Two questions for the group
What is the proper way to check for drift on a band saw?
Is drift a permanent feature of the saw or do I need to re-check whenever the blade, etc. changes? Should I mark the band saw table with this info for whenever I need to resaw?
The right blade and the right tension or a properly setup saw can eliminate drift. I've seen it done, but others say it cannot be.
Take a square board. Draw a straight line the length of it. Now make a cut following the line, but do it freehand, not with a fence. Cut at least half way, then stop the saw. The amount of angle you have is the drift. Adjust your fence to the board and complete the cut. Yes, it can vary from blade to blade because the blade is a part of the cause of the drift. Ed snipped-for-privacy@snet.net
Yeah, it can, and sometimes with no tune-up needed. I have a Shop Fox 16" blade and yesterday, partly out of curiosity and partly out of a need for a couple photos, I took a piece of chinaberry, made a fast jig (V angle at the point), left the 1/4" Olson blade in the saw and ran a resaw. No drift until I one-handed (and my near useless left hand at that) the last 1-1/2" so I could fire the camera with the other hand (timer wouldn't work because it was chilly, maybe 20 deg. F.).
Charlie Self "Take care of the luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves." Dorothy Parker
chilly,> maybe 20 deg. F.).
Agree ... have a 1/2", 3TPI, TimberWolf on my 14" band saw that will saw as straight as a table saw. It's the only blade I own that has that characteristic so well defined ... so I take good care of it.
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