There’s no doubt about it — a bandsaw is one of the tools in your shop that might cause you the most frustration. When it’s working well, it’s a lifesaver, allowing you to cut curves, veneers, and more. When it’s not working quite right? Well...it’s tempting to want to do away with it altogether.
What’s a person to do? At Long Island Woodworking Supply, we consider a bandsaw to be one of the most essential woodworking tools out there. Every shop needs one, so whether you’re an amateur struggling with blade drift or a professional who is constantly searching for ways to improve your workflow, having a well-functioning bandsaw is worth it. But what can you do to eliminate dreaded blade drift? We’re sharing a few of the tips that we’ve picked up over the years, so keep reading to learn more.
First things first. If you’re using the blade that came stock with your bandsaw, it’s time for a change. Will it get you by until you can upgrade? Yes. Should you make it a priority to upgrade as soon as possible? Also yes. Thankfully, Long Island Woodworking Supply makes it easy. No matter what size your bandsaw is, we offer the always-reliable Timber Wolf bandsaw blades that make perfect replacements and cost-effective upgrades. Choose a thinner blade for curves and a thicker one for resawing and it’s like a whole new ballgame.
When is the last time you adjusted your bandsaw? If it’s been awhile, it’s probably a good idea to give it a once over. We recommend this quick video on how to set up a bandsaw from Alex Snodgrass and Marc Spagnuolo to get you started. It goes over everything from how to align the blade to how to properly make adjustments on the upper wheel.
One particular tip that we’ve found helpful is to track the blade right in the center of the upper wheel. Although a lot of attention is given to making sure the upper and lower wheel are aligned in perfect harmony, we’ve found that getting it pretty close is more than enough.
If you’ve never adjusted your bandsaw fence, this is the perfect opportunity. With a new blade and an adjusted upper wheel, it just makes sense to make sure that your fence is working the way it’s supposed to be. Take a few moments to properly align your fence to your bandsaw’s miter slot. With a blade that is tracking properly and a fence that’s set parallel to the miter slot, you’re in business.
At Long Island Woodworking Supply, we have all of the woodworking tools and supplies you need to succeed in your shop. Whether you’re interested in woodturning or woodburning, we have you covered. In fact, we’re currently having a sale on our Colwood Woodburner Kits. With same-day shipping on most orders and a knowledgeable staff who is here to help if you have any questions, you can count on our team to take great care of you at every step of the way. Shop our entire collection of products now.
We hope that today’s post has been helpful and that if you’re having issues with your bandsaw, you’ll take the time to go through a setup and make the upgrade to a new Timber Wolf blade. Regardless of how you use the bandsaw in your shop, we think you’ll find that it’s a joy to fire up each time you work on a project.
