Tag Archives: maintenance
Saw Blade Back and Gullet Cracks
Bandsaw owners and operators will encounter saw blade back and gullet cracks and might wonder why, or think that it is simply a low quality blade. Yet, being economical doesn’t necessarily mean that the blade is the problem. At Sawblade.com, we offer some of the lowest saw blade and parts prices in the industry. This does not mean that we carry inferior stock, or that our blades are not engineered to the highest industry specifications. In many cases, the common problems resulting in gullet and back cracks often range from crooked welds to bandsaw blade breakage. Problems will also occur when …
Bandsaw Newbie-Refresher Course
A preventive safety course for bandsaw operators new to the machines as well as for those quite familiar with them. All bandsaw operators should possess adequate knowledge of mechanics, materials, and most important — safety — prior to any cutting procedure. Lack of experience combined with lack of knowledge will jeopardize not only the materials but the machine and worse, the machine operator. Every bandsaw machine offers various operating features, and before using any particular machine, it is important to be familiar and possess a minimum of confidence prior to operating. Aside from possessing thirty+ years of experience in a variety of shops and …
Keeping Blades Clean
Bandsaw blade maintenance is important for productive output as well as operator safety. A dirty bandsaw blade will dull fast, thus shortening its original lifespan. There are several easy and effective ways for keeping blades clean while guarding against things like build-up and rust. Cleaning bandsaw blades will extend blade life, keep it sharp, and help to avoid stripped teeth and crooked cuts. These are apt to occur with debris build-up in the gullets. It is especially prevalent in smaller shops using smaller, vertical bandsaws that may not be equipped with a chip brush or a cool/lubricate implement built in. Residue is in the pitch, where …
Guide to Saw Blade Guides
Blade guides are important in helping to support the saw blade. Less support is offered if the guides are set too far apart. Too close, and there is a tendency for the blades to break if unable to move freely. Maintaining an equal amount of space within the guides where the blade is held is key. Blade guides are usually a molded piece of carbide or ceramic material fitted close to the bandsaw blade. The guides are adjusted using a knob to raise, lower, or move side to side to accommodate material thickness and saw blade size. Standard bandsaw machines come with saw guides. Their …
Issues with Productivity
Premature run-out is a common productivity issue for bandsaw operators and will occur during the busy times. Careful planning will work to eliminate certain issues in production, and there are several factors involved to help resolve and prevent productivity issues from ever having to crop up. It is never a bad thing to abide by the rules of bandsaw operation. Thinking that daily maintenance checks are a waste of production time may prove costly, and not checking for possible slow-down issues with the machine and blade prior to any cut could end up costing even more. There are ways to avoid productivity issues without sacrificing time, cost, …
Issues with Square Cut
A few of the possible causes for a bandsaw machine’s inability to cut square depend on the nature of the problem. Is the bandsaw level and secure? Are the load and discharge conveyors on the same plane as the vise bed? Are the saw guide inserts, backup bearings, and thumbscrews all in good condition? Are the band wheel and wheel bearings in good or bad condition? Is the saw head squarely adjusted to the fixed vise? Does the pivot head show wear? If the saw cut is dished or curved, the cause might be inadequate band tension, excessive feed force, the feed control system may be out of calibration, applying …
Bandsaw Blade Tracking
Knowing how to properly track a bandsaw blade is important and something every bandsaw operator should have basic knowledge in performing. A blade needs to be properly tracked in order to ensure a smooth operation, secure operator safety, and to keep the bandsaw running optimally and smooth. It would be a waste of time and money to cut materials without first tracking the saw blade. Without it, crooked cuts result, equating to wasted materials. Damage to the machine or the blade after it pops from the wheels is likely to occur. There is also the risk of personal injury to …
Tune-Up of Bandsaws
Bandsaws that are properly tuned cut true, do not drift, and work effectively in straight and curved cuts. It will not require the addition of hundreds of dollars in accessories, either; just help to make the machine run more efficiently. Simple adjustments will help to keep the saw cutting true, and the order of adjustment is designed for either a new machine or one that could really use a good tune-up. Blade selection — may be the most important section of all. The correct blade is critical to optimum performance. A wide, coarse blade is for re-sawing; a fine, narrower blade is for thin stock. Too …
Bandsaw Operator Guidelines
Operating a bandsaw machine isn’t always easy. Taking care of one isn’t, either. A bandsaw is a versatile machine that allows for cutting of a variety of different types of materials: wood, plastics, and steels for example. Proper use and maintenance are important. If being professional is as important as maintaining quality output and increased production, then knowledge and safety should be second-nature to the bandsaw operator. Actually reading the instructions that come with the machine is a start. Information about the finer adjustments necessary for proper cut are usually included. Failing to follow manual instructions — like setting the correct blade tension and …
Maintaining Bandsaw Blade Teeth
This is an economical and likely well-known bit of helpful advice for maintaining bandsaw blade teeth. Save the plastic cap strips that arrive with your brand new bandsaw blade. Bandsaw blade teeth are designed to cut specific materials. The teeth are critical in providing high production rates and an overall positive output. This reason and for safety purposes is why the teeth are often protected by capping prior to shipping. Contact with bandsaw blade teeth that aren’t capped is one of the most common causes of injury and why caution is necessary when handling any bandsaw blade. Bandsaw blade manufacturers and distributors …
