If replacement of the blade is not currently an option, the blade lead can be compensated for by skewing the fence. Proceed as follows:
1.Cut a scrap piece of wood about the same length as the band saw table, and joint one edge along its length, or rip it on a table saw to give it a straight edge.
2.Draw a line on the board parallel with the jointed, or straight edge of the board.
3.Move the band saw fence out of the way, and carefully make a freehand cut along your drawn line on the board. Stop about midway
on the board, and shut off the band saw (allow | Figure 34 | |
the blade to come to a complete stop) but do | ||
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not allow the board to move. |
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4.Clamp the board to the table.
5.Slide the band saw fence over against the board until it contacts the straight edge of the board at some point. Lock the fence down.
6.Loosen the four hex cap screws at the top of the fence (see Figure 3) and shift the fence until it is parallel to the board along its length.
7.
NOTE: Skewing the fence to correct blade lead is effective for that particular blade; when a new blade is installed, the fence will probably need re- adjustment.
Blade Selection
Using the proper blade for the job will increase the operating efficiency of your band saw, help reduce necessary saw maintenance, and improve your productivity. Thus, it is important to follow certain guidelines when selecting a blade.
Here are factors to consider when selecting a blade:
•The type of material you will be cutting.
•The thickness of the workpiece.
•The features of the workpiece, such as bends or curves with small radii.
These factors are important because they involve basic concepts of saw blade design. There are five
(5)blade features that are normally changed to meet certain kinds of sawing requirements. They are:
1.width
2.pitch (number of teeth per inch)
3.tooth form (or shape)
4.the “set” of the teeth
5.the blade material itself
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