Shop Tips
Spring Clamp Helps with Bandsaw Blade Changes
When changing bandsaw blades, use a large spring clamp as a third hand to hold the blade in place on the top wheel.
I really like my 75-year-old bandsaw, but changing the blade is another matter. I used to hang it on the top wheel only to have it fall off every time I began to work it into position between the blade guides and over the bottom wheel. Then I realized that a large spring clamp could be a third hand. It holds the blade in place on the top wheel and makes the rest of the job a cinch.
—DON MESSMER, Blairstown, N.J.
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Ridgid EB4424 Oscillating Spindle/Belt Sander
With five spindles sized from 1/2 in. to 2 in. and a 4 X 24-in. belt, this sander has become a staple in many a shop Fine Woodworking visits.
Ridgid R4331 Planer
Priced nearly $300 less than the DeWalt 735X, the Ridgid R4331 is an excellent value. Its three-knife cutterhead left wonderfully clean surfaces on plainsawn white oak and white pine. It did not perform nearly as well on curly maple as the 735X.
Rockler Dust Right 650 CFM
While all five of the smaller units will collect chips efficiently when deployed properly, the 3/4-hp Rockler was just a bit more powerful in our suction test.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
Comments
Great idea. Wish I would have seen this last week when I was installing a blade on my band saw.
Great idea. Thank
D'oh that's such a good idea. Why didn't I think of it before... thank you for sharing.
I thought this was a great idea when I tried it, however when you attach a spring clamp to the wheel it throws off the balance it tries to swing down to the bottom. So I had to use a wedge to keep it from turning. As a result, I discovered that the wedge also keeps the blade on the wheel while freezing the wheel from turning.
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in