Searched but didn't come up with anything. Do you release blade tension on your band saw? Was cleaning the shop and thought of this. TIA.
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Band saw blade tension?
- Thread starter John Torchick
- Start date
This video is the most helpful bandsaw set up instructions I've seen.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGbZqWac0jU
I haven't removed the tension from a bandsaw in 34 years.
I used to always release my blade tension with my 1/2" blade until I put a 1/4" blade on my 17" BS. The blade kept falling off the wheels so now I just leave it tensioned. I have a 9" also that whenever I release tension , the blade falls off. I don't worry about releasing tension anymore.
I always release tension. According to Snodgrass, leaving the blade under tension will not permanently damage the blade or the saw. It will give the tires a flat spot, but this will resolve as the tires heat up with use.
Anyone from up north can identify with tires on a car that do the same in real cold weather. Drive a while, they heat up and get back into round. Mark, thanks.
I read somewhere, years ago - don't remember where - a guy claimed that leaving the blade tensioned would eventually compromise the frame of the saw. I think any bandsaw for which that's true is a bandsaw that's not worth having.
My Laguna 18BX instructions say to take the tension out of the blade if the saw will not be used for a while - which they define as overnight!
I purchased my Delta 14 inch in 1961 used it until about 4 years ago and never released the tension other than to change a blade, I never had problems with the tires or the bearing and never replaced the bearings or tires. I did have a problem with the upper blade guide that tension may or may not have caused the cast iron frame to deflect such that moving it up or down required readjusting the blade guides.
I now have an 18 " Delta with the steel frame and do not bother to release the tension since I can't reach the lever without a step stool.
I now have an 18 " Delta with the steel frame and do not bother to release the tension since I can't reach the lever without a step stool.
Im convinced that that's written in the manual just so that you wear or the tension adjusters on crappy bandsaws. I've been through 3 adjusters on my crappy king delta clone.
I don't release tension on my saw because I use it multiple times a week and there's no quick release on my saw.
I don't release tension on my saw because I use it multiple times a week and there's no quick release on my saw.
My Grizzly definitely has a bump/vibration if I don't release the tension and it sits for a day or more. It does have a quick release and I do have to be careful & go slow on the qr lever or the blade will come off one of the wheels.
Just a week or two ago I got a Timber Wolf blade for it. In the blade instructions it does say to release the tension between uses to help extend blade life.
Just a week or two ago I got a Timber Wolf blade for it. In the blade instructions it does say to release the tension between uses to help extend blade life.
I never take the tension off of my Laguna 16HD. No flat spots on the wheel at all. I have had it 15 or more years.
robo hippy
robo hippy
I don't think it's a big deal and it smooths out after a minute or three but I do notice it.
This is my first bandsaw so I don't have a huge experience base to draw from. I didn't notice the bump/vibes with the stock blade but I never adjusted the tension on the stock blade. It seemed fine from the factory. When I put on the Timber Wolf blade I followed their tensioning instructions and the blade is tighter than I had the original blade.
All these are data points but do they make a difference in tool or blade longevity or cut accuracy? I don't know.
Robo - I lived in Seattle for my first 50 years and have been in your area many times, usually on two wheels. Oregon was a different world then. I have friends there that live in a houseboat in the woods - or at least they were still living in the boat about 7 or 8 years back when I last visited them.
This is my first bandsaw so I don't have a huge experience base to draw from. I didn't notice the bump/vibes with the stock blade but I never adjusted the tension on the stock blade. It seemed fine from the factory. When I put on the Timber Wolf blade I followed their tensioning instructions and the blade is tighter than I had the original blade.
All these are data points but do they make a difference in tool or blade longevity or cut accuracy? I don't know.
Robo - I lived in Seattle for my first 50 years and have been in your area many times, usually on two wheels. Oregon was a different world then. I have friends there that live in a houseboat in the woods - or at least they were still living in the boat about 7 or 8 years back when I last visited them.