Thread: Basic 16A Qu's

Hi. Welcome to the BP16A club

Table sounds about right.

Does yours have the new improved guides on it? I'd be surprised if some other guides would be an easy or cheap swap, but you never know...

What round metal disc inserts are you talking about?

In the past, most new BP16A users spend a bit of time getting the machine tuned. Especially getting the wheels coplanar, and getting a decent blade procured and installed. After that, mods may follow (yes, we're talking about you, TTIT)

Search will turn up a lot of BP16A info.

woodbe.

Originally Posted by fatty500

hey fellas,

I've just taken delivery and unpacked my new 16A. (Did have my eye on a nice euro machine, but.....) Anyway, I'm unsure if I've attached the table to the frame correctly. I've matched the trunnions, and threaded the bolt through, and tighened the (red plastic) lock knob.
Is that it? The only other support seems to be the table support bolt, and that's not attached to anything. Is this the way it is with other bandsaws? If i give the table a decent nudge and twist, there appears to be some give, again, is this normal and acceptable?

TIP: Don't sit anything heavy on the outside of the table - it might move a little and next time you cut it will be seriously out of square - DAMHIKT -

Originally Posted by fatty500

My other question is totally replacing the guides. Will a set from Jet or Carbatec fit on the 16A? Failing that, how can I improve the stock guides. Is there a trick to removing the round metal disc inserts from the casting?

Thanks
Fatty.

Well Sonny, back in my day when the BP16A's had guides worth complaining about! Unless you got REALLY old stock, the guides aren't too bad really - except the bearing in the upper guide doesn't last too well

Originally Posted by woodbe

............ After that, mods may follow (yes, we're talking about you, TTIT)

Haven't been to this section for yonks - was led here by the shivers up me spine!!!

yeah, I've budgeted plenty of time for tweeking out the quibbles. It's good to hear the stock guides are decent enough to use for now.
Have others out there upgraded or made mods to their 16A guides? What do I do when that (dodgy?) upper thrust bearing eventually seizes up?

Woodbe, those round metal discs are the actual guides that contact the blade. I can't take them off. I was thinking I could replace them with some ceramic equivalents, or maybe even hardwood inserts, and see how they compare.