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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
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    Default Bandsaw drift and fishtailing

    I have a Carbatec 14" bandsaw (25 yo) and had it set up very nicely ie straight and smooth cuts. I changed the blade to a 13mm 6 tpi (band new, straight out of the packing) and I now experience drift and rough cuts. I have made all the adjustments as best I can - any suggestions how I can remove the drift - I don't want to have to make jigs etc to compensate, and to get a smooth cut?Many thanks,KenM

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    blue mountains
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    Follow the Snodgrass setup and you cant go far wrong.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGbZqWac0jU
    Regards
    John

  4. #3
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Albury
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    Quote Originally Posted by orraloon View Post
    Follow the Snodgrass setup and you cant go far wrong.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGbZqWac0jU
    Regards
    John
    And if that doesn't work throw the blade away. If the machine was previously working perfectly that's all the problem can be. The problems you're complaining of are often associated with a blunt blade.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
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    South Australia
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    4,470

    Default

    Those results are pretty classic for "not enough tension on the blade"

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Perth WA Australia
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    828

    Default

    agree with China,

    is your new blade wider than the old blade? if so your machine might not be able to obtain the correct tension for the blade width.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Adelaide
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    768

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    You should be able to get enough tension on a 13mm blade with a 14" bandsaw, which should solve the fishtailing.
    With regards to the drift as others have said, if previous blades have worked well and it is tracking properly the fault maybe with the blade.

    Regards
    Keith

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
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    27,756

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    I agree tension is probably the cause. Next most common reason is most folks don't realise how close to the middle of the wheels the teeth have to be. This is all explained by the Snodgrass setup method provided by oraloon, after that I'd suspect the blade.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Perth
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    10,810

    Default

    Ken, if there was no drift with the previous blade, it suggests that the new blade is different. Perhaps it has more set on one side. If so, run it against a diamond stone to smooth away the excess set.

    There may not be enough tension in the blade (which requires more if wider than the previous blade).

    The guides may not be providing equal support.

    Pushing the blade to hard (fast) will cause the gullets to load up, and this will drive it off course.

    Too many teeth (e.g. 6 vs 3 tpi) will also cause the teeth to load up too quickly. I never use more than 3 tpi on a blade this size. Indeed, my 1” resaw blade is 1.3 tpi.

    Regards from Perth

    Derek
    Visit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Location
    Canberra
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    67
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    162

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by kenm46 View Post
    I have a Carbatec 14" bandsaw (25 yo) and had it set up very nicely ie straight and smooth cuts. I changed the blade to a 13mm 6 tpi (band new, straight out of the packing) and I now experience drift and rough cuts. I have made all the adjustments as best I can - any suggestions how I can remove the drift - I don't want to have to make jigs etc to compensate, and to get a smooth cut?Many thanks,KenM
    Its is also possible that you old blade was a hard-back blade like this https://www.lenoxtools.com/Pages/Pro...d_NeoType.aspx, and your new blade is a flex-back like this https://www.lenoxtools.com/Pages/Pro...FlexBlack.aspx or vice versa.

    They do differ a little in setup
    izzy swan has a video on the difference in setup, and why https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOJsMOurR68

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
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    Quote Originally Posted by orraloon View Post
    Follow the Snodgrass setup and you cant go far wrong.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGbZqWac0jU
    Regards
    John
    what an informative vid. thanks for posting tomorrow will be reset day.
    I would love to grow my own food, but I can not find bacon seeds

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