Sandal Woods

Woodworking with passion

  • Home
  • Conferences
    • Cincinnati 2011
    • Cincinnati – 2010
    • Berea – 2008
    • St Charles – 2009
    • Valley Forge – 2009
    • Shows
  • Gallery
  • Design
  • Kneelers
  • Links
  • Archives
  • Blog
  • JIGS
  • More stuff
    • EDUCATION
    • FEATURED
    • JOINERY
    • REVIEWS
    • TOOLS
  • TUTORIAL
  • Video
  • Sponsors and Affiliates
    • StudioPress Themes for WordPress
  • Contact
  • Livestream
Home Blog Band saw adjustment in resawing: A follow-up

February 22, 2008 By Al Navas

Band saw adjustment in resawing: A follow-up

As a follow-up to Ralph’s band saw question in my previous post (also just below this one), I sent him the following e-mail:

“One more thing, Ralph: Don’t push too hard on the board you are resawing – let the blade do its thing. In other words, start really slowly, then increase the speed slowly. You can pretty much tell if you are going TOO fast… Speed of feed is most important if the tension is not set properly.”

Regardless, if the tension is not set properly, even pushing slowly and letting the blade “do its thing” still may not result in good resawing results. But, if the tension is really close to properly adjusted, resawing results might improve dramatically at the slower feed speeds.

Ralph responded to my e-mail as follows:

“Thanks Al… I also got similar recommendations from the Laguna people regarding improper tension. I pushed the blade in 12″ below where the blade leaves the wheel, and it shouldn’t go in more than 1/4″. I did and that’s about how far it goes. We’ll get it right. I’ll keep you posted.”

I wanted to post this update because the Laguna people mentioned something I had overlooked: Sometimes, but not always, measuring the amount of deflection of the blade gives some assurance that we are close to the proper blade tension. All we have to do is make certain we always measure at the same distance below the upper wheel – this could be, as Ralph was told, about half way below where the blade leaves the upper wheel. I don’t quote an exact figure, as this distance is a function of the size of the band saw. There is a caveat to the blade deflection test: Narrower blades may have to be over-tensioned to give only 1/4-inch deflection.

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Filed Under: Blog, Resaw, Shop tools

About Al Navas

I love working with wood, and sharing here on the blog. I also love designing items that my clients will love having in their homes and offices. Please let me know if you need a special piece to share with your loved ones. Freelance, Legal, and Community Interpreter. Love photography.

Search this blog

Subscribe via feedburner – still!

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Follow me on Google+

The RTJ400 at Leigh Industries


Leigh Industries introduces this new jig, designed specifically for use on the router table.
Click on the image above to go to the RTJ400 page at the Leigh website. I am NOT paid for your clicks.

The Sandal Woods prayer kneeler

The Sandal Woods prie Dieu, or prayer kneeler: Place your order for a prie Dieu for you home altar. [More...]

Admin

  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS
  • WordPress.org

Copyright © 2007-2014 | Al Navas, Sandal Woods - Fine Woodworking | Missouri, USA · Log in ·