mini bandsaw wont cut stright

[brendan h]

hello ive got a bandsaw exacelly like this one
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/4-x6-PORTABL...arms=66:2|65:1|39:1|240:1318#ebayphotohosting

it wont cut stright. for example if i cut a bit of pipe it cuts on an angle away from the pipe longways. if you get what i mean

 

[rtbcomp]

Check blade tension and the guide rolls should be as close together as you can get them. Make sure the downward force on the workpiece is as low as you can get it whilst still being able to cut. Use a good quality blade.

 

[Hitch]

If its been okay previously, most likely its just in need of a new blade, of reasonable quality. No idea what brands you get over there.
As above, keep minimum of blade between the guides.

 

[piman]

Hello Brendan,

another factor is the blade pressure, try reducing the pressure, as thin wall sections don't require the same amount as solid.

Alec

 

[scarecrow]

How do you cut at 45° is it the vice that moves or the saw arm, not sure which cut is off think of them as one vertical and the other horizontal. vertical cut is from top to bottom horizontal is front of the vice to back of the vice (if you know what I mean) have you just bought it.

ps: just realise that it's the swivel headed one if it's the horizontal cut thats wrong there should be an adjustable stopper some were

 

[irondarren]

It could be the blade, one of the ings i have noticed over the years with my bandsaw, which is a fair bit bigger. Is the blades can sometime go blunt more on one side than the other. Which means dispite it all being set up nicely with the guides etc it cuts at an angle. Its ether blade or roller guides, there isnt much else to them

 

[gavuk]

If the bandsaw is new??,might be worth checking if the casting has been machined correctly ,quick check is to use a try square ,place thick end between vice jaws horizontal with thin blade pointing vertical alongside the blade,the blade when raised and lowered should remain parallel to the thin blade,makes perfect sense to me hope it translates ok ,still trying to locate a picture

 

[MrFluffy]

If its ever cut straight, its the blade id be looking at suspiciously.
I had one that wouldnt cut straight no matter what right out the packet, I thought it was me, then i blamed the tyres being worn on the guides and made new ones up, then i rebuilt the guides themselves to eliminate all the play. In the end I binned it and fitted another blade, same manufacturer same spec same machine, straight as a die.
Ive also had one go like this halfway through its life after some abuse with stainless tube...
First port of call, new blade, its cheap diagnosis.

 

[scarecrow]

Allways worth trying a couple of different blades I have a swing over bandsaw which didn't cut straight easy enough to fix the horizontal cut move the vice or adjust the stopper getting it to cut down accurately was a hole different ball game

 

[gavuk]

might get some ideas here........bandsaw.....pictures are small and will need to be clicked on....Gav

 

[brendan h]

i dont think it has ajustrabe roller guides or if it does i dont know how

 

[scarecrow]

i don't think it has adjustable roller guides or if it does i don't know how

there here

if you have a camera take a closer pic as its hard to make out in that one

 

[brendan h]

 

[scarecrow]

Your right it doesn't look like you can adjust that can you get your money back on it only other option is to put some packing under the vice till you get it square to the blade

 

[brendan h]

i bough the saw a while ago. in not fussed on getting my money back

 

[scarecrow]

What are the three handles on the head of the saw for. I know that the bottom one is for moving in and out the blade guide the one sticking out probably is the tensioner but it looks to be very low down and I have no idea what the third one is. looks like its on the centre of the pulley wheel not sure why it's there and there seems to be some sort of marking on it

 

[brendan h]

What are the three handles on the head of the saw for. I know that the bottom one is for moving in and out the blade guide the one sticking out probably is the tensioner but it looks to be very low down and I have no idea what the third one is. looks like its on the centre of the pulley wheel not sure why it's there and there seems to be some sort of marking on it

got no ider what your talking about

 

[JimM]

The third handle may be for tilting the pulley wheel - ie to adjust the blade tracking so that it runs true on the wheel (Does that make sense ?)

 

[chevyman_de]

I have an almost identical bandsaw which "featured" exactly the same problem when delivered.
The reason was the outer band guide not being in line with the inner one. Unfortunately the block is not adjustable like on most other bandsaws. The inner guide was correct, but one could see the band twisting when looking from the outer guide block towards the inner one.
I tried milling the guide first, the gain wasn't worth the effort. So I made a complete new adjustable band guide with a swivel head. After a few adjustments to the new guide the saw cuts perfectly straight now.

Without such a modification there's no way to get the saw cutting straight, but now I don't want to miss that little saw anymore.

The three allen head bolts clamp the slotted case around a cylindrical extension (12 mm diameter) of the block holder. This makes for the swivel action.
The two slots allow for vertical adjustment of the block. Horizontal adjustment is made by shims between block and holder. I felt no need for an infinitely adjustment in that place, it's more of a one time measurement, make a shim and bolt together.

 

[scarecrow]

nice work chevyman_de