Replies

1. 
   wdwerker | Mar 29, 2012 09:13pm | #1

   Cool Blocks...

   I have used the Cool Blocks, ok, but not as good as the Carter ball bearing replacement for the whole guide. Upper and Lower plus the thrust bearing in the back.  Yea its not cheap but I have enjoyed them for years now. I will never own another bandsaw without bearing blade guides !

1. 
   joeBleau | Mar 29, 2012 09:41pm | #2

   reply

   I have considered using the Carter bearing system but have read about how fussy they are and also that are really only for blades 1/4" and above.  Have you ever tried to use them with a 1/8th or 16th blade?

   Joe

2. 
   roc | Mar 29, 2012 10:57pm | #3

   Have another go.

   Any chance of calling Olson direct and giving them a chance to make it good ?

   I bought a tool recently that was a good idea and a bad design.  The outfit I bought it from, on line, told me ( nicely ) to deal direct with the manufacturer/supplier.

   I did.  They made good for me.

3. 
   hammer1 | Mar 30, 2012 12:02am | #4

   Cool Blocks are meant to fit relatively tight to the blade. That's their advantage. When you run small blades for scroll work they can provide the support that metal blocks can't, since those need clearance and create heat when the blade comes into contact with them. There is hardly any flat blade behind the teeth gullets on thin blades. Cool blocks can rub on the teeth and not cause issues. The set screw that holds the blocks in place should take up any loose fit in the square holes. They are a standard size, something of a compromise, so they will fit many saws that may have slghtly different size holes for the blocks. You could always add a shim if you thought it was needed. When you place the Cool Blocks tight to the blade, you'll hear some whinning noise but you will reduce the side to side blade flex. If you are good with the saw, you shouldn't be putting much pressure against the blocks regardless of the type. Some folks use wood blocks, pine is great for scroll blades, hardwood for larger blades. Make some up and you'll be back sawing in a few minutes.

   I used some Carter guides on an older Rockwell 14" bandsaw, similar to Delta. The lower guides wouldn't fit under the table. You had to remove/alter the upper blade guard for the upper guides. The side guides had to be backed off when using scroll and even 1/4" blades. I didn't care for the eccentric adjustment on the side bearings. I thought they might be helpful in my school shop since saw users were novices and could lean on the blades pretty hard. They may work fine on larger blades but I found them basically useless on a 14" saw with thinner blades.

4. 
   HowardAcheson | Mar 31, 2012 11:24am | #7

   Threre are a number of different Cool Blocks manufacturered for different saws.  It sounds like you ordered or got the wrong size.  Contact Lee Valley, they will make it right.

   On another point, a number of years ago, FWW did a review of band saw guide systems.  The Cool Blocks were the winner and the least cost also.  Large diameter ball bearing guides did not do a good a job in controlling the blade particularly for slicing thin veneers.

1. 
   roc | Mar 30, 2012 11:30pm | #5

   Yep Blocks Good

   I have even seen in books or magazines where people have made their own guide blocks from wood, maybe maple, I don't recall now but it was light colored dense wood.

   The bearings turning never made a bit of sense to me.  Too easy for chips to roll in between the blade and the bearing thus pushing the blade off to one side or knocking the guide loose/off of its setting.

   Better to have a block with an edge scraping the blade clean.  The ceramic blocks on my bandsaw work that way.  The manufacture recommends going to accessory guides that use the cool blocks when using the blades bellow 1/4 inch.

1. 
   roc | Mar 30, 2012 11:57pm | #6

   Or Dark Wood

   I thought one example was shown in one of David Charlesworth's books so I looked it up.  Surprise !  What I found was he is using Lignum Vitae wood for his guides.

   this book

   http://www.amazon.com/David-Charlesworths-Furniture-Making-Techniques-v/dp/1861081251/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333165502&sr=1-1

   discussed page 62  and shown through out the book.  He machined the brass guide block holders and big set screws himself too.  I miss arguing with him.  I hope he has recovered from his health problem.

   Any body know ?

5. 
   steamfab | Jun 28, 2012 11:24am | #8

   I have had the same ‘Caveat Emptor’ experience, but not with the same company.  As a patron, you trust these brands to deliver quality products and services. It’s a waste of time and money if they don’t live up to consumer’s expectations.