Hey everyone! I'm pretty new to woodworking and recently I've been dealing with a frustrating bandsaw situation. I bought a Craftsman bandsaw from the marketplace last year, and honestly, it has been nothing but trouble. I can't get it to cut straight, and it doesn't even come with a fence, which makes everything even harder. I'm thinking it might be time to cut my losses and invest in a new one. I'm eyeing this Grizzly benchtop bandsaw (https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-9-benchtop-bandsaw-w-laser-guide-quick-release/g0803z?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22439918094&gbraid=0AAAAAC0Fba0B7k_FFdDXdNWKu4mbwrZhi&gclid=CjwKCAjw1dLDBhBoEiwAQNRiQVAbCEt8VUBOMskXcpOi3ZvXC-F5-LHVHehweXQza4p9bdXsPkjIDxoC_fsQAvD_BwE), but I'd love to hear if anyone has advice or wisdom on what bandsaw to get or any tips for making a bandsaw work better. Thanks!
2 Answers
Have you tried replacing the blade? A dull blade is often the culprit of wandering cuts. Also, make sure you adjust the tracking so the teeth hit at the peak of the wheel; it helps keep the blade from drifting. If you're struggling with the cut, you can clamp a 2x4 to the table as a makeshift fence to guide your work. Just align it with the drift angle for better results!
Getting a bandsaw to cut straight can be a real pain, especially for beginners. Before you jump into buying a new saw, it might be worth exploring the blade drift issue since it can happen on any bandsaw. If you're interested, I found a helpful video that explains this concept really well (check it out [here](https://youtu.be/5M9oOS_UPWQ?si=fHu9_Phv6yJZFNXN)).
What do you mean by making sure the teeth are at the peak of the wheel?