Tom M
Well-known member
I have a relatively new Timberwolf 1/4 inch 6 tpi blade. After trying to resaw 11" wide white pine, it started burning. The pine had a lot of resin, and it built-up on the blade. I cleaned it, and then started working on 2 easy chairs. The blades gunked up pretty fast, and even straight cuts through 3/8" poplar tend to burn. Curved cuts burn terribly. It also was taking a lot of force to cut.
I finally removed the blade and cleaned it with Easy-Off. It cuts better after re-installing, and burns much less, but it still burns. I might be imagining this but it seems that slightly lower tension reduces the burn.
A couple observations. I have a Delta 14" band saw. I installed Carter bearings in the saw last year, and I'm not real happy with them. I think they are terrible to adjust. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. Maybe I just don't get it, but I can't focus well in the range I need to, and there doesn't seem to be any room to get a hex wrench in to adjust them.
2nd observation. I've tried now about 10 times to properly tension the Timberwolf blade, and it sure doesn't seem to react like the instruction say. This is a low tension blade, and it tells you to tension to the saw's recommendation then slowly back-off until it flutters, the slowly increase until it stops fluttering - the go 1/2 trun more. When I back of to get flutter, it seems to stop fluttering then start again as I increase tension. So I never know if it is "properly tensioned".
Now for my question: Do you think my blade is shot? Could it have overheated when I was trying to resaw the white pine? I used to have no-name blades ($12) but bought the Timberwolf when I got the riser block. Any opinions on blades? Was the 6 tpi too fine for resawing the pine? (I've seen Gene Landon resaw 11" mahogany with a similar 1/4" 6 tpi - I think - blade at Olde Mill.
Any thought or advice will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Tom
I finally removed the blade and cleaned it with Easy-Off. It cuts better after re-installing, and burns much less, but it still burns. I might be imagining this but it seems that slightly lower tension reduces the burn.
A couple observations. I have a Delta 14" band saw. I installed Carter bearings in the saw last year, and I'm not real happy with them. I think they are terrible to adjust. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. Maybe I just don't get it, but I can't focus well in the range I need to, and there doesn't seem to be any room to get a hex wrench in to adjust them.
2nd observation. I've tried now about 10 times to properly tension the Timberwolf blade, and it sure doesn't seem to react like the instruction say. This is a low tension blade, and it tells you to tension to the saw's recommendation then slowly back-off until it flutters, the slowly increase until it stops fluttering - the go 1/2 trun more. When I back of to get flutter, it seems to stop fluttering then start again as I increase tension. So I never know if it is "properly tensioned".
Now for my question: Do you think my blade is shot? Could it have overheated when I was trying to resaw the white pine? I used to have no-name blades ($12) but bought the Timberwolf when I got the riser block. Any opinions on blades? Was the 6 tpi too fine for resawing the pine? (I've seen Gene Landon resaw 11" mahogany with a similar 1/4" 6 tpi - I think - blade at Olde Mill.
Any thought or advice will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Tom