Grizzly G1052 instruction manual Blade Information Ripping

Blade Information Ripping

A bandsaw blade is a delicate piece of steel that is subjected to tremendous stress. Be sure you use quality blades of the proper width for the var- ious types of cutting operations.

Always use the widest blade possible for the workpiece you are cutting. Use narrow blades only for sawing small, abrupt curves and for fine, delicate work. Bandsaw blades measuring 64" can be purchased welded, set, sharpened, and ready-for-use from most saw shops. In addition to the standard 1/2" blade, others in widths of 3/16", 1/4", and 3/8" are available. See Figure 15 for typ- ical bandsaw blade characteristics. Please refer to our current catalog for prices and ordering information.

Always select high-quality saw blades and choose the right blade for the job. Poor quality blades and improper use are often the cause of premature blade failure.

Many conditions may cause a bandsaw blade to break. Blade breakage is sometimes unavoidable since it is the natural result of the large stresses that bandsaw blades are subjected to.

Blade breakage is also due to avoidable causes. Avoidable breakage is most often the result of poor care or judgement on the part of the opera- tor when mounting or adjusting the blade or sup- port guides. The most common causes of blade breakage are: (1) faulty alignment and adjust- ment of the guides; (2) forcing or twisting a wide blade around a curve or short radius; (3) feeding too fast; (4) tooth dullness or absence of suffi- cient set; (5) excessive tension; (6) upper blade guide assembly set too high above the work- piece; (7) using a blade with a lumpy or improp- erly finished weld; and, (8) continuously running the bandsaw when not in use.

Ripping, or resawing, is the process of cutting a board into two or more thinner boards. The max- imum board width that can be resawn is limited by the maximum cutting height of the bandsaw. Maximum cutting height for this bandsaw is 41/8".

The G1052 bandsaw is capable of ripping, pro- vided the saw is set up properly. Use common sense when ripping. Attempting to rip too wide or too dense a board may put excessive strain on the blade and be dangerous.

The important consideration when ripping is blade selection. Generally, the wider blade, the better. In most applications, a hook or skip tooth style will be sufficient. Also, since most ripped lumber will be planed or sanded smooth, you can choose blades with fewer teeth-per-inch. While blades with fewer teeth-per-inch produce rougher cuts, these types of blades offer larger gullet capacities for clearing sawdust, less heat buildup, and yield more horsepower per tooth.

1.The bandsaw must be adjusted correctly. See Blade Adjustment Section.

2.The table must be square to the blade. See Table Adjustment Section.

3.Use the widest blade available. The blade must also be in good condition.

4.Use a fence to guide work.

5.Draw a reference line on the edge of the board.

6.Support ends of the board if necessary.

7.Feed work slowly and evenly.

-18- G1052 9" Bandsaw