Thread: Bandsaw Blade Guide Bearings

Glen,

I had exactly the same problem a few years ago (maybe 5 or more).

I asked the same question on this forum and I was advised to go to a bearing shop and get some sealed bearings. The ones I got were also popular on skate boards.

They were not expensive and ever since that time until I just read your post seized bearings on my bandsaw guide had not crossed my mind.

Do yourself a favour and purchase the sealed bearings and perhaps in 5 years time you will be giving the same advice as I am.

Here is the post. It is not quite 5 years - a few days short

Bearing Guides Seizing up

Thanks, I'll go to a bearing shop first chance I get.

Obvious but take the old ones with you.

"The ones I got were also popular on skate boards"

CZ10's

I ended up with 608LLU bearings. Apparently 2RS, which somebody mentioned in a previous post, means two Rubber Seals and the LLU defines the type of double rubber seal more precisely. LLU is a contact type seal which gives the best sealing. They cost about 6 bucks each, so if I'd known I'd have replaced the bearings when I bought the bandsaw.

I bought some 608-2RS bearings this afternoon, about $5.00 each. Will be interesting to see how long they last, the 608ZZ don't last very long at all on my BAS350.

Thanks for asking the question and thanks to Wood Borer for the information on better sealed bearings.

I guess I'll have to find out about the LLU type next.

Hey don't thank me, thank the person who gave me the advice.

Five years ago I spent nearly every weekend taking the bearings out of my bandsaw and soaking them in metho and turps to get the redgum and other saw dust out of them.

Since the new bearings were installed (5 years ago) they have never once seized and I had forgotten about the frustration and wasted time cleaning them.

Like they say, you don't always appreciate good tools because they do what you expect them to do but bad tools constantly remind you of their short comings.

Originally Posted by WB

Like they say, you don't always appreciate good tools because they do what you expect them to do but bad tools constantly remind you of their short comings.

Amen to that, I think that can be my new signature line!

Originally Posted by Harry72

Amen to that, I think that can be my new signature line!

What and lose the Macca's is Crap Sig

Originally Posted by Glennet

I've got a WoodFast 350 Bandsaw. When I went to adjust the blade guides I noticed the bearings on the lower guides were seized pretty much solid. I removed them and pried off the dust covers. The bearings were full of sawdust, when I cleaned them out they spun reasonably freely.

I find it interesting that the Woodfast 350 Bandsaw doesn't come with these sealed bearings as standard given that they (Woodfast) promote this as an "upmarket version of the the "one hung lo" version of the BAS350 that C/tec and others sell.

eg from a recent post on bandsaws:

Originally Posted by Woodfast Aust

Hi warmtone and other Woodies. Just wish to confirm WOODFAST Bandsaws are now being manufactured in China by one of the countries established high quality manufacturers. Their attention to detail and performance are second to none.
Here at Woodfast Australia, we provide full technical design support, final product inspection and testing for the factory.
We are proud of our new International working relationship and are confident our sixty four years experience in designing and manufacturing high quality Woodworking machinery will keep the name WOODFAST at the highly respected end of the market.

Cheers

It is being sold at a considerable premium to these and seeing that I paid just under a dollar more for the sealed bearings as against the ZZ version, you would think that would be first thing they "upgraded"!

It would be interesting to find out how many bandsaws are supplied with sealed bearings as standard equipment. Jet perhaps? They promote themselves as purveyors of high quality machinery.