CHANGING BLADES
To change blades, proceed as follows:
1. Remove the upper and Laver wheel guards.
2.
Release tension on
the
band saw blade.
3.
Remove the table adjustment pln and table insert.
4. Slip the blade off the wheel and guide it out through
the slot in the table.
5.
TO install a new blade, reverse the above
pro-
cedure.
BAND SAW BLADES
A band saw blade is a delicate piece of steel that is Any one of a number of conditions may cause a band
subjected to tremendous strain. You can obtainlong saw blade to break. Blade breakage is, in some cases,
use from a band saw blade if you give it fair treatment. unavoidable, belng the natural result ot the peculiar
Be sure you use blades of the proper thickness. width stresses to which such blades are subjected. It is,
and temper for the various types of material lo be cut. however, often due to avoidable causes, most often to
lack of care or iudgment on the-part of the operator in
Always use the widest blade possible. Use the narrow
blades only for sawing small, abrupt curves and for
fine delicate work. This wlll save blades ?nd will
produce better work. Band saw blades may be pur-
chased, welded, set and sharpen-ed ready for use.
For
cutttng wood and similiar materials.'we can supply
them in wtdths of l/B. 3/16. 114, 3J8, 112 and 314
. .
mounting or adj;sti;lg the blade or guides.
he
most
common causes cfblade breakage are: (1) faulty align-
ments and adjustments of the guides. (2) forcing or
twisting a wide blade around a curve of short radius,
(3) feeding too fast, (4) dullness of the teeth or absence
of sufficient set.
(5)
excessive tightening of the blade,
(6)
top guide set too high above the work being cut,
171
usina a blade witha lumpv or improperly finished
~ncnes. braze o; weld and,
(8)
contin;ous runnlng
oi
the saw
blade when not in use for cutting.
I-
File and set the wood cuttino blades whenever vou
find it requires pressure to mace them cut.
I!
a blaoe
is broken it can be brazed or welded; however, if it New blades for the standard 18 inch Band Saw are 120 inches
has become badly work-harderled it
Soon
break Ion5 The adjustment will accommodate blader up toa maxi
in another place. If yo" are not eaul~oedto file. sei mum length of 121 inches and to a minimum length
OF
,
.7
and braze weld blades take them toa saw file; for 119.1/2" inches,
reconditioning. Under average condit~ons, blades
should
be
resharpened after
4
hours of operation.
OPERATING THE BAND SAW
Before starting the machine, see that all adjustments
are properly made and the guards are in place. Turn
the pulley by hand to make sure that everything is
correc: BEFORE turning on the power.
Keep the top guiae down close to the wak at all times.
Do not force the material against the blade too hard.
Light contact with the blade will ermit easier following
of the' line and prevent undue friction. heating and
work-hardening of the blade at its back edge.
KEEP THE SAW
BLADE
SHARP and you will find
that very little forward pressure is required for average
cutting. Mcve th stock against the blade steadily
and no faster than will give an easy cutting movement.
Avoid twist~ngthe blade by trylng to turn snarp corners.
Remember you must saw around corners.
CUT'TING CURVES
When cutting curves, turn the stcck carefully so that
the blade may follow without being twisted. If
a
curve
is so abrupt that it is necessary to repeatedly back up
and cut a new keri, either a narrow blade is needed
or a blaae with more set is required. The more set a
blade has, the easier it will allow the stock to be
turned, but the cut is usually rougher than where a
medium amount of set is used.
In withdrawing the piece being cut, in order to change
the cut, or for any other reason, the operator must be
careful that he does not accidentally draw the blade
off the wheels. In most cases it is easier and safer to
turn the stcck and saw out through the waste material,
rathe: than try to withdraw the stcck from the blade.
