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Tensioning Blade
A properly tensioned blade is essential for mak-
ing accurate cuts, maximizing blade life, and
making other bandsaw adjustments. However, a
properly tensioned blade will not compensate for
cutting problems caused by excessive feed rate,
hardness variations between workpieces, and
improper blade selection.
Optimal cutting results for any type of workpiece
are achieved through a combination of correct
blade selection, proper blade tension, properly
adjusted blade guides and other bandsaw compo-
nents, and using an appropriate feed rate.
Improper blade tension is unsafe, produces inac-
curate and inconsistent results, and introduces
unnecessary wear on bandsaw components.
Over-tensioning the blade increases the chance
of the blade breaking or wheel misalignment.
Under-tensioned blades wander excessively while
cutting and will not track properly during operation.
The method used to tension the blade is often
a matter of preference. This manual describes
two methods: the flutter method and the deflec-
tion method. Either method will help you properly
tension the blade. Experience and personal pref-
erence will help you decide which method you
prefer.
Note: Tensioning the blade before the Test Run
was an approximate tension. The following proce-
dures fine-tune the blade tension.
Flutter Method
Using the flutter method, you intentionally loosen
the blade until it just passes the point of being
too loose (when it begins to flutter). Then you
gradually tighten the blade until proper tension is
reached.
To tension bandsaw blade using flutter
method:
1.
DISCONNECT MACHINE FROM POWER!
2.
Make sure blade is tracking properly as
instructed in Initial Blade Tracking on Page
19.
-24-
3.
Use the guide post elevation control to raise
the guide post all the way up, then move the
upper and lower guide/support bearings as
far away from the blade as possible (refer to
Adjusting Blade Guide Bearings on Page
28 for detailed instructions).
Note: This procedure will NOT work correctly
if the guide/support bearings are in contact
with the blade.
4.
Move the blade tension quick release lever all
the way to the right (as viewed from the rear
of the machine) to apply tension, then rotate
the tension handwheel until the mark on the
blade tension scale matches the one for the
blade width (see Figure 23).
Tension
Scale
Figure 23. Blade tension controls.
5.
Turn the bandsaw ON and wait for the blade
to reach full speed.
6.
Decrease blade tension very slowly by rotat-
ing the tension handwheel counterclockwise
(as viewed from above) until the blade just
starts to flutter or vibrate, then stop decreas-
ing the tension.
7.
Now, increase the tension by rotating the
handwheel in the opposite direction (clock-
wise) until the blade stops fluttering, then
rotate the handwheel another
wise.
8.
Turn the bandsaw OFF.
9.
Re-adjust the blade tracking (Page 19) and
the blade guides (refer to Page 28).
Model G0701 (Mfd. Since 9/17)
Quick
Release
Lever
Tension
Handwheel
⁄
turn clock-
1
4
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