I recently picked up a used 12" Craftsman/Sears bandsaw from an older gentleman who was cleaning out his garage. It looked well-maintained, so I decided to buy it. I've been watching a lot of videos, especially from Snodgrass, trying to get the hang of it. However, I'm struggling with drift and believe it's related to tracking. I'm attempting to align the blade's gullet (I'm using a 3/8" blade) with the center of the top wheel. Even when I align it slowly and carefully, once I spin it faster, it always reverts back to the wheel's true center. I'm wondering if the previous owner might have altered the camber of the bottom wheel. Where should I start my troubleshooting? I'm keen on getting this saw to work right, as I really like it!
2 Answers
Before making any more tweaks, check your blade tension. Even if everything seems fine, cranking up the tension can often help with drift issues.
Have you tried using a new blade? I used Craftsman blades for a long time, but my saw really improved when I switched to Olson blades. Just a heads up, the tracking adjustment is on the top wheel.