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-16- G4186Z 18" Bandsaw
Blade Tracking
Blade tracking involves positioning the blade on
the wheels of the bandsaw. There are two meth-
ods of tracking: Center Tracking and Coplanar
Tracking. Center tracking, the easiest, is simply
adjusting the tilt of the upper wheel so the blade
rides in the middle of the rubber tire. This adjust-
ment works together with the slight crown on the
tire to center the blade when the wheels spin.
To adjust the blade using center tracking:
1. Disconnect the bandsaw from the power
source. Adjust the upper and lower guide
blocks and the support bearings away from
the blade.
2. Loosen the lock nuts on the tracking control
knobs, and turn the knobs clockwise or
counterclockwise while turning the upper
wheel by hand. A slight amount of twist of
the upper wheel can occur if these knobs
are not adjusted evenly. This can result in
tracking problems for smaller blades. When
turning the wheel by hand, ensure that
there are no sharp edges to cut your hand.
3. Turn the upper wheel and the tracking
knobs until the blade is centered on the
crown of the upper wheel tire. Turn the
wheel at least three more full turns to
ensure that the blade is tracking in its final
position.
4. Retighten the lock nuts, double check blade
tracking, and then close the upper wheel
cover.
Coplanar Tracking is a more difficult process but
provides longer blade life and allows straighter
cuts. To learn more about this, read the next sec-
tion on Aligning Wheels.
Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment is one of best ways to ensure
that you get optimal performance from your band-
saw.
When both wheels are aligned, or coplanar (see
Figure 13), the bandsaw is more likely to cut
straight without wandering. Vibration, heat, and
blade wear are also considerably decreased.
For the best performance, verify that your wheels
are coplanar when you first get your bandsaw.
Figure 13.
Before measuring the wheels for being coplanar,
you should always tighten the blade to the
degree that it will be used during operation. The
wheels may be coplanar with the blade loose,
then be pulled out of alignment when the blade is
tightened. To check the wheel alignment:
1. Unplug the bandsaw!
2. The body of the bandsaw does not allow you
to place a regular straightedge across both
wheels at the same time. To overcome this
situation, you need make a coplanarity
gauge. A 55" x 2” x 4” board will work well for
this. Joint one side or make sure that one
side is straight. Refer to Figure 14 for more
details on how to make this gauge.