Official Luthiers Forum! :: View topic - Issue with Rikon 18" bandsaw and blades

Well the best lessons come hard learned.

I took a 1/4" Olson blade and cut it, then measured. 142" on the money, so it is spec correct. I threw the 3/8" blade back on (which is the same length as the 1/4" and tried to tension once again. No luck as the tension meter continued to work its way off the scale.

I then took a closer look and realized, the tension meter is moving because the lower main spring is compressing, but the wheel is actually not moving. Another looksie and the hex bolt at the top of the tower acts as a stop. I adjusted that back about 10 turns. Now I can tension the blade to 1/8" variance on 6" of standing blade. I reset the tension meter (not that it would be used to actually tension the blade) and it reads correctly albeit with the adjustment bolts for the meter cranked all the way to one side.

I had not realized that there was a stop above that was preventing wheel movement. While not using the tension meter to actually set tension, the fact that it was moving led me to believe the wheel was moving respectively.

Oh well ... I'm one blade short and just a little bit wiser.

Filippo

Author:	theguitarwhisperer [ Tue May 10, 2011 5:14 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Issue with Rikon 18" bandsaw and blades
I have a jet 14 inch bandsaw with the riser block. Every "105 blade that I've gotten from every manufacturer I've tried fits no problem. I was thinking about getting another smaller bandsaw for smaller jobs, maybe it's a bad idea?

Author:	Chris aka Sniggly [ Tue May 10, 2011 5:29 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Issue with Rikon 18" bandsaw and blades
As much as I wish I could provide clarity, I will only add mud. The blade I received from Laguna was a bit on th short side when compared to my Lennox blade. Methinks this is going to turn out to be a blade length (accuracy) issue but you wont be able to confirm unless you cut one and measure. I say this because the alternative is ugly....a bent spine or something in th upper housing moving when it shouldn't be. I haven't run any of the carbon steel manufacturers on my saw so I can't comment on them. Big luck to you though.

Author:	Chris aka Sniggly [ Tue May 10, 2011 8:29 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Issue with Rikon 18" bandsaw and blades
Filippo Morelli wrote: Well the best lessons come hard learned. I took a 1/4" Olson blade and cut it, then measured. 142" on the money, so it is spec correct. I threw the 3/8" blade back on (which is the same length as the 1/4" and tried to tension once again. No luck as the tension meter continued to work its way off the scale. I then took a closer look and realized, the tension meter is moving because the lower main spring is compressing, but the wheel is actually not moving. Another looksie and the hex bolt at the top of the tower acts as a stop. I adjusted that back about 10 turns. Now I can tension the blade to 1/8" variance on 6" of standing blade. I reset the tension meter (not that it would be used to actually tension the blade) and it reads correctly albeit with the adjustment bolts for the meter cranked all the way to one side. I had not realized that there was a stop above that was preventing wheel movement. While not using the tension meter to actually set tension, the fact that it was moving led me to believe the wheel was moving respectively. Oh well ... I'm one blade short and just a little bit wiser. Filippo And as lessons go for those of us that make sawdust, this was an inexpensive one. Glad you found it. Now I'm going to go have a look at mine.

Author:	Jim Kirby [ Tue May 10, 2011 8:49 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Issue with Rikon 18" bandsaw and blades
Filippo Morelli wrote: Well the best lessons come hard learned. I took a 1/4" Olson blade and cut it, then measured. 142" on the money, so it is spec correct. I threw the 3/8" blade back on (which is the same length as the 1/4" and tried to tension once again. No luck as the tension meter continued to work its way off the scale. I then took a closer look and realized, the tension meter is moving because the lower main spring is compressing, but the wheel is actually not moving. Another looksie and the hex bolt at the top of the tower acts as a stop. I adjusted that back about 10 turns. Now I can tension the blade to 1/8" variance on 6" of standing blade. I reset the tension meter (not that it would be used to actually tension the blade) and it reads correctly albeit with the adjustment bolts for the meter cranked all the way to one side. I had not realized that there was a stop above that was preventing wheel movement. While not using the tension meter to actually set tension, the fact that it was moving led me to believe the wheel was moving respectively. Oh well ... I'm one blade short and just a little bit wiser. Filippo That deserves a clarifying picture.

Author:	WaddyThomson [ Tue May 10, 2011 9:12 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Issue with Rikon 18" bandsaw and blades
Someone will re-weld that blade for you for $10. Or if you have a torch, you can do it yourself. It's just a brazed joint.

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Author:	windsurfer [ Wed May 11, 2011 9:24 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Issue with Rikon 18" bandsaw and blades
Filippo, next time you want to measure a band saw blade, try taping a piece of wire to the trailing edge. Then trim the wire to length, remove the tape and measure the wire. ...on the plus side, now you have some sharp blade stock so you can make a nice bow saw to use the next time you have issues with the bandsaw. -jd

Author:	meddlingfool [ Wed May 11, 2011 9:28 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Issue with Rikon 18" bandsaw and blades
A tailor's tape would have been handy too. Also great for measuring bent side and various curved objects.

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