I just received mine from Amazon. It came with a 1/4" blade. I used it and was unhappy with the cut. It wasn't smooth. It was like a wash board. I thought it probably was a cheap blade and ordered a higher quality 3/16 inch 10 TPI blade. I installed it and I still get the wash board effect on my cuts. I have tried different blade tensions and blade positions on the wheel and still not change. Do you have any helpful suggestions?
Adjust the guide wheels above and below the table. The guide wheels are located on both sides of the blade to keep the blade from shifting side to side. Also make sure there is proper tension using the adjustment knob located at the very top of the machine. The guide wheels are the most important part of making a straight cut without the blade walking side to side. Take your time when you’re setting it up. Of course the blade needs to be sharp or it will struggle cutting thicker boards, 2” or over. There are guide wheels located at the back of the blade as well. Those should also be properly set up. Important note. Before you set up all six guide wheels, you should make sure the blade is tracking in the center of the large wheels so when you set up the guide wheels, the blade is rotating in the center of it will struggle and guide wheels will wear out prematurely. You can also back off the six guide wheels just enough to make sure the saw blade is tracking in the center of the large rubber wheels. DO NOT TURN THE MOTOR ON. UNPLUG THE MACHINE . MAKE ALL THESE ADJUSTMENTS WITH THE MACHINE UNPLUGGED. Rotate the blade with your hands. Set the blade tension, then set the tracking as you turn the large wheels by hand. The tension should be tight but not too tight. Read the instructions to help set the tension. What I do is, move the blade guide as high as it will go to e pose as much of the blade as possible, put tension on the blade and che k it bay moving the blade side to side and twisting it until it’s difficult to move with your fingers. When the tension and tracking is setup, at that point you can bring the blade guide down halfway, and on that machine you have 3 1/2” of clearance, so bring it down 1 1/2” to 1 3/4” You don’t need your measure it because it’s not critical. As long as it’s halfway down so you can gain access to the guide wheels. At this point being all six guide wheels t the touch the blade without any clearance. They should all be touching the blade. The guide wheels should not be over the teeth of the blade. They should only be touching the body of the saw blade. Wear safety glasses. You are now ready to plug it in and turn it on. Listen, and watch what it does and if it makes any weird or unwanted sounds. The blade should run steady and true, without sounds as if it struggling. The motor should not be struggling. If the blade and the motor are struggling, you can let off a touch of the tension with the large adjustment knob at the very top. A band saw doesn’t leave a smooth cut surface. Not even a $3000 bandsaw will leave you with a smooth surface, it’s just the nature of that beast, but it should not be the worst cut either. You should be very happy softer property setting it up. Keep in mind that it’s a $150 machine. Let me know how it goes.
I just received mine from Amazon. It came with a 1/4" blade. I used it and was unhappy with the cut. It wasn't smooth. It was like a wash board. I thought it probably was a cheap blade and ordered a higher quality 3/16 inch 10 TPI blade. I installed it and I still get the wash board effect on my cuts. I have tried different blade tensions and blade positions on the wheel and still not change. Do you have any helpful suggestions?
Adjust the guide wheels above and below the table.
The guide wheels are located on both sides of the blade to keep the blade from shifting side to side. Also make sure there is proper tension using the adjustment knob located at the very top of the machine.
The guide wheels are the most important part of making a straight cut without the blade walking side to side.
Take your time when you’re setting it up.
Of course the blade needs to be sharp or it will struggle cutting thicker boards, 2” or over.
There are guide wheels located at the back of the blade as well.
Those should also be properly set up.
Important note. Before you set up all six guide wheels, you should make sure the blade is tracking in the center of the large wheels so when you set up the guide wheels, the blade is rotating in the center of it will struggle and guide wheels will wear out prematurely.
You can also back off the six guide wheels just enough to make sure the saw blade is tracking in the center of the large rubber wheels.
DO NOT TURN THE MOTOR ON.
UNPLUG THE MACHINE .
MAKE ALL THESE ADJUSTMENTS WITH THE MACHINE UNPLUGGED.
Rotate the blade with your hands. Set the blade tension, then set the tracking as you turn the large wheels by hand.
The tension should be tight but not too tight.
Read the instructions to help set the tension.
What I do is, move the blade guide as high as it will go to e pose as much of the blade as possible, put tension on the blade and che k it bay moving the blade side to side and twisting it until it’s difficult to move with your fingers.
When the tension and tracking is setup, at that point you can bring the blade guide down halfway, and on that machine you have 3 1/2” of clearance, so bring it down 1 1/2” to 1 3/4”
You don’t need your measure it because it’s not critical. As long as it’s halfway down so you can gain access to the guide wheels.
At this point being all six guide wheels t the touch the blade without any clearance.
They should all be touching the blade. The guide wheels should not be over the teeth of the blade. They should only be touching the body of the saw blade.
Wear safety glasses.
You are now ready to plug it in and turn it on.
Listen, and watch what it does and if it makes any weird or unwanted sounds.
The blade should run steady and true, without sounds as if it struggling. The motor should not be struggling.
If the blade and the motor are struggling, you can let off a touch of the tension with the large adjustment knob at the very top.
A band saw doesn’t leave a smooth cut surface. Not even a $3000 bandsaw will leave you with a smooth surface, it’s just the nature of that beast, but it should not be the worst cut either.
You should be very happy softer property setting it up.
Keep in mind that it’s a $150 machine.
Let me know how it goes.
@@ginoasci Thank you
@@lennyrosen7033 : o know it was a lot to read and some was repetitive but hopefully you’ve got a good understanding now.