Remove Stubborn Pitch from Bandsaw Tires

Q:

I cut pine on my bandsaw for my last project, leaving a lot of pitch coating the wheels. Cleaning them as suggested in “How to Change a Bandsaw Blade” (Fundamentals, FWW #233) worked great for the upper wheel, but not for the bottom wheel. Any suggestions?

Mark Green, Portsmouth, NH

A:

It’s common for more sawdust and pitch to build up on the bottom wheel since most of it goes straight down into the lower shroud and can become compressed between the blade and the wheel. To scrape the caked-on pitch from the lower tire, first, unplug the bandsaw and remove the blade (see the article referenced above). Then plug the bandsaw back in and turn it on, letting it get up to speed. Turn off the saw, and use the edge of the steel ruler to scrape the sap off the moving tire. The wheel’s speed and momentum make the technique more effective. Repeat the process if necessary.

Before you put the blade back on, apply paste wax to the rubber or urethane tire so pitch and sawdust are less likely to stick. Also, make sure to use a dust collector (Q&A: “Better Dust Collection for the Bandsaw,” FWW #221), which will catch much of that pesky, sticky dust before it can cause problems.

The wax repels residue. With the motor off, coat the tire with wax and buff it. Less dust and pitch will stick to it now. – Staff

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