Woodstock M1054 owner manual Blade Tension & Tracking

M1048 10" x 18" Metal Cutting Bandsaw

Blade Tension & Tracking

Proper blade tension is essential to long blade life, straight cuts, and efficient cutting. The Model M1048 fea- tures a blade tension indicator to assist you with blade tensioning.

Two major signs that you do not have proper blade ten- sion are: 1) the blade stalls in the cut and slips on the wheels, and 2) the blade frequently breaks from being too tight.

NOTICE

Loosen blade tension at the end of each day to pro- long blade life.

To tension the blade on the bandsaw, do these steps:

1.Turn the blade tension handle clockwise to tension the blade.

2.Use the graduated scale on the blade tension indica- tor (Figure 35) to determine blade tension in PSI.

—For carbon blades, the blade tension should be 20,000 PSI.

—For bi-metal blades, like the one supplied with your machine, the blade should be tensioned from 30,000 to 35,000 PSI.

The blade tracking has been properly set at the fac- tory. The tracking will rarely need to be adjusted if the bandsaw is used properly. Do not attempt to adjust track- ing until the blade is properly tensioned.

To adjust the blade tracking on the bandsaw, do these steps:

1.Loosen or tighten the tracking set screw in Figure 36 until the blade is tracking properly. The blade is tracking properly when the back of the blade is lightly touching the flange of both wheels.

2.Remove the V-belt from the motor pulley and spin either wheel by hand to observe how the blade is tracking. Make sure the blade teeth are not cutting into any part of the saw. Adjust as needed.

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Figure 34. Blade cutting direction.

Blade Tension Guide

Figure 35. Blade tension guide.

Tracking Set Screw

Figure 36. Tracking set screw.

SERVICE