of its two wheels.  For example, an 18 inch band saw has 18 inch diameter wheels and will cut 18 inches less the width of the blade guard.  Some times the size is given as the actual throat opening rather than the wheel size.

A band saw,because it is so well guarded,is one of the safest woodworking machines to operate. The doors enclose the blade and wheels.  The upper guide assembly contains a blade guard which travels with it when raised or lowered.  If used in its correct position,just above the work, the blade is always covered except for that part which does the actual cutting.

Adjustments are not complicated but must be made in the order given and should never be made while the machine is running.  Once made, re-adjustments are seldom necessary while using the same blade.

The first of these is to make the blade run in the center of the track by tilting the upper wheel either in or out while turning the machine by hand.

Tension is next.  On saws that do not have an indicator ale,tension may be judged by pressing on the side of the blade.  A flex of about 1/4-inch in a 6 inch span is just about correct.

The third step is to adjust the two sets of side guides that are located one above and one below the saw table.  The side guide pins should each clear the blade by about the thickness of a thin piece of papar.  They should also bepositioned 1/16 inch or less back of the gullets of the teeth to avoid any injury to them. The blade should not touch the roller guide wheels, usually located just above and back of the side guards, except when material is being sawed.  A clearance of about the thickness of writting paper should be sufficient.  If permitted to continually touch the back, of the blade will become hardened which will hasten its breakage.
The final check on the saw travel is to run the machine by hand.  If all seems correcgt,and provided the doors are closed,a short trial run should be made under power.  If everything looks and sounds ok you are in business and should practice on scrape piece to get the feel of the saw and its capabilities.  Keep your ears open as you can many times locate problems by listening for unusual noises that indicate one of the adjustments needs to be corrected.

If all goes well you now have a very versatile power tool that is capable of allowing you to produce projects requiring cuts not possible on other types of Power Tools.

We have a great selection of Band Saws for the home woodworker

Tags: Band saw, Power Tool, Saws, Woodworking Band Saws
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