band saw blade keeps flying off

[Doug Houseman]

Gentle persons - I bought a floor model Jet 14 inch bandsaw from Lowe's. I downloaded the manual off the website and followed the directions for setting up the saw. When I turn it on, the blade comes off within seconds, I have tried more tension and less tension. I have tightened all the bolts. I checked that the tires are aligned on the wheels.

What other things can I try, is there a good book on the subject. Basically ---- HELP!!!! I want to thank you all in advance, I enjoy my reading of this group and the help you provide. I have archived dozens of threads on topics that I refer to when I work in the shop.

[Rick B]

The blade isn't tracking right. There should be an adjustment knob on the back of the top wheel, to align the blade on to the middle of the wheel. This adjustment is in addition to the tensioning knob. And make sure you have all the blade guides adjusted properly.

Rick

Gentle persons -

I bought a floor model Jet 14 inch bandsaw from Lowe's. I downloaded the manual off the website and followed the directions for setting up the saw. When I turn it on, the blade comes off within seconds, I have tried more tension and less tension. I have tightened all the bolts. I checked that the tires are aligned on the wheels.

What other things can I try, is there a good book on the subject. Basically ---- HELP!!!!

I want to thank you all in advance, I enjoy my reading of this group and the help you provide. I have archived dozens of threads on topics that I refer to when I work in the shop.

[Nova]

"Tracking the Blade.

When your saw is tracking correctly, the blade runs on the middle of the wheels. Adjust the tracking by tilting the top wheel in relation to the bottom wheels. A knob behind the upper wheel housing controls this adjustment. Spin the saw by hand and adjust the tracking control until the blade is running in the middle of the wheel. Lock the control in this position. Replace the cover and plug in the saw. Check the tracking by bumping the switch on an off to check the tracking. The blade should maintain its position. Repeat this several times before running the saw at full speed."

[Puckdropper]

Doug Houseman wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Check out "The Bandsaw Book" by Lonnie Bird and the other book by Mark Duginske. I can't remember it's title, but just search for his name.

Tension the blade, then with the saw off rotate the top wheel by hand. Does the blade stay near the center of the wheel or move backwards or forwards? There's a tracking knob that needs to be adjusted and locked down to ensure the blade won't wander.

Are your wheels coplaner?

Puckdropper

[Bill]

Turn the wheels by hand and watch the blade (I suspect the blade won't ride on the center (crest?) of the wheel). The manual should should tell you how to adjust the top wheel in and out--at least the manual for my Delta BS did. Mine needed minor adjustment out of the box too.

I thought Lonnie Bird's "Bandsaw Book" was very good. I think its a standard.

[Larry Jaques]

Could your thrust bearing be too far forward? Try looking at the wheels to see if they're coplanar. If it'sn ot the thrust bearing, it's probably that your top wheel is canted downward. Look for missing spacers, etc.

Mark Duginske's _Band Saw Handbook_ is my bible.

-- The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. -- George Bernard Shaw

[Doug Miller]

"Bandsaw Handbook".

*coplanar

Meaning, "Are the two wheels in the same plane?" IOW, is one tilted with respect to the other? If so, the blade will never track properly until that is corrected.

[HeyBub]

In addition to the suggestions made by others that the top wheel is out of adjustment, remember this rule:

If the blade comes off its wheels TOWARD the operator, the bottom of the adjustable wheel (usually the top) has its bottom canted too far to the rear. If the blade comes off AWAY FROM the operator, the adjustable wheel's bottom is tilted too far forward.

Or it might be the reverse; I forget.

[smandel]

best to make sure that the bearings are completely pulled back from the blade

shelly