I've recently set up a new bandsaw and noticed that it slips under tension when I'm resawing at or near its maximum capacity. I have the blade tensioned a bit tighter than recommended, but despite that, the motor just spins the wheels while the blade stays still. To get it to work, I need to let the blade get up to speed before making a cut, and if it starts slowing down, I have to back off. I've also tried using wedges to see if binding was the issue, but it hasn't made any difference. Any ideas on what might be going wrong?
3 Answers
Check the tires on your bandsaw; if they’re dried out or slick, they could be causing the slipping. Also, test the blade tension by pushing it sideways—if the tension spring is worn, it could lead to inaccurate results. Even if it’s a new spring, remember that the tension indicator is just a guideline, not foolproof.
I'm not an expert either, but it seems like your tires could be an issue too. Worn or slick tires won't grip when there's a heavy load, which could definitely lead to the blade sliding. Definitely worth checking them out!
It sounds like you might be pushing the material too hard or the blade tension could be off. Make sure you're using the right feed rate for your specific bandsaw, especially if it's a smaller model that may have optimistic resaw capabilities. Also, watch some tuning guides, like Alex Snodgrass's on YouTube; they have some great tips for setting up bandsaws.