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Bandsaw accuracy?

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AdeV:
Does anyone have any thoughts on the accuracy of horizontal bandsaws, e.g.



versus a "traditional"(?) upright one such as this:



?

I ask because I have one of the latter type, and it's bloody awful if you're trying to cut, well, anything. E.g. "divided he ad" brought a lump of wood around last weekend that he wanted sawing into planks. We figure the bandsaw would be great at this, but it turned out to be terrible - the end cuts weren't so bad (apart from taking f-o-r-e-v-e-r), but the first horizontal slice and the blade ended up taking a massive belly cut (about 1" fatter in the middle).

So... I'm thinking of getting rid of it & buying a horizontal one instead..... if they're any good.

Also, if they are, would anyone recommend a particular brand? Olde English is my preference, and I've got 3-phase (440v) power, so a decent industrial size machine is the order of the day.

PS: I'd use the hacksaw for most things, but it's got a pool table blocking access at the moment; and I don't need much of an excuse to buy a new tool!

Thanks in advance!

(edit to use a smaller picture)

Arbalist:
Vertical bandsaws are good for resawing timber into planks within the limit of the saw.

There are so many reasons why you had trouble it's hard to know where to start?!

Worn blade
Wrong size blade
Wrong type of blade
Not enough tension
Poor blade tracking
Guides incorrectly adjusted
Fence adjustment

What model bandsaw do you have and what size/number of teeth blade are you using?

j1312v:
Hi Adev,

Each one has its own merits, the horizontal bandsaw is great for round/square/flat stock and the vertical is more suitable for cutting plate in irregular shapes and take slices from large stock.
What you need is to have the blade at the right tension, square the blade to the table, proper fencing, etc.

Check he offers great practical advise/adverts and if you phone he always give good advise...I'm not connected to them other that a casual customer.

Also check Marvel saws on youtube...great bandsaw. :drool:

Best,

Joe

P.S.Reposted the link

AdeV:
Hi Arbalist,

I think you're spot on (I've been doing some reading) with some of your points:
 - The blade is worn (blunt)
 - Not enough tension (I can't set it accurately, so I just set it until it "feels" right
 - Fence... what fence? Had a piece of timber g-clamped to the table...

The blade seems to track OK & the guides seem OK, although I'd not know how to be sure of this.

Can't give you a model just now, the machine is a Startrite similar to the one pictured, the blade is 1/2" and IIRC 10tpi - which is probably way too fine for the job at hand, I try to get blades suitable for cutting metal, which is its usual job.

Also... I think the fact we lubricated one side of the blade & not the other might have had an effect...



Thanks Joe, you wrote that while I was typing this reply, I'll watch that video now (it's got to be more interesting than work!)

chipenter:
I would keep a blade just for timber a bit like a file for brass wont work very well after using it on steel .

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