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G0621 Wood/Metal Bandsaw
Wheel alignment, or "Coplanar Tracking," is one
of the easiest ways to ensure you get optimal per
-
formance from your bandsaw. When wheels are
aligned, or coplanar, the bandsaw cuts straighter.
Vibration, heat, and blade wear are also consid
-
erably decreased because the blade is automati
-
cally balanced on the wheel.
Verifying Upper/Lower Wheels are
Coplanar
1. DISCONNECT BANDSAW FROM POWER!
2. With the blade on and properly tensioned,
hold a straightedge close to the center of
both wheels. Make sure the straightedge
fully extends across the wheels as shown in
Figure 49.
— If the wheels are coplanar, the straightedge
wil touch the top and bottom of the outside
rims on each wheel.
— If the wheels are not coplanar, place
the straightedge on the lower wheel first
(ensuring that it touches both the top and
bottom rim), then adjust the tracking knob
to see how the upper wheel lines up with
the straightedge.
NOTICE
Lead adjustments will change when new
blades are mounted on the saw.
NOTICE
If the table is shifted, the fence will be
affected since it is attached.
3. Clamp the board to the bandsaw table with-
out moving it. Now slide the fence over to
the board so it barely touches one end of the
board.
4. Loosen the two cap screws that mount the
front rail to the table.
5. Place shims between the front rail and the
table as necessary to make the fence parallel
to the edge of the scrap piece.
Note: Shim stock works well for this, but small
pieces of paper can also work in a pinch.
To compensate for lead when making straight
crosscuts with the miter gauge, you will need
to shift the table:
1. Set the miter gauge to 90° and verify that the
gauge body is square to the miter bar, using
a 90° square.
2. On a scrap piece of wood, mark a line that
is perpendicular to the front edge of the
workpiece.
3. Starting where the line begins, cut the board
by pushing it through the blade with the miter
gauge.
4. Loosen the table mounting bolts, and shift the
table to compensate for the blade lead.
5. Repeat Steps 1 & 2 until the blade cuts
straight when wood is pushed through with
the miter gauge.
Wheel Alignment
Figure 49. Checking wheel alignment with a
straightedge.