I have the riser block kit on my new Delta bandsaw, and am still cutting test pieces and fiddling with everything trying to get used to the tool. I had been noticing the blade made some noise when the saw was running. Someone here had asked me before if the blade moved forward and backward – now I notice that it does. Also, the rear blade guard gets replaced with an aluminum one with the riser kit. I noticed last night that the blade rubs this guard and throws sparks. I’ve tried to adjust the tracking but the blade begins to touch the upper wheel edge before it stops touching the guard below. Any ideas?
Also, several of you have recommended a band saw book. When I searched for that book on-line I found several by the same author. Is there one better than another?
Edited 6/6/2002 9:16:42 AM ET by CAMPBELLDUST
Edited 6/6/2002 12:30:26 PM ET by CAMPBELLDUST
Replies
My local library system has all three of the Duginske books. I like the 2nd one best.
I thought I'd try refreshing this one. Does anyone have any advice for me on the first issue?
Thanks!
Tolerances in castings are such that installation of a riser block may throw your saw out of alignment. I had that happen with the Jet-14, where the blade contacted the guide. I pulled the alignment pin out of the riser section. With it mounted and the bolts only slightly loose, I used a sledge and wood block to tap the upper casing into position. To do so you need to check for coplanar wheels at two locations (forward and back), and also align the edge of both wheels. Further, this changes slightly under tension so you have to adjust, tension and check, maybe back off the tension to adjust, then repeat. I finished by checking with a 3/4 blade under high tension.
Gerry
So it's okay to leave the alignment pins out? There are four. I'm assuming it wouldn't budge unless they were all out.
The sparks are coming from the point of contact where the back edge of the blade is rubbing the guide. It has worn a little groove in the gaurd as well.
I've also got a small notch in the guide from before I adjusted the saw. As to the pins, yes, you would have to remove all of them. I think the Jet only had two. Is this okay? Well, you've got the Delta, and you need to take a good look at how it goes together to make sure of this. In general though, the pins are only providing alignment. Without them, you need to be much more careful when you first remount the upper assembly, so it doesn't slide off before you get the bolts in place.
But, if you're hitting both the guide and the guard, it's a good bet that it's way off. Still, first check the two wheels. Tilt the table out of the way, and check for coplaner both in the rear and front, then check the edge. I don't know how close it was before you added the riser. IOW, it's possible there are more problems, that once you have the two wheels perfectly set, the blade will still hit. In that case, it's back to Delta. I haven't heard of anybody with that problem with a Jet or Delta, but it's possible.
Gerry
You wrote that the new guard is made out of aluminum and you feel it is sparking. One of the properties of aluminum is that it will not spark. If your blade is touching the guard, it will cut it but it cannot be a source of sparking. If you see sparks it means the blade is contacting a steel part somewhere. Please review the alignment again
Peter
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