Prevent Vibration When Resawing on the Bandsaw

Q:

I am attempting to resaw 8-in. wide cherry on a 14-in. bandsaw with a riser block. I am using a 3 tooth/in., skip-tooth carbide blade and have tried various tensions up to 15,000 psi. The problem is when I feed the stock, the blade chatters and jumps violently. I have checked the clearances on the guides on top and bottom and just can’t figure out what the problem is.

Scott39, via Ask The Experts, None

A:

It is very hard to diagnose machine problems at a distance, but here are a few lesser known possible causes for your problem.

Examine the blade
One common cause of bandsaw vibration during resawing is a bad blade. On all types of blades, look for a kink, a crack, or a bad weld. On a carbide blade a missing tooth might be the culprit. On regular blades, the teeth are notched into the steel, however, on carbide blades, the teeth are separate and can break off. The best way to check for blade problems is to inspect the blade off the machine first and then to hand rotate it when it is on the machine to see how it acts going through the guides.

Remove obstructions
Check to see if a curl of wood is piling up under the stock. This type of obstruction can lift the board off the table, which will cause grabbing as the poorly supported board wobbles. This is a bit more common with carbide blades than steel blades, which are sharper and more likely to cut cleanly through the wood.

Inspect the drive system
Another cause of this vibration might be a problem with the drive system on your bandsaw. This can come in many forms, such as a loose or badly worn belt that alternately slips and grabs when a load is placed on it. Other possible causes could be a loose pulley or a loose lower band saw wheel that has lost or sheared its drive keys. Finally, check to make sure you don’t have a bad tire that slips on the rim of the wheel or has become hard with age.

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