Thread: Alex Snodgrass

I fixed my Bandsaw woes by buying an industrial quality bandsaw . . .

I picked up a 10" BS being disposed of at work. The BS was in pieces and I had to go through a set up process from scratch so I use the AS method and it worked a treat - highly recommended.

Originally Posted by BobL

I picked up a 10" BS being disposed of at work. The BS was in pieces and I had to go through a set up process from scratch so I use the AS method and it worked a treat - highly recommended.

I have a smile a mile wide after reading this Bob!!

The number of bandsaw experts who advocate adjusting for drift is staggering.
The number who talk about the wheels having to be co-planer is equally high,
as is the number who fail to know where , according Snodgrass, to place the
blade on the wheel.

Originally Posted by artme

Over the next month or so I hope to be able to get back into the shed.
One machine I want to set up properly is my bandsaw. I have looked
at many videos and articles on how to do this but never succeeded in
getting truly satisfactory performance from my saw.

After watching Alex Snodgrass on You Tube a couple of times I am going
to try his method to set up my saw. Everything else has not worked well
enough and what he has to say is just so eminently sensible.

I will let you know the results.

G'Day Arthur,
I got a new secondhand bandsaw and was having a few issues with its operation.
It was recommended to me to have a look at Alex Snodgrass you-tube video on his way of the setting up of any bandsaw.
I, as you watched it a few times, before having a go at following is instructions for the setting up and its worked a treat.
Cheers, crowie

PS - I did the setup with the old 3/8'' blade but ave since purchase a 1/2'' & 3/4'' Bi-metal Blade from Henry Bros.... it was $30 for carbon steel and $52 for the Bi-metal - no contest.

I also took delivery of a new Woodman 14" Bandsaw just before xmas and set it up using AS's technique of adjusting the saw and it works excellent i haven't had a problem....Just another question for you guys...Do you leave the tension on the blade or let the tension off when the saw isn't in use,at the moment i'm in the process of packing up the house and the shed to move to Maclean,so do i let the tension off till i set up in my new shed all just leave it tensioned...

cheers Mick!!!
P.S Heres a pic of my new shed...can't waitimage2.jpg

Having trouble with sound and Utube at present - does anyone know of a transcript of the AS set up technique?

Originally Posted by labr@

Having trouble with sound and Utube at present - does anyone know of a transcript of the AS set up technique?

Sorry, can't help there Ratty - and I'm not about to volunteer!!!

Mick,
I take the tenson off after use every time. I was told that with tension left on for long periods flat spots develop on the tyres.

artme,
I also think Mr Snodgrass is giving about the best setup advise there is out there. He keeps it simple and it works so that is good enough for me

Regards
John

All the best Bandsaws, blades and set up don't mean a thing when you hit a #$%##$^% nail!

Luckily for me I have a few spare blades and with it being a 3/4" blade, I'll even give a go at sharpening it.

Alex does keep it simple and simple works.

Originally Posted by labr@

Having trouble with sound and Utube at present - does anyone know of a transcript of the AS set up technique?

No transcript sorry, try redoing the download of the youtube video on a fresh restart of your computer.

Also it may be wort trying to email Carter Products to make the request direct of Alex for a transcript....can only say yes & you win or no & at least you tried!!

Band Saw Parts, Kits & Products - Band Saw Attachments | Carter Products
Contact Us | Carter Products
Band Saw Clinic with Alex Snodgrass - YouTube

Cheers, crowie

Originally Posted by Pat

All the best Bandsaws, blades and set up don't mean a thing when you hit a #$%##$^% nail!

Luckily for me I have a few spare blades and with it being a 3/4" blade, I'll even give a go at sharpening it.

Alex does keep it simple and simple works.

Pat, try this........ Sharpening a Bandsaw Blade - YouTube He rabbits on at the beginning but the results seem to stack up.

Originally Posted by orraloon

Mick,
I take the tenson off after use every time. I was told that with tension left on for long periods flat spots develop on the tyres.

Regards
John

Thanks for the reply John...i'll be doing that now...thanks again
cheers Mick!!!

Originally Posted by SNAFU11

Thanks for the reply John...i'll be doing that now...thanks again
cheers Mick!!!

Seconded. Best to always release tension when the bandsaw is not in use. I've got into the habit of releasing tension as I leave every night, and tensioning as soon as I walk in the door in the morning.
To make sure that I never accidentally power up with the tension released, I pull the plug at the same time as detensioning, and plug in first thing in the morning when I tension the blade.

And I have to second the recommendations for Snodgrass' methods, too. I've been setting up his way for almost two years now, with no drift or other problems whatsoever. It turned a @#%$ of a BS into an accurate, usable tool.

For those that haven't seen it, the Alex Snodgrass 'Bandsaw Clinic' video is linked here, in the forums' 'Videos' section: Band Saw Clinic with Alex Snodgrass


labr@, you could try downloading the vid before trying to view it, using KeepVid: Download and save any video from Youtube, Dailymotion, Metacafe, iFilm and more!
It's free.
Just copy this link ( Band Saw Clinic with Alex Snodgrass - YouTube ) into the text box on the 'KeepVid' page, then press the 'Download' button on the right, (not the large one below the text-box - it's an ad).

The window that opens will show a list of the various formats the vid is available in, up to 720p for this particular one.
Right-click on the one of your choice and choose 'Save As', to save it to your PC.
Once you have a local copy on your computer, you can play it at your leisure, without freezing or sound problems.
I've put together quite a video archive for myself using KeepVid.

Thanks for that Steve. Haven't tried it yet but it looks useful.

Did manage to see some of the AS vid and it is very good - have applied some already and it makes a difference.

Interestingly I have a book out of the library at the moment and it is mentioned in a link attached to another thread in this forum regarding bandsaw terminology. The author advises adjusting the wheels to make them coplanar and also talks about counteracting drift - both being things that contradict the AS method.

I'm with AS at this stage as what I've tried so far is working.