Instructions to replace a blade on the vertical bandsaw in the Metal Shop.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
• Sturdy, close-toed shoes must be worn at all times.
• Long hair, jewelry, and loose clothing must be tied back.
• Safety glasses and earmuffs must be worn while machines are running.
• A dust mask or a NIOSH certified respirator is recommended.
Note that these instructions were written for the wood shop band saws, but band saws do not differ greatly in their mechanics and the goals are the same.
The blade should be changed when it is damaged (chipped, broken teeth, deformed) or inappropriate for the task.
Disconnect the power to the bandsaw.
Put gloves on! Anytime you are handling the blade, you should be wearing gloves. Even a dull blade has sharp teeth!
Assuming that you have just removed the blade and have left the doors open, guides backed out, clamps removed, etc as described under Removing the Blade, proceed with the following steps:
Tracking the blade means getting the blade aligned with the rubber drive wheels. The objective is to get the blade to track on the largest parts of the drive wheels. There may be a groove worn into the rubber: that is where the new blade should track.
Note: The blade must be fully tensioned for final tracking.
Note: Never track the blade with the saw running.
Note. There is a window on the side of the bandsaw that allows the blade on the upper flywheel to be viewed. This will assist you while you are tracking the blade.
The key to all tensioning is to get the blade to cut straight and true with the minimum amount of tension.
The upper flywheel has a spring that is used to keep a constant pressure on the blade during use. As the blade cuts, heat is generated, which causes the blade length to expand. The spring compensates for the change in length, and you must never bottom out the spring while tensioning the blade.
The tension is chosen by the width of the blade and the blade tension knob is turned until the indicator points at the marking equivalent to the width of the blade.
Make sure that everything that was moved or removed is replaced:
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