How to correct a wobbling bandsaw blade

[ByronBlack]

I've just been setting up my new BS and noticed that the blade wobbles a fair bit back to front, it's fine from side to side. I've checked the wheels, they seem to be fine - no warping or anything like that. They've come pre-balanced (not that I know how to balance a wheel anyway). I'm using a 3/4 inch blade and have tried with different tensions - it doesn't alter the wobbling.

I've also adjusted the guides so they aren't interfering with it at all, and still it wobbles. I've also adjusted the position of the blade on the wheel using the tilt-adjustment of the top-wheel; moving the blade from the front of the wheel, to the center and finally to the back to no avail.

Is there another adjustment that I'm over-looking here to get the blade to spin straight? (I've also checked the weld, and the condition of the blade; all seems fine, it's a brand-new dragon saw blade).

TIA

 

[CHJ]

Have you checked the Blade.

With power OFF, raise the top guide to max height and place a steel rule edge against the back of the blade (or a combination square if you have one) and slowly rotate the blade by hand, see if there are any front to back kinks in the blade.

Often happens if weld is not square, blade has been stretched in folding or 'bent' due to a 'catch' accident in use (the latter not applicable in your case)

 

[Shultzy]

BB, check to see if the wobble is at the weld. Put a spot of paint on the weld which will make it easier to see.

 

[Mr Ed]

It sounds very much like the kind of wobbling about I have always had on my Basato 3. I have always put it down to adjustment of the guidesor tracking of the wheels, hence my comments when you originally asked about the Basato 3. That said it may well be some other issue if you have done all you can with the guides and still have the problem.

Someone who knows more about bandsaws than me may be able to help - I hope this isn't a sign of some inherent lack of precision on the Basato saws, which I have wondered about.

Cheers, Ed

 

[GCR]

Byron, do you have another blade and if so, does it show the same back and forth wobble? If not then it is probably the blade welded at a slight angle. My saw suffers from side to side wobble with many blades but that is because I have to turn the blade "inside-out" (and thus kink it) because my machine feeds from the opposite side to virtually every other machine.
Bob

 

[ByronBlack]

Hey chaps, thanks for all the suggestions. From some other sources, it seems that the likely explanation is a slight out of square weld as suggested, so I'm going to give another blade a go and see how that runs.

Ed - I'm not sure the wobble issue is related to accuracy of the machine, when at the D&M show I spent a fair amount of time inspecting the workings of the machine (because of the points you raised) and I was suitably impressed with what I saw - if it were side-to-side wobble, then I would be more concerned, but so far I'm very happy with the way all the adjustments work, the way the guides work etc...

I'll see how I get on tomorrow with a different blade.

 

[ByronBlack]

I've since tried two blades on the machine, all the same problem, the original blade that comes with the machine shows even worse wobble, on close inspection, it seems that the top wheel doesn't spin perfectly, it seems to have a slight warp or something, if I spin it by hand I can see the outside edge move in and out very slightly and if I put my hand on the machine casing while its running, I can physically feel the wobble, so looks like a call to the guys at NMA is in order - lets see how good their customer service is, hopefully it's as good as their sales staff.

I must admit, I'm getting pretty sick of bandsaws at the moment, I wish I still have my 14" Jet, that was perfect

 

[iajon69]

Hi Colin

Sorry to hear about your bandsaw problems - hopefully you will have have some joy with customer services.
I know it's a pain now but when it's all sorted and up and running correctly then this will just be a distant memory and I'm sure that you will be very happy with the machine.

Ian

 

[ByronBlack]

Hi Ian,

I'm sure your right, it's a decent machine overall, and I'm happy to have chosen it, it's just a royal pain in the rear-end when it doesn't work out of the box, I must have been spoiled with the Jet, almost every machine i've owened since has been a right pain!

I spoke to the guys at NMA today, and they are sending out a new top wheel to see if that fixes it - i'm in two minds, on close inspection it does seem that the wheel moves slightly causing the wobble, but whether thats the cause or not I'm unsure, hopefully the new wheel won't take long to get here and I can at least eliminate one potential problem.

 

[newt]

Byron, why did you get rid of the jet.

 

[ByronBlack]

Byron, why did you get rid of the jet.

I was moving house at the time and needed to raise some cash for the move - also the new place didn't have anywhere to store it.

The only reason why I didn't go for the Jet again this time around was I wanted extra capacity, but if this new wheel doesn't correct the fault, I think i'll send it back and go back for the Jet.

 

[ByronBlack]

Update:

This is quickly turning into a saga. The new wheel arrived today, I went to fit it only to find that it's the wrong one. The hub is too deep so the shaft doesn't extend far enough out to secure with the circlip. How difficult can it be to send the right part? It's not as if they do a massive line of bandsaws.

I'm currently thinking of getting them to collect it for a refund, it's been a fortnight since I bought the damn thing and I still can't use it. :evil:

 

[ByronBlack]

Further update:

I've arranged a refund, and just waiting for nma to ring back to arrange collection of the machine, no one seemed to want to deal with the problem or help (first time around), so I've given up, getting my money back and will re-think my next purchase, if I make one.

Edit: In my frustration/dissapointment, I may sound more negative of NMA than I should, I have to be fair and say they have been fine with dealing with the return.

Ohwell, at least it's sorted.

Hopefully the collection and courier will go smoothly as I don't have original packaging, what a pain in the rear. I really think companies should have some kind of test/QC on their machines before sending out, perhaps that would add too much to the cost.. I would happily pay extra if I knew the machine was setup/working and not faulty before it arrived and I spent hours putting it together.

 

[Shakespeare]

Hiya Col,

Sorry to hear about your saw, but maybe the best thing eh, to send it back I mean. If you need to use a saw meanwhile, then just come down, no problems.

Got my planer today, not the worlds best by far, but good enough for what I'll be using it for.

See ya

Baz

 

[ByronBlack]

Final Update:

It's fixed!

After my post on the forum, the guys at NMA sent me a message, and it made me re-think my approach. I was wary of trying to send it back seeing as I didn't have the original packaging, and I had a bad feeling something would happen with the couriers and it would drag on.

So, I proposed a solution and Richard from NMA promptly called me first thing the next day and agreed to test a new wheel on their demo machine and then send that to me. Basically, the first wheel that was sent is wrong, the hub was too-wide, either it's for another model, or it's (and what I think is right) the bottom wheel.

Either way, Richard got another wheel sent out to me which I received today. I've since installed it on the machine, and tested it, and it works perfectly. I've not set up the table or fence perfectly as of yet, but a few quick and dirty test cuts prove to me that the blade is in fact now tracking perfectly.

I also quickly re-sawed some 9" thick swamp-ash, and it went through life a knife through butter, thanks to the awesome blades from dragon saws that I'm testing out..

Thanks NMA for being patient and persistent, and thanks Ian at dragon saws for letting me test out some new blades.

A more useful review of the saw and it's capabilities will be forthcoming.

 

[wizer]

Well done NMA, glad everything got sorted.

 

[Jake]

Glad to hear another drama has been de-crisised!