Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Dec 29, 2003 10:30pm | #1

   Chad,

   The red washer is simply positioned between the top of the square nut and the bottom of the tensioning spring, it wouldn't normally be removed while blade changing and it isn't calibrated in any way.  If you left it out while the spring and nut were removed for some reason, you can use the line of contact between the spring and the square nut as your reference point for the tensioning scale, it will be just as accurate as if the washer were in place. 

   With the blade off the saw, you can unscrew the nut from the threaded tensioning rod and then remove the nut from the rod by lifting up on the tensioner casting.  With the nut removed, you can put the red washer back in its proper position, you don't need to disassemble the saw any further than that to put the washer back in place.

   The amount of the threaded rod sticking out of the housing is entirely dependent on the exact length of the blade and the length and condition of the tensioning spring and a half of dozen other variables, the dimension from somebody else's machine, even if it were the same model, wouldn't help you set up your machine. 

   In any case, tensioners on 14 inch bandsaws aren't especially accurate, varying widely from machine to machine.  I'm sure you will soon receive tons of e-mails about the "correct" way to tension a blade, so I'm not going to get into it here.  Tension is just one of ten or fifteen variables that affect the way a bandsaw cuts, and tension is one of the less important settings.

   Your questions suggest that you don't have much experience with setting up a bandsaw, which can be fairly difficult.  There are a number of good books and magazine articles covering the basics, you should do some reading, they'll really help you out.

   John W.

1. 
   InfantTree | Jan 07, 2004 05:04am | #2

   Hello John,

   Thank you for replying to my bandsaw tensioning quesiton with such a thorough answer.  You are correct that I do not have much experience with the tuning of this particular machine.  I will take your advice and read up a bit to answer more of my questions.  My reason for not doing so this time was that I was using my father's saw for roughing out a carving while he mostly uses it for resawing.  My bandsaw has a quick release, so I have never had to mess with the process of hand loosening the tension for blade removal.  Needless to say Dad wasn't real happy that I came over and messed up his toys.  The timeliness of your responce was very helpful. 

   There is much I have to learn about tools.  It's odd but years of professional cabinet making experience taught me less about fine tuning machines than simply buying and putting together my own shop full of tools.  I'm still a beginner in many ways.  Well thanks again and keep the chips flying.

   Chad

   Cincinnati, Ohio