Contradictory bandsaw advice

[LocalOak]

Hi

I recently bought the axminster baby bandsaw (very nice, enjoying it) but am puzzled over a bit of advice in the instructions. It recommends leaving the blade under tension and says that neither the blade nor the frame like being released and re-tensioned too often.

This seems to be totally at odds with the normal advice to release the tension when not using the saw.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Toby :?:

 

[woodbloke]

I never release the tension on my saw unless it's blade changing time. I've had the saw for 10 years or so with no problems - Rob

 

[MikeG.]

I only release the tension when changing a blade, or if I go on holiday for any length of time. However, there is absolutely no logic to the latter that I can think of!

Mike

 

[motownmartin]

I have never understood why you would want to take off the tension unless you want to change the blade, its a bit like jacking a car off its wheels if your not driving, hence I never take the tension off.

 

[plymouth pirate]

I only release the tension when changing a blade, or if I go on holiday for any length of time. However, there is absolutely no logic to the latter that I can think of!

Is it possible the rubber wheel band might become distorted more one side than the other, giving rough running, if left for any length of time? Otherwise, can't think of any good reason either.

John

 

[Racers]

Hi,

My old dewalt had cracked wheels (made from some sort of black plastic) it had been left tensioned all the time, I super glued them and I believe they are holding up fine.

Pete

 

[lurker]

Hi,

My old dewalt had cracked wheels (made from some sort of black plastic) it had been left tensioned all the time, I super glued them and I believe they are holding up fine.

Pete

Yep its been fine and I usually only release tension if I know I'm going to be away for a while.

 

[Daven]

I read this recently on the Styles and Bates website:-
It is worth mentioning that about two years ago, we threw the book away and stopped taking the tension off the blades at the end of the day.
Apart from on the 4in. bandsaws, we haven’t taken the tension off a narrow blade since early in 2002 (except for changing blades of course!) and we reckon our breakages have been reduced considerably. We put it down to keeping the blade under steady pressure.

I have stopped taking off the tension since reading it and so far so good!

Dave

 

[LocalOak]

Thanks very much, the tension stays on!

 

[OPJ]

Maybe it's just me (or, my £200 saw with origins in the Far East...) but, I find blade breakages (on the weld) are less frequent when the tension is released for a period of days where I won't be in the workshop... :duno:

 

[Chris Knight]

Might be your blades Olly, I have never had a weld failure on bandsaw blade! I've had my present saw 15 years, never take the tension off the blade either.

Maybe it's just me (or, my £200 saw with origins in the Far East...) but, I find blade breakages (on the weld) are less frequent when the tension is released for a period of days where I won't be in the workshop... :duno:

 

[wizer]

I used to release the tension but forgot once and it's been on for about 6months. Doesn't seem to have done any harm thus far

 

[studders]

I believe that constantly de/re tensioning was a contributing factor in my machines tensioning bracket snapping. So it stays tensioned now.

 

[Alf]

Likewise - think it did for the (admittedly pretty lousy) tensioning bolt on my old Elu. Twice. I gave up de-tensioning some years ago after a very similar discussion on a forum far, far away. Of course I managed to completely forget about it during the long workshop hiatus, didn't I? I have released it subsequently, but it was tensioned for a long old time and I'm really dreading finding out if it's had any disastrous effects. [-o<

 

[studders]

it was tensioned for a long old time and I'm really dreading finding out if it's had any disastrous effects. [-o<

Left my small bandsaw, that I use a quarter inch blade on for curvy cuts, tensioned and unused for ages. Was expecting trouble with the blade, thinking it may have gone out of shape after being stationary for so long, but it was fine.

 

[Tom K]

Its one of those conundrums :duno: . Leaving the tension on means its left under strain and could cause flat spots (on tyred machines) but releasing and retensioning may cause fatigue. It's a bit like the old turn it off or turn it down c/h dilema.

 

[studders]

Its one of those conundrums :duno: . It's a bit like the old turn it off or turn it down c/h dilema.

I'm a 'leave at 18 degrees' follower maself.

 

[Tom K]

How does tilting the table help? (homer)

 

[chill]

Tom K wrote...

How does tilting the table help?

:lol:

I leave the tension on my startrite bandit and it`s fine

 

[Fred Page]

Have a look at the short paragraph on this topic in Laguna's
"American Woodworker's Table & Bandsaw Tips & Techniques" free download. Beware though it's a large file.