Woodstock W1770 - Manual (Page 24)

-22-
W1770 21" Bandsaw w/Foot Brake
SE
TU
P
Tensioning.Blade
A properly tensioned blade is essential for making accu-
rate cuts and is required before making many bandsaw
adjustments. (Everytime you replace the blade, you
should perform this procedure because all blades tension
differently.)
To tension the bandsaw blade, do these steps:
1. Make sure the blade is tracking properly (refer to
Page.17), and complete the Test.Run procedure
( Page.20).
2. Raise the upper blade guide assembly as high as it
will go, and adjust the upper and lower guide blocks
as far away from the blade as possible (refer to
Adjusting.Blade.Guide.Bearings.on Page.23).
Note:.This procedure will NOT work if the guide
blocks have any contact with the blade.
3. Move the quick tension lever to the tightened posi-
tion and turn the blade tension handwheel until the
blade tension matches the mark on the blade ten-
sion scale (see Figure.26) for the appropriate blade
width.
4. Turn the bandsaw ON.
5. Slowly release the tension one quarter of a turn at a
time. When you see the bandsaw blade start to flut-
ter, stop decreasing the tension.
6. Now, slowly increase the tension until the blade
stops fluttering, then tighten the tension another
quarter turn.
7. Look at what the blade tension scale reads and
use that as a guide for tensioning that blade in the
future.
Note:.Always release blade tension after use to
increase blade life and reduce strain on the bandsaw
components. The quick release tension lever works
perfectly for this purpose.
Figure.26. Front blade tensioning controls.
Blade
Tension
Scale
Blade Tension
Handwhel