Powermatic 14CS Bandsaw, 9,500 PSI
LarryM7 | Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
I am interested in the Powermatic 14CS bandsaw. In the Band Saw review in the 2004 Taunton Tool Guide, pp. 12-15 the review says that the Powermatic 14CS bandsaw is only able to achieve 9,500 PSI tension, below the ideal 15,000 PSI. The article also says that the Powermatic that they reviewed is a prototype
Do anyone know if the production Powermatic 14CS bandsaws can achieve 15,000 PSI (was the prototype limited in some way)? Does Powermatic have any plans to increase the tension? Is it possible to achieve 15,000 PSI with an after-market tension spring?
Thanks,
Larry
Replies
Oops, just realized I had the product name wrong. The article calls it the Powermatic PWBS-14.
Larry
The question is probably does it matter that much? I have two bandsaws in the shop, a large Agazanni 28in saw which can tension a .040in thick carbide tipped blade to 25,000psi (and a Starrett tension meter to check that I'm not going to pull a blade apart) and a small 14in Startrite (UK make) which won't pull more than 9,500psi. The Aggy is a wonderfull resaw, the Startrite is still good for the small stuff though - it was my sole bandsaw before I got the Aggy and with a 1/2in WoodSlicer blade it would handle most things I threw at it, albeit slowly. If the saw can do what you ask of it whay worry about absolute tension?
Scrit
Did they say why 15,000 PSI is desired? The proper tension will depend on the thickness of the blade. If the 15,000 PSI was reached with a thin blade (like the one that comes on most of the import bandsaws), a thicker blade will probably be OK at a lower tension. Once you eliminate the blade's flutter and tighten the knob one more turn (as a basic starting point only), you should be able to cut with good results. Maybe a little tweaking, but you should be OK. The material that the blade is made from has a lot to do with how you need to adjust the tension. If the blade is soft and stretches, you'll need to get close to the yield point. Much past this and the blade breaks. The hardness and cross-sectional area determine the tension requirement.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
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