Table Bowed on new H&F BP-305 [among other things]
My new BP-305 12" bandsaw (and a Scheppach OSS) arrived from H&F yesterday.
I was a bit disappointed that the (bandsaw) manual was for an earlier model and didn't relate 100% to mine and a bit more disappointed at the almost total lack of setup information, but finally got there, thanks to online vids.
It's not as nicely made/assembled as I'd hoped, the lower blade guide bracket was twisted about 10 degrees to the side, so the guides and their backing plate had to be removed to adjust and tighten the support plate, then re-assembled and adjusted, the bottom wheel drive belt screeches and tries to climb onto the larger pulley as soon as it's tensioned. No form of adjustment here - it's housed, I might have to get used to that bit. I'll re-visit it. Edit: The tensioner causes it, it pulls on a bad angle. That's what's housed.
A number of spring washers, (for mounting the table), were missing, and during assembly, also, they'd forgotten to tighten a couple of bolts at all.
That small metal bracket that you can see just below the table was bent way over to one side, touching the blade, when the saw arrived, too.
Now, having got everything else right, set the blade exactly at 90 degrees to the table, tension, tracking, guides, thrust rollers, etc, etc, my trial cuts weren't square. Rechecked the blade for square, (on the LHS of the blade), it was good, then on impulse checked the vertical angle between blade and the outer side of the table - out by a degree or two. The table is bowed through the middle, especially on the leading, (blade entry), side. :~
It's not as bad on the trailing side of the blade.
I'm wondering if anyone has any idea what it might cost to get it milled flat? I'm in Nowra, H&F are in Sydney. Is it likely to be cheaper than posting it back to H&F, probably at my own expense?
In the pic, the straight edge is in contact with the table on the far RHS, then dips slightly before rising to the middle, then drops away to the left. It's all over the place.
I guess I should also ask, first, is this table acceptable? Really coarse finish, too, I'll have to smooth it heaps. It grabs the wood.
Are those other problems usual too, or did they just see me coming?
Thanks in advance for any replies. I want to decide what I'm doing before Monday morning.
Edit: Camera distortion doesn't help, but I'm sure you can see the light. :D