17" and 18" Bandsaws - advice wanted

**eddie the eagle** · 26th September 2008, 07:49 PM

Hi Derek,

I've always aligned any bandsaw blade with the motor off.

Tension it until there's about 3/8" or 10mm deflection on the long run of the blade going up inside the bandsaw column.

Spin the flywheel by hand and observe the tracking. Adjust with the blade being slowly spun by hand. If it looks like coming off/tracking to the front of the wheel, stop before it does. You'll find that adjusting tracking like this is dead simple. Once it's close to tracking, spin the wheel faster by hand and fine tune. Then close the gates, set the blade guides and give it:

(1) a quick pulse on and off (or three) to check that there's nothing untoward, then;
(2) a run without cutting anything and then;
(3) a test cut.

If you want to check that it's still running on centre, then stop it and open the doors/check. It shouldn't have moved, especially if the rear bearing/guides are aligned correctly.

They should go smoothly I can't recall having to adjust the tracking much when I set this one up. I think it was bang-on, but I track a couple of blades at work a week so it's lost in the mists of time.

Good luck. You should be able to get the saw set up/guides adjusted without the power connected. Give you one less thing to do later.

CHeers,

eddie

**derekcohen** · 1st October 2008, 01:08 AM

Hi Eddie

A question for you and other N4400 users ..

I set up the bandsaw, plugged it into the 20A connection, and it flew through a test 4" thick Jarrah slab. Very impressive!

Then I switched off the machine. The brake came on - not used to it so it sounded a little noisy. Now I hardly notice it. But the part I want a little feedback on it the sound that follows. The motor or something (it is an electrical sound) continues to hum for about 15 seconds. It always switches itself off but the sound will be a little disconcerting until I am assured that it is normal.

Regards from Perth

Derek

**DJ’s Timber** · 1st October 2008, 01:24 AM

I remember AlexS mentioning that in a thread once so did a quick search and found this, in this thread

Originally Posted by AlexS

Just 2 quick things I discovered...

1. The N4400 has a 120mm dust port, most dusties have 100mm hose. Pick up or order the reducer when you get your saw.

2. The hum from the motor after you've switched it off is not an electrical problem, it's the brake, and should switch off after a few seconds.

I'll try & put together a few things that I discovered as I was setting it up, but it's pretty straightforward.

**Greg Q** · 1st October 2008, 07:21 AM

Hi Derek. That sound is typical Felder..the electronic braking circuits are active until they time out. On my machine (yours may be different however) there is an adjustment for the braking duration. Since a bandsaw is a low inertia device you might be able to reduce the time somewhat, but it doesn't hurt anything.

I am told that CE regulations require electronic braking to occur within a set time (10 seconds?). I recall that the machine's growling did not match my expectations after I bought it. Then I changed my expectations, and everything is now fine.

Best,

Greg

**eddie the eagle** · 1st October 2008, 09:06 AM

Hi Derek,

I haven't even heard the brake noise, to be honest. I'd go with Greg and Alex's advice.

Glad to hear it went well.

Cheers,

eddie

**AlexS** · 1st October 2008, 09:17 AM

I adjust the wheel tracking similarly to Eddie, never had any problems.
Only problem with the braking is that it puts static on the radio ear muffs

I have noticed that the fence needs to be bolted tightly to the bracket that slides along the rail, as the washer deforms and the fence can move under load.

Thread: 17" and 18" Bandsaws - advice wanted

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