Stupid band saw........

[Wood Dog]

Hello scrollers
Anyone know why my band saw doesn't cut in a straight line?
I increased the tension just a bit and it still won't cut straight.
I've gotten used to my scroll saw cutting a bit off, but I need the band saw to cut straight. I don't want to diddle with curvy lines.
It's a table top 5 inch Delta. Thanks
WD

[Greenfield_Bob]

Is the blade sharp?

Bob

[Wood Dog]

Yes sir Mr Greenfield it is a fairly new blade about 4 months old and I don't cut that often on it.
WD

[minowevie]

Originally Posted by Wood Dog

Hello scrollers
Anyone know why my band saw doesn't cut in a straight line?
I increased the tension just a bit and it still won't cut straight.
I've gotten used to my scroll saw cutting a bit off, but I need the band saw to cut straight. I don't want to diddle with curvy lines.
It's a table top 5 inch Delta. Thanks
WD

Hi Wood Dog. boy thats something i have probleams with alot. sometimes its the wood vers's the blade. and sometimes, its the level of the table. sometimes its the blades you use. I wonder which side of the line do you cut against. there is a burr on most blades. (faceing the blade while cutting ), it would be on the right.I find if I cut with the burr to my right, against the line, I can follow the line better, but, if the blade is to small. it can travale to the right. even when i try to turn. to the left. is that , whats happening. what kind of blades are you useing?what thickness are you cutting? also, if your table is not leavale, that can make a bebale cut , just alittle off, and its a night mare. I'd like to add. a band saw cuts one deriction. and very fast. a scroll saw cuts up and down. fast or slow. I said your table should be level but for real. it should be squir. squir with the blade. you can do this with a small squir, or buy making a cut, back out, turn around, see if your blade goes back into the cut with out binding. I use a small squir, 4". and line the blade up with the tabale. then the tention, could need to be tighter, plunk it , do you get a note, that sounds like a c note? or tight enouph to cut chees.you can also. put the blade in tight. and hold a piece of sand papper on the right side. to sand off the burr. there is lots of stuff you can do. these are just a few. don't give up. it is fixabale. your friend Evie

[Litlhof]

Hi Wood Dog:
Litlhof here, in East Tennessee. Are you making a flat cut or resawing? That might be a foolish question with such a little saw, but generally for flat sawing, your ability to control your cut is a function of blade sharpness and rate of feed. Wood hardness is always a factor, even on a larger saw. Please describe the variety and thickness of your wood and perhaps I can give you a better answer. All bandsaws have some drift, but generally you can learn to adjust to it.
Best regards, Walt.

[NC Scroller]

Originally Posted by Wood Dog

Yes sir Mr Greenfield it is a fairly new blade about 4 months old and I don't cut that often on it.
WD

Not all blades are created equal and like the saying goes you get what you pay for. Do you have a different blade you can try? I have tried Sears and other off brands and I was not happy with the results. Now I only purchase premium blades like a Timberwolf.

Scott

[workin for wood]

Lots of good info. Blade should be in the center of the wheels too. This is a huge factor, especially for re-sawing. Lots of articles floating out there on how to tune a band saw, even if it's a small bench model. Good blades, that's a fact too. More you spend generally the more you get. If you really want to upgrade go with carbide teeth. Cost way more, but you get a beauty straight cut in any wood, with a near glass finish.

If you plan on doing alot of bandsawing in the future, sell yours and upgrade to a bigger floor model. Something in the size of 14" is good enough for most people. Just like a cheap plastic scroll saw, a cheap little bandsaw can be alot of work, which can really put you off the hobby. You start to think you suck, or it's just too much work, but really it's the tool itself that is the problem.

[Woodbutcher68]

Make sure that the blade guide is just above the piece you're cutting too.

[minowevie]

Originally Posted by Wood Dog

Hello scrollers
Anyone know why my band saw doesn't cut in a straight line?
I increased the tension just a bit and it still won't cut straight.
I've gotten used to my scroll saw cutting a bit off, but I need the band saw to cut straight. I don't want to diddle with curvy lines.
It's a table top 5 inch Delta. Thanks
WD

WOOPS. sorry Wood Dog. My eyes deceived me. forget all that stuff I rote on my last post, I realized I should go back and reread your post. dang. you were asking about the band saw, Not the scroll saw. sorry. Evie

[Jediscroller]

There should be a method for adusting the fence for blade "lead." I'm not positive that a small saw will offer this, on mine, I have 4 screws on the fence that allow me to make any necessary adjustments. I'd recommend the book The Bandsaw Handbook by Duginski. All kinds of info on tuning up your saw and such and is an excellent reference.