I just got the Iturra catalog and in there, there's an article on the usefulness of a tension gauge. All of the arguments sound reasonable to me, but then I got the latest edition of the "Bandsaw Book" by Duginske and he has a chapter as to why tension gauges are not needed. So I am confused, gauge, no gauge?
Anyone prefer one over the other?
MJM
Do you need a gauge? No. Is it handy to have one? Maybe, depending upon your machine and your use of same.
I used a band saw for years without until I inherited one,. Now I find it a most definite plus in keeping my older, but not that old Delta 14" cutting at a level of precision that my use of the tool requires.
Would I recommend you buy one? Not unless your machine, and your use of same, requires a good deal of careful tweaking/setup to get the level of precision that your woodworking needs require.
Example: Leon, hereabouts, has an 18" Laguna that, right out of the box, cut circles around my Delta 14" with regard to precision ... thus I haven't been able to come close to talking him into renting my expensive Iturra tension gauge. :)
"Swingman" wrote
Between the Laguna and the Festools, Leon may not be able to afford to rent your expensive Inturra tension guage. :)
Tape a beer to it. :)
Hey Swingman, Question for you; Do you use your tension gauge each time you tension the same blade or only when trying out a new blade? I wonder how much difference would be noted if you tension and loosen (after use , of course) the same blade say, two dozen or three dozen times. Thanks in advance for yor comments, Marc
Something to consider, I currently have a 1" blade on my Laguna and was using it to cut 3/8" slabs off of a Spalted Oak log this week. As the blade warms up in use the tension gauge on the saw indicated the blade expanding as the gauge reference number dropped by approximately 15%. Basically it is a good idea to recheck the tension after running the saw for a few minutes.
Any time I'm told I "need" this or that, I look for the pocket my money is going into.
I use the "pluck method" since my finger is more convenient than hooking up a gauge. I know the proper sound the plucked blade should make--I believe Duginski mentions this. I can't recall where (maybe someone can help) a dial gauge is used to construct a shop-made band saw tension gauge--it was an interesting article but I consider a tension gauge somewhat overkill. Not sure if there are "cricket gauges" for saw blades as there are for measuring vehicle pulley belts.
"marc rosen" wrote
I always use it when swapping blades to insure that I still have an accurate reference on the factory "blade tension gauge" for that particular saw blade.
I do use a replacement Iturra tension spring on my band saw and the difference between it and the factory spring when reading the built-in factory gauge is/was notable ... and this changes slightly over time (although not as much as it did with the factory supplied spring).
Having made note of that, and for normal, every day cutting, I can generally use the "adjusted" marks I've made on the built-in gauge for that blade and get a cut that feels like it's coming from a well setup band saw ... use a band saw enough and you can immediately "feel" when it's properly set up for the blade.
However, I will periodically check the blade tension with the Iturra tension gauge, particularly if I have to do something besides rough outs on the band saw. When resawing the change to a resaw blade necessitates an accurate setup in any event, so the iturra tension gauge always comes out.
Leon has a valid point about the heat generated by a blade in use.
Having owned one, and for my saw and what I do with it, and if I lost the Iturra tension gauge, I would probably replace it ... although I probably wouldn't have fully appreciated the convenience/ease of precision setup had I not "inherited" the gauge in the first place.
There is no doubt that it does allow you to get the most out of a band saw that is not a "top of the line", precision manufactured tool, like some of the European brands are today.
Hey Swingman (And Leon from your prior post), Thanks very much for your feedback. I can easily see how a hot blade will stretch but here comes my next question; (Disclaimer: I may not fully understand the procedure for using a tension guage like the Iturra.) Leon, I am assuming from your description that your saw has a precise tension guage incorporated with it. The Iturra and similar guages clamp on to the blade and indicate how much stretch is induced when tension is applied. If you attach the Iturra to an already tensioned blade can you accurately refine its adjustment? You new starting point is a now a partially adjusted blade, unless you remove all tension and start from none again. How do you refine the tension on a tensioed blade using the guage? Thanks again for your inputs. Read you all after sundown. Marc
I think you are on the money Marc. The gauge on my saw is a digital read out, not electronic. IIRC the Inturra that Swingman uses does measure the stretch in the blade as the tension is increased, therefore I do believe that you would have to release all tension and remeasure on a warm blade. That said, if your saw has some type of built in gauge/indicator you can reference the setting when the blade is properly tensioned and continue to monitor that reference as the blade heats or cools. After the blade heats you do not necessarily need to use the Inturra to retension the blade. Hot or cold the tension gauge on the saw should be kept at the setting that it was at when the Inturra was use initially to properly tension the blade.
You would not use the gage on the less expensive saws with the adjuster on top which positions the top wheel.
If you tried to adjust for a tension, which is probably not published anyway, the blade would probably ride off the weel and tire.
The bigger more sophisticated saws which actually have a tensioner somewhere in the blade path should probably be adjusted using the gage.
I would go by what the saw manufacturer tells you to do.
"Jay R" wrote
Why not? What's an "adjuster"? On the top of what? What's a "gage"?
IOW, never adjust for tension when you're attempt is not published? Why not? What's a "weel"?
Can you only sophisticate bigger saws? Bigger than what? Wouldn't it be better to keep your "tensioner", and your fingers, out of the "blade path"? What's a "gage"?
What if you're not one of those who hear voices of manufacturers telling you what to do?
I'm pretty certain that my manufacturer told me to flex the blade between my fingers. Thats how I've always done it w/o any problems. I still have the original books from all Rockwell Delta collection of tools:-) You put your index and pinky on the blade as far apart as you can, and push with your thumb... when it feels right, your good to go... Works for me, but I use mostly 3/16 or 1/4 inch blades. Fattest blade I ever used was 1/2".
I would stick with that.
If you are not having blade failures, you must be doing something right.
I only have a small band saw, I don't do that much shaping and for that I bolted and old hand jig saw upside down on an insert I can drop into my bench.
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