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Bandsaw help required

M

Midnight_Turner

Registered
Joined
Jun 10, 2016
Posts
219
Location
Sutton in Ashfield nr Mansfield
First Name
Miles
Hey guys, I need help with my bandsaw. I live near Mansfield in North Nottinghamshire, and ideally looking for someone to come over one evening and show me what I'm doing wrong. I bought this brand new Axminster hobby series bandsaw, set it up not a problem, and it has been ok for some time but is now not cutting straight. It's a 1,790 mm blade length, and I've been through all the instructions but I can't find out what's the matter with it. Anyone out there fancy a coffee one night? Maybe even some dinner too!


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yorkshireman

yorkshireman

Wood Rat
Executive Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2013
Posts
5,199
Location
wrexham
First Name
Keith
Miles the blades supplied with these aren't the best. Have you changed it for a decent one? Try Tuffsaws they are excellent, phone them up and they'll advise on what blade you want.
 
B

Bigblackdog

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Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
839
Location
Leeds
First Name
Mark
i am a bit far away. when did you change the blade? a blunt blade will never cut straight, so if you havent, i would try that first. If it was cutting straight, then there cant be much wrong with it- blade tpi incorrect for the wood, tension of blade, tracking of blade, guides. I do have a dvd if you want to borrow it for the cost of the postage, which will walk you through the process.
 
Lons

Lons

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Dec 17, 2013
Posts
4,753
Location
Northumberland
First Name
Bob
As the others said Miles.
What have you been cutting since you set it up? If you've cut any tight curves then will affect the blade but most likely you need another. There are a number of decent makes but I get mine mostly from Tuffsaws.
 
Penpal

Penpal

Grand Master
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May 26, 2013
Posts
25,342
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
The recommend for this problem is to relax the guides out of the way and ensure the blade is tracking near the centre of the top wheel, this adjustment is made by changing the angle slightly on the top wheel.
this will correct a blade normally. If not the back bearing in the guides are too far forward then there are many reasons for a problem, fit a decent new blade figure out how many teeth per inch etc is best for you.

Peter.
 
Pierre

Pierre

Graduate Member
Joined
Sep 2, 2015
Posts
999
Location
Southern Central France
First Name
Pierre
Midnight_Turner said:
What about screwfix? Just trying to work out if there is anywhere local to me where I can pick one up?


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I get my blades sent out from tuffsaws to the S of France; why? Because they work properly and cut fast and straight, screwfix is for roofers . BUT the answer is also the tension on the blade and the setting of the guides so set the axminster guides such that you can slide an old fiver note between the blade and the guides sides top and bottom without moving the blade. Also on tension if once you have set the guides and you have movd the opening fully i.e. up to show most blade then you can get 1" side to side between forefinger and thumb in the middle of the blade showing without forcing, you should be about there. After that it all comes down to how you watch your bandsaw behave and so how you fettle it, send me a pm if you didn't understand something , but only in about 5 days time cos I am taking my 89 yr old mum out for her birthday and she lives a long way away:love_it:
PG

Ps. I would suggest a skip tooth blade from tuffsaws but call him first and explain, he really did help me out I can never remember what he sends me I just say what I want to do and lo and behold he sends the bees knees.

Pls oh and he is his own worst enemy his blades last for ages:thumbs:
 
M

Midnight_Turner

Registered
Joined
Jun 10, 2016
Posts
219
Location
Sutton in Ashfield nr Mansfield
First Name
Miles
Pierre said:
I get my blades sent out from tuffsaws to the S of France; why? Because they work properly and cut fast and straight, screwfix is for roofers . BUT the answer is also the tension on the blade and the setting of the guides so set the axminster guides such that you can slide an old fiver note between the blade and the guides sides top and bottom without moving the blade. Also on tension if once you have set the guides and you have movd the opening fully i.e. up to show most blade then you can get 1" side to side between forefinger and thumb in the middle of the blade showing without forcing, you should be about there. After that it all comes down to how you watch your bandsaw behave and so how you fettle it, send me a pm if you didn't understand something , but only in about 5 days time cos I am taking my 89 yr old mum out for her birthday and she lives a long way away:love_it:
PG

Ps. I would suggest a skip tooth blade from tuffsaws but call him first and explain, he really did help me out I can never remember what he sends me I just say what I want to do and lo and behold he sends the bees knees.

Pls oh and he is his own worst enemy his blades last for ages:thumbs:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice Pierre, I've just ordered my one!!


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Dalboy

Dalboy

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Posts
7,681
Location
Kent
First Name
Derek
Midnight_Turner said:
What about screwfix? Just trying to work out if there is anywhere local to me where I can pick one up?


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I would get it from Tuffsaws and wait saves on having to buy twice. Ian is pretty good and if not sure give him a ring.
 
Penpal

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,342
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
I prefer the tooth hardened extra special blades they last longer and attack Burl so well, Tungsten for me 3 teeth skip.

Peter.,
 
Buckeye

Buckeye

ペンメーカー
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Joined
Oct 15, 2013
Posts
9,697
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UK
First Name
Peter
Midnight_Turner said:
What about screwfix? Just trying to work out if there is anywhere local to me where I can pick one up?


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If they have the Starrett blades in the size you want that is the best option they are first class blades and last much longer. I was fortunate that they had the size I needed.

Peter

Peter
 
iandel

iandel

Full Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2017
Posts
256
Location
Stansted, Essex
First Name
Ian
I had similar problems with my bandsaw. It would have been excellent for making wooden bananas. I read books and looked at various You Tube videos on how to set it up. In the end a new blade from Tuffsaws transformed the machine. It was like a minor miracle :up:
 
Lons

Lons

Fellow
Joined
Dec 17, 2013
Posts
4,753
Location
Northumberland
First Name
Bob
I think Starrett blades are pretty good now but when we retailed them 25 years ago even though they had a good reputation at the time, they were bloody awful and we had blades returned every week that had snapped at the weld. So much so that we invested in a welder set up for repairs.
 
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