Record Power BS350 lower guide adjustment question

[Chris152]

Hello
I just fitted a 1/2 inch blade which seems to be fine, but there seems to be some guess work to do on the settings of the lower guides. I can't see the side-to-side bearings because of a bit of plastic Record have put around them, I guess to keep dust off? Anyway, given that I have to feel the distance from the blade rather than see it, am I better off removing the plastic housing thing? It's the black triangle in this picture:

 

[MikeK]

Your mileage might vary, but it was easier for me to remove the cast iron table and set the lower guides. This might sound a bit overkill, but without the table, everything is readily accessible. The total time to remove and replace the table, and set up the guides, was less than the time spent fiddling with it and hoping it was correct.

 

[Chris152]

Well, I'd have to take the table off to remove the plastic guide cover anyway so your solution's easier than that, and I get to keep the cover in place and presumably reduce the dust on the guides and heading to the lower wheel housing. I'll take your advice! Thank you Mike.

Has anyone removed the plastic cover and, if so, does it make any difference?

 

[Glynne]

The plastic cover went straight away. Despite having several different bandsaw blades and knowing which ones I should be using, I'm not the best at changing them so I tend to dispense with anything that might deter me.
Removing the table seems to be an awful lot of effort as opposed to shifting the cover and getting down on your knees?

 

[MikeK]

Removing the table seems to be an awful lot of effort as opposed to shifting the cover and getting down on your knees?

Ha! Years of hanging under silk with a full ruck have done my knees in. Getting down is easy...getting back up tends to be more of a challenge than removing four bolts and lifting the table away.

 

[Chris152]

The plastic cover went straight away. Despite having several different bandsaw blades and knowing which ones I should be using, I'm not the best at changing them so I tend to dispense with anything that might deter me.
Removing the table seems to be an awful lot of effort as opposed to shifting the cover and getting down on your knees?

So you don't have the cover any more - is anything different s a result (apart from being able to set the guides properly)?

Is it just a matter of taking the table off and undoing a couple of hex nuts to remove it?

Thanks.

 

[Alexam]

The cover is there for health and safety reasons, so they have done their job. Many people have removed the cover because its a ruddy nusance and is far easier to work without. Just be careful not to put your hands under the table with the blade under power. Take it off and store it somewhere in case you upgrade at a later date.

I have the BS400 and even removed a lower part of the upper bl;ade guard so that its easier to see where the blade is in relation to the guides.
Malcolm

 

[Glynne]

Chris,
I'd have to have a look tomorrow as I can't remember at the moment but it wasn't a major operation.
Malcolm
Yes you're right about the H&S but daft as I am, I don't mess about with blades and wheels without isolating the saw let alone just turning it off. I also have removed the bottom part of the top guard.

 

[Chris152]

Well, I removed the plastic guard. I can see how it's theoretically possible to put fingers under there but in practice I know I won't be doing that.

It's 2 x hex nuts, then remove 2 x table nuts and loosen the other two, de-tension the blade, remove the plastic thing by the blade and you can wiggle the plastic guard out through the hole.

I can now see the guides clearly and adjust accordingly. And won't ever be putting fingers under that part of the table - I value H&S measures as much as anyone, but that bit of plastic made it impossible for me to adjust the saw properly. But maybe that's just me (not encouraging others to do the same).

Thanks all.

 

[Doingupthehouse]

I have the BS350 and the lower blade guard went with the first blade change! Would need to be a deliberate act of extreme foolishness to get your fingers in there...

Simon

 

[Chris152]

Agreed.

I'm really happy with the way the saw's working now. I tried a mitre cut using the mitre guide and the narrow blade the saw came with and was surprised how inaccurate it was. This morning I built a cross-cut and a 45 degree mitre sled and, with the 1/2 inch blade and all set as well as I can, got what I think are excellent results with both. Very happy!