Set up your bandsaw.

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Lawrence. Yes Alex is only discussing narrow band saws not the big industrial types (wide) you used.

I can only give my views on the band saws I've owned over many years and as I stated previously I've always set up my band exactly on center with the guides almost touching only to end up totally frustrated by the band saw performance.

I've only just sold my Startrite band saw and I tried many times to get this to cut straight but it always wandered with a mind of its own even with a brand new band installed; this was an industrial band saw running a 1/2" wide band.

I have replaced the Startrite with an old cast iron Wilmac band saw and set this Wilmac up exactly as recommended by Alex and at last I'm now cutting dead straight against a guide even with a worn blade because I've yet to buy new blades.

I added this video because it works for me and even if Alex's instructions go dead against all the books I've read; I've never seen anyone use a band saw the way Alex does with such speed and accuracy whilst making extremely tight radius cuts.

The picture below shows the Wilmac fitted with a 1/4" band cutting a 6' length of timber without the slightest trouble and with an old blade. As I say it works for me and I'll stick with it. I'll try to find the last piece of timber I tried to cut straight with the Startrite and post the picture for comparison.

Kind regards, Col.