I was setting up my S16 Mini-max bandsaw today and read in the manual that if the blade is 1/2″ or wider, the teeth are supposed to overhang the wheels slightly so that they do not score the tires.  This really didn’t seem right to me, especially having just read the article in FW #173, “Five Tips for Better Bandsawing”.  In the article, Michael Fortune explains why it is very important to center the blade on the wheels.

So I called customer service at Mini-Max, and sure enough, I’m told to adjust the blade to the front of the wheels so that the teeth slightly overhang the tires.  Easier said than done, I soon experienced.  It was a very fussy adjustment, and when I finally thought I had it, I turned on the saw and the blade promptly walked off the front of the upper wheel.  A little scary, but apparently no harm done. 

So I put the blade in the center of the wheel and made several cuts.  The saw worked really well.

My question is whether or not other Mini-Max owners out there follow the directive to overhang the teeth.  Why would the tires on the Mini-Max saw get messed up while other bandsaw tires are apparently made to take the blade in the center of the wheel?

Thanks for the help