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If replacement of the blade is not currently an
option, the blade lead can be compensated for by
skewing the fence. Proceed as follows:
1. Cut a scrap piece of wood about the same
length as the band saw table, and joint one
edge along its length, or rip it on a table saw to
give it a straight edge.
2. Draw a line on the board parallel with the
jointed, or straight edge of the board.
3. Move the band saw fence out of the way, and
carefully make a freehand cut along your
drawn line on the board. Stop about midway
on the board, and shut off the band saw (allow
the blade to come to a complete stop) but do
not allow the board to move.
4. Clamp the board to the table.
5. Slide the band saw fence over against the
board until it contacts the straight edge of the
board at some point. Lock the fence down.
6. Loosen the four hex cap screws at the top of
the fence (see Figure 3) and shift the fence
until it is parallel to the board along its length.
7. Re-tighten the four hex cap screws.
NOTE: Skewing the fence to correct blade lead is
effective for that particular blade; when a new
blade is installed, the fence will probably need re-
adjustment.
Blade Selection
Using the proper blade for the job will increase the
operating efficiency of your band saw, help reduce
necessary saw maintenance, and improve your
productivity. Thus, it is important to follow certain
guidelines when selecting a blade.
Here are factors to consider when selecting a
blade:
• The type of material you will be cutting.
• The thickness of the workpiece.
• The features of the workpiece, such as bends
or curves with small radii.
These factors are important because they involve
basic concepts of saw blade design. There are five
(5) blade features that are normally changed to
meet certain kinds of sawing requirements. They
are:
1. width
2. pitch (number of teeth per inch)
3. tooth form (or shape)
4. the “set” of the teeth
5. the blade material itself
Figure 34