2020-02-01 February Monthly Meeting on the 1st @ HoCo Elkridge Library, Elkridge
The February 2020 monthly meeting is the FIRST Saturday on the 1st. The demonstration is by Brian Graham and Gene Torrey – Tuning a PorterCable 14” Bandsaw with 6” Riser Block. We will focus on these key items:
- Saw frame alignment after adding the riser block.
- Checking tires for out of round condition and correcting same.
- Wheel alignment.
- Balancing the wheels.
- Upper saw blade guide fit after adding the riser block.
Please note at the page bottom the image gallery Brian uses during the presentation.
The LOCATION IS
Howard County Public Library, Elkridge branchRoom: Belmont and Hockley RoomsStart Time: 10:15 AM End Time: 1:00 PM
1015 – 1030: Social, Membership, Swap Meet, Greetings
1030 – 1130: Demonstration
1130 – 1140: Break
1140 – 1230: Announcements, Guests and New Members, Safety Tips, Show and Tell, Door prizes.
1230 – 1300: more social time and clean-up. We must vacate the rooms by 1PM.
Minutes:
HCWG Minutes 2020-02-01 February Monthly Meeting on the 1st @ HoCo Elkridge Library, Elkridge. Rick Munzer presiding.
Agenda:
- 1015 – 1030: Social, Membership, Swap Meet, Greetings
- 1030 – 1130: Demonstration
- 1140 – 1230: Announcements, Guests and New Members, Safety Tips, Show and Tell, Door prizes.
Announcements:
- 231 members including 6 new additions at the meeting.
- Announcements:
- Ron Fico is retiring from his the Shop Coordinator position as of 1March. At that time if no alternate has been appointed the shop will remain indefinitely closed.
- Robinson Nature Center received a new bench (made by Greg Knoll and Jack Spenser) for their children’s play area this week.
- Robinson Nature Center is looking for a volunteer to refresh trail signs.
- Cherry logs were brought to the meeting to share.
- David H. shared Magazines from the Early American Industries Association ( http://eaiainfo.org/ ).
- Joel L. shared his file etching rig (vinegary etching to renew files).
- March meeting will be held at the HoCo Elkridge Library, Elkridge.
- April’s meeting location has not been determined.
Actions:
- David H. was acting HCWG secretary for the Jan 2020 meeting.
- Self-nominations requested for the shop coordinator position.
- Joel L. is inquiring into alternate spaces for the April meeting.
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Demo: Brian Graham and Gene Torrey demonstrated how to tune and maintain a band saw.
Show-N-Tell: 11 participants shared 25 items including kids toys, glueless bench, triangle boxes, mantle, rolling pins, A cane shaped like a saw, a bowl clamp, oak beam bowls, Shinto rasps and lamp-table, and a bullroarer.
50/50 and door prizes were awarded. Two of the items went to members who joined today!
Demonstration Notes: Brian Graham demonstrated band saw tuning and configuration .
- Riser blocks are a neck extension kit that changes the blade length and allows for larger stock to be fed.
- Riser block installation, sourcing, and tuning were discussed.
- Guide wheel tuning
- Coplane tuning – The upper and lower blade wheels should be set on a common plane prior to blade installation to maximize efficiency. The can be done with a straight edge and shims such that the shims move the upper guide wheel in or out from the chassis to establish same plane geometry.
- Shim kits are available. Upper and lower wheels will have different shim diameters. Normally you only shim the top wheel.
- Polymer wheels with a raised center are good for tracking and repeatability. Rubber wheels can pick up a memory of the blade.
- Watch for metal or resin build up on the wheel – clean with a scraper.
- Blade Guides –
- Carter guides are high quality, but they do not fit well on a Delta saw, leaving a gap under the table.
- Power and motor tuning.
- 220V is recommended for smooth motor operation and minimal vibration (author note; 3-Phase would be even better).
- Adding a motor support of even just stacking boards under the motor can reduce vibration.
- High mount motors make a machine top-heavy.
- Blade tension and dressing
- Steps: install blade, set the guides, then adjust tension. Tension: snug the blade, run the machine and increase tension until blade-flutter disappears and blade runs dead-flat.
- Should be very stiff – you should not be able to break a blade.
- Carbon steel should withstand 10,000-15,000 PSI
- BiMetal blades should withstand 20,000-25,000 PSI and can be tensioned higher (½” bimetal blade can withstand tensions normally used on ¾” carbon blade.
- Tensioning cannot damage the bearings.
- Tensiometer tools can measure blade tension but are expensive.
- Chamfer or deburring tools can reduce heat buildup and stock burn by dressing the back side of the blade.
- Do not de-tension blades when not in use.
- After cutting soft wood run a hard wood through to clean the teeth.
- To tension the blade make it snug, then turn on the machine and watch for a vibration on the open section of blade then tension until that wobble goes away.
- It is possible for a blade to have bad camber. This blade will never track straight. To test this simply drop the blade onto a smooth floor and shine a light along its edge looking for riser spots. If found, discard the blade or seek manufacturer replacement.
- Blade selection
- OEM blades are usually junk metal with stamped teeth.
- Good high carbon blades with milled teeth are preferred.
- A narrow (1/8”) blade will heat up.
- Wood shop saws rotate at 500-800 SFPM (blade surface feet per minute) which is good for wood, aluminum, brass, or bronze.
- Specialized metal cutting band saws for cutting Steel run at slower 50-180 SFPM.
- Brian demonstrated a blade coiling technique for easier storage.
- If a blade “walks” when cutting, it is either worn out or not properly tensioned.
- If the blade smokes it either has too many teeth for the application of is a dull blade.
- Martin’s sharpening service sells High carbon steel blades for $15 (amish, 717-733-0511). Compare to TimberWolf $30 blades.
- Do not bother soldering broken blades. Just throw them away.
- Tensioner Spring
- Can be replaced for a heavier, more predictable tensioner spring to allow
- Bearings
- A bearing is stamped with its spec. If the stamp matches it should work.
- Inline roller skate bearings make good guide bearing replacements.
- Lubes
- Quick Wax lube is a ptfe Teflon CRC crown lube that will not leave a milky residue. Do not use silicone – and can be used on all surfaces.
- Lock ease graphite with a kerosene binder is good for the trunnions because it will lube threads but not collect dust.
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