Help !!!

[CHarnage]

I purchased a Central Machinery Horizontal/Vertical Band saw because my funds are limited and I have been chomping at the bit to start trying my hand at making knives. You have to start somewhere !!! I had nothing but trouble with the machine. The blade tension would not retain and the blade kept popping off no matter what I did. So I shipped the saw back and decided to keep saving money. About a month later I came across another version of this type of band saw and decided to take it home. I have barely cut out 6 blanks and YES folks the blade is popping off again !!! To me something so simple can't be that difficult. Of course I have contacted the technical department and I have tried various things to no avail. I have read in Blade and have heard from some makers that some of you talented makers use these types of band saws. Please, when time permits I would embrace any suggestions as all I want to do is move onward.

Thanks.

Chuck Harnage

[W. Lowell Bray, Jr]

I have had a couple of them and they can be a pain. Usually the blade slips off because it has bound up and hung in the material being cut. This particularly happens with thin stock. One thing that can help is to use a blade with finer teeth. There should be three teeth in the material at all times if possible. I also took a thick piece of alluminium and made a table that bolts on top of the table that comes with the saw ( I drilled through both tables, counter sunk the bolt heads, and used wing nuts for quick removal to replace the blade) . I cut the slot in the table with the saw blade (from the back) so there is zero clerance beside the blade and in front of it. This backs the material and prevents vibration. Unfortunately once the blade has hung a time or two there is probably a broken tooth which then wants to hang every time it goes around (check your blade and see). Things get worse after that.

L. Bray

[afcmsgtret]

Check and see if there is an adjustment on the back of the top wheel which tips the wheel in and out for blade tracking. That may be your problem.

[Ernie]

I have that type of saw and only from time to time have I popped a blade off. Then it was due to pushing the steel to hard or at a bad angle. You might want to check the guide bearings that help hold the blade straight. They should be moving along with the blade, also make sure the guide bearings are as close to the work as possible and of course the tension should be tight

[WARRENBUBBAKNIVESNET]

The Best Band Saw That I Have Used Is A Porta-cable Portable Bandsaw Mounted On A Wall. They Are Not Very Expensive And Do Excellant Work. Other Brands Such As Milwaukee, Skill, And The Like Are Just As Good. They Are All Variable Speed And Cost In The $300 Range. Also The Replacement Blades Are Cheap Compaired With Larger Saws. Make Sure To Buy The Deep Throat Model. Also You Will Need To Attach A Small Cutting Table.

[C.Pettersen]

The Best Band Saw That I Have Used Is A Porta-cable Portable Bandsaw Mounted On A Wall. They Are Not Very Expensive And Do Excellant Work. Other Brands Such As Milwaukee, Skill, And The Like Are Just As Good. They Are All Variable Speed And Cost In The $300 Range. Also The Replacement Blades Are Cheap Compaired With Larger Saws. Make Sure To Buy The Deep Throat Model. Also You Will Need To Attach A Small Cutting Table.


Thats what I use a Millwaulkee Porta-Band........I usualy mount it in a vice. Though I need to figure out a more permenant mounting device. The newer one even come with a small plate ( aka: work table/rest) as opposed to the older model, which just had a guid bar.

For now it works, until I can invest in a real vertical bandsaw.