Michael, maybe you can come over and, ahem, "direct" my bandsaw for me. It can't seem to carry a tune for me....if you know what I mean....
:lol: :eusa_clap :lol:
Tom
Tom,
I am positive that there are MANY more people more qualified than I am. But I would come over to your place at the drop of a hat and help with your band saw. What model do you have?
This is what I have done to help mine along.
*New Urethane Tires (price ranges from 15-40 dollars)
*Band saw fence (Purchased it for 30 dollars, mine is like the new Kreg one)
*Quick crank release (grizzly for less than 10 dollars)
*and a couple quality 1/2 3TPI blades, these make the the world of difference. (I purchased a couple Lenox blades from Grizzly, they were only 12.00 and they work great so far)
I have also for the past couple weeks read just about every article (most Fine Woodworking) about this subject. If you would like I can send you some articles that can put you on the right path. I still have the stock blade guides on and just use a dollar for setting the guides. Ohh ya I also spent about and hour making sure the wheels were coplanar too, I had to fabricate a small washer out of thin metal to bring my top wheel out so that it was in line with the lower one. and the last thing I did is dress the wheels, (sanded them down) I was a little intimidated in doing this because I thought I would ruin the wheels, but I read an article in FWW and followed it to a T. I put the new tire on the lower wheel to true it, and then put it on the upper wheel, installed the lower wheel and trued it, then installed a small blade and finished truing the upper wheel with the machine on (this part you had to be very carefully because the upper Assembly was open)
I know it sounds like a lot but all in all it tool me about three hours and my little 14in band saw performs like never before. And just as NCPete has stated, even tough it is running fine now, it wont stop me from getting a bigger one when the opportunity presents itself, its just that I have more options now in the creative process because I know how my band saw performs and am comfortable with it.
Tom, maybe we could link up sometime and I could come over and show you what I did and see if we can get yours running to your expectations. Be blessed friend.
