OT - Northern Tools 4X6 bandsaw problem

[TXWelder]

I have one of these and like it fairly well. One problem I have is that the blade wanders quite a bit.

While cutting some 1"X2" stock the other day, the cut would wander almost .02" by the bottom of the cut. I've adjusted everything I know how to adjust and it all seems tight....I'm stumped!

Any suggestions???

[Mike W]

Do you mean that it is cutting off to one side? Once it starts to do that, replace the blade. You should be able to adjust the guides so it starts straight. Use a small piece of metal clamped to the blade and a square to check it.

[Zrexxer]

Tension, tension, tension. Crank down on the blade tension far beyond the point you think it's tight. You may even need to grip the tension knob with a shop rag to get it tight enough by hand.

[TXWelder]

When I say it's going off-line, I mean that it's cutting in and down.

For example, when I placed the 1"X2" on it's side, it was cutting across 2" of surface and down 1". As it cut, the bottom portion of the piece would be approx .02" shorter than the top. The blade would 'walk' in towards the bottom of the cut.

[swat253]

The blade is reacting to tension being placed on it by the piece being cut.

Can you adjust your rear guides closer to the cut? Use the full travel of the rear arm leaving just a small space behind the stock metal or as far as it will go before contacting the saw frame. Worked for me after I fabricated my rear guide set-up.

[IRON TO ART]

The first thing I would check is make sure the blade is new. Or just try a new blade if there is any chance that you have taken the set off one side.
Next use a square as mentioned above to make sure the blade is square to the travel of the head. I use a dial indicator mounted to a mag base for this at work. Adjust the guide b earing until it is square. If you can't seem to get it square check to see if the head is travelling square to vise by mounting the dial indicator to the head and a square piece locked in the vise.

Oh and if the dial indicator on a small 1/2" blade shows even .001 deflect adjust it in. You should be able to get it to zero deflection.

[kenes]

Your guides should be as close as possible to the pipe being cut.
As a band saw wears it has a tendency to "lead" on way or the other.What I mean is one side will wear down more than the other causing it to wander left or right.
Hope this makes sense.