Woodstock W1770 manual Tensioning Blade, To tension the bandsaw blade, do these steps

W1770 21" Bandsaw w/Foot Brake

Tensioning Blade

SETUP

A properly tensioned blade is essential for making accu- rate cuts and is required before making many bandsaw adjustments. (Everytime you replace the blade, you should perform this procedure because all blades tension differently.)

To tension the bandsaw blade, do these steps:

1.Make sure the blade is tracking properly (refer to Page 17), and complete the Test Run procedure (Page 20).

2.Raise the upper blade guide assembly as high as it will go, and adjust the upper and lower guide blocks as far away from the blade as possible (refer to

Adjusting Blade Guide Bearings on Page 23).

Note: This procedure will NOT work if the guide blocks have any contact with the blade.

3.Move the quick tension lever to the tightened posi- tion and turn the blade tension handwheel until the blade tension matches the mark on the blade ten- sion scale (see Figure 26) for the appropriate blade width.

4.Turn the bandsaw ON.

5.Slowly release the tension one quarter of a turn at a time. When you see the bandsaw blade start to flut- ter, stop decreasing the tension.

6.Now, slowly increase the tension until the blade stops fluttering, then tighten the tension another quarter turn.

7.Look at what the blade tension scale reads and use that as a guide for tensioning that blade in the future.

Note: Always release blade tension after use to increase blade life and reduce strain on the bandsaw components. The quick release tension lever works perfectly for this purpose.

Blade

Tension

Scale

Blade Tension

Handwhel

Figure 26. Front blade tensioning controls.

-22-