NEW! Faster Search Option

Bandsaw re-sawing: seems slow

Bandsaw re-sawing: seems slow (post #156141)

Susan T on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 10:02 (updated 08/31/10 - 08:34)

General Discussion

Hi everyone, I have a problem with re-sawing on my bandsaw. It takes about 14 minutes to re-saw a 3" X 48" piece of cherry, which seems a little on the slow side to me. I am using a Rigid 14" bandsaw with a new Timberwolf 1/2" 3 tpi blade. I have my fence adjusted for blade drift and keep the stock tight to the fence using a featherboard while I saw. The stock is supported on the outfeed. I've got the blade tensioned as tight as it will go, and it sounds like a guitar string when I pluck it. Even so, if I try to feed the stock any faster, the saw blade starts chirping like a banshee and the motor begins to bog down.

Any suggestions?

That does seem very slow (post #156141, reply #1 of 12)

by RMillard in reply to Susan T [original] on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 10:17

Susan,

This is very slow. I haven't really timed it, but I would say it should take less than a minute to resaw a board like that.

My first thought is the teeth are too coarse, for such a narrow board . For resawing boards under about 6" wide, I use my standard blade, which is a 3/8" 8-10 variable pitch bi-metal blade from Starrett.

Also, and I'm not sure about this, but I think the Timber Wolf blades are made to run on less tension, so you might try lessening the tension. Finally, check to see that the blade is not hitting the thrust bearing too hard. When this happens on my saw, it causes all kinds of strange behavior.

Rob Millard
www.americanfederalperiod.com
www.rlmillard.typepad.com

HI Rob-- Thanks--those (post #156141, reply #2 of 12)

by Susan T in reply to RMillard [original] on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 11:02

HI Rob--

Thanks--those are all good suggestions. However, I had tried it on a narrower blade with more teeth and the motor would stop altogether if I went any faster. I also tried the TW blade at less tension, but got the same result. Switching to 3 tpi and cranking the tension up actually sped it up a little, if you can believe that!

I'm flummoxed.

PS to Rob-- I will check the (post #156141, reply #3 of 12)

by Susan T in reply to Susan T [original] on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 11:24

PS to Rob-- I will check the thrust bearing, however. I did move it in slightly when I tightened the blade.

Solved the problem (post #156141, reply #4 of 12)

by Susan T in reply to Susan T [original] on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 15:29

It turns out the belt was loose. I got the idea that it might be after reading a couple of things on the internet and in Lonnie Bird's book. Mind you, I know nothing about motors, but as soon as I took the belt cover off, I could see it was too loose. It slipped in the wheels with hardly any pull from me.

The motor mount was also loose; I was able to loosen each of the nuts and bolts holding it down with hand pressure only. Also, the pulleys were out of alignment. The set screws holding them were also loose.

So I fixed all that by re-positioning the motor, making sure _not_ to make the belt too tight (but tight enough not to slip), making sure that the drive shaft was perpendicular to the pulley systems, and re-aligning the pulleys.

When I tried it out on a 2" piece of soft maple, it cut like a knife through butter in no time at all. Plus, there is less vibration now.

I'm not sure if it came from the factory that way or if it loosened up over time. Probably a little of both, since it has always seemed a tad underpowered to me.

So I learned something today.

Plus, there is less vibration (post #156141, reply #5 of 12)

by swenson in reply to Susan T [original] on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 17:11

Vibration also can be fixed by replacing belts with those chained linked belts. If you've never seen them you probably are thinking motorcycle chain drive, but no joke, Woodcraft used to sell them. They work for me.

Chained link belts (post #156141, reply #6 of 12)

by Susan T in reply to swenson [original] on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 18:22

I'll check those out. I have no idea what they are, but I'm feeling pretty feisty now that I've fixed the problem and learned a little bit about belt drives. So I'm starting to think, "Maybe I could tweak it a little more..." Ha!

From Woodcraft website (post #156141, reply #8 of 12)

by swenson in reply to Susan T [original] on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 03:52

Reduce vibration in any of your belt driven machines with the Power Twist Link Belt! Common V-belts develop a "memory" and retain their non-operating shape causing annoying and unnecessary machine vibration. However, these specially engineered link belts do not develop a "memory", but retain their flexibility for smooth operation.

Link Belt is 1/2" wide
Easily adjustable
Available either by the foot or in a prepackaged 4' length
Includes instructions for use

I knew I had the name wrong.

chain link belt (post #156141, reply #10 of 12)

by Susan T in reply to swenson [original] on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 05:58

Just ordered it last night. Thanks for the tip!

You'll like the belt. (post #156141, reply #11 of 12)

by RMillard in reply to Susan T [original] on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 15:50

Susan,

I have had a link belt on my bandsaw for almost 12 years. It did seem to transmit the power better, and certainly reduced vibration, especially under load.

Rob Millard

Look no further than Knots but do look : ) (post #156141, reply #7 of 12)

by roc in reply to Susan T [original] on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 23:02

I was just saying to a friend:

http://forums.finewoodworking.com/fine-w...

Glad you fixed it. Aren't bandsaws the cat's meow ?

roc

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

Excellent! (post #156141, reply #9 of 12)

by Susan T in reply to roc [original] on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 05:57

Ah, Roc, I did look, but didn't find your excellent response to the other person's troubles. Wish I had--it might have saved me some fretting.

I am wiser now, though.

Welcome to Knots ! (post #156141, reply #12 of 12)

by roc in reply to Susan T [original] on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 22:44

Oops ! You are a brand new member of Knots. Sorry. Just noticed. Can't expect you to get around in here easily on the first round or two.

Welcome to Knots !

I was just saying to Queenmasteroftheuniverseandbabybunnytrainer a few days ago that about all the women have disappeared from Knots. Ah well probably off making stuff instead of just talking about it.

>Slipping belt<

I learned the hard way. I knew I had set the belt tension with care when I set up my bandsaw so I didn't think to check the belt. It seemed I hadn't used it enough to put wear on anything.

I was cutting OK but had quite a shriek when I switched on the saw. Brand new saw shrieking like that. Glad it was just belt tension.

Be sure to post photos of cool stuff that you are working on. Let one of us know if it isn't clear how to put photos on with your posts. Mostly it is just the button that shows up bellow this text field when writing a new post or comment. The one marked "Choose File".

Thanks for your patience,

roc