Comments on: Hot or Not? A Bandsaw Quick Release http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:26:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Patrick Fitzgerald http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-34037 Patrick Fitzgerald Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:51:19 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-34037 @Ivan: I think for a bandsaw that sees frequent use, detensioning is probably not needed, but if it sits unused for long periods it might be a good idea. @Ivan: I think for a bandsaw that sees frequent use, detensioning is probably not needed, but if it sits unused for long periods it might be a good idea.

]]> By: Ivan http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-33998 Ivan Wed, 14 Mar 2007 10:21:17 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-33998 From an article in fine woodworking where author ronald volbrecht, a guitar maker especially for rock stars such as john mellencamp, uses his 20 year old delta 14 inch bandsaw with a riser block and hasn't detensioned them ever since! and he uses his bandsaw for ripping stock for his guitars!!! From an article in fine woodworking where author ronald volbrecht, a guitar maker especially for rock stars such as john mellencamp, uses his 20 year old delta 14 inch bandsaw with a riser block and hasn’t detensioned them ever since! and he uses his bandsaw for ripping stock for his guitars!!!

]]> By: Toolmonger » Blog Archive » Finds: Rikon’s New 14″ Deluxe Bandsaw http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-24707 Toolmonger » Blog Archive » Finds: Rikon’s New 14″ Deluxe Bandsaw Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:58:44 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-24707 [...] Rikon recently released an updated 14″ bandsaw featuring 14″ re-saw capacity and a built-in quick-release blade tensioner.  (If you missed it, be sure to check out the great discussion in comments regarding de-tensioning.  The short version: it’s a good idea.) [...] [...] Rikon recently released an updated 14″ bandsaw featuring 14″ re-saw capacity and a built-in quick-release blade tensioner.  (If you missed it, be sure to check out the great discussion in comments regarding de-tensioning.  The short version: it’s a good idea.) [...]

]]> By: Paul http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-22241 Paul Thu, 15 Feb 2007 15:31:29 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-22241 I could just about buy a new saw for $150. My saw is about 20 years old now and I haven't noticed any of the things mentioned here happening to it. I crank my blade up to a high C note too. But all of this is food for thought for me. Maybe I will unstring the thing when I am not using it? Nah, it's gone this long without the pampering. Why spoil it now? I vote not hot. I could just about buy a new saw for $150. My saw is about 20 years old now and I haven’t noticed any of the things mentioned here happening to it. I crank my blade up to a high C note too. But all of this is food for thought for me. Maybe I will unstring the thing when I am not using it? Nah, it’s gone this long without the pampering. Why spoil it now? I vote not hot.

]]> By: Eli http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-22231 Eli Thu, 15 Feb 2007 15:10:32 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-22231 Detensioning good. Detensioning good.

]]> By: John http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-22205 John Thu, 15 Feb 2007 13:49:20 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-22205 Hot. The price makes it not hot, but the DIY version is hot. It is definitely a good thing to de-tension the blade if you aren't using your bandsaw for an extended period of time, especially if you have a wide blade which woul dbe under high tension. I leave a 1/2 inch balde in my 14 inch woodcutting bandsaw, which is best for resawing. It requires tensioning almost to the max (the tension gauge on bandsaws are always inaccurate and tension usually needs to be higher than the gauge says) for best results. Over time leaving the saw at this tension could damage the cast-iron frame. With the newer steel-frame bandsaws, I wouldn't be as worried. In any case, the big advantage in this quick-release mechanism is for blade changing. If you change blades often, then this would be great! I'm planning to add the DIY version to my saw for sure. The plans are here: http://www.woodsmith.com/issues/sample/06-07/ Hot. The price makes it not hot, but the DIY version is hot. It is definitely a good thing to de-tension the blade if you aren’t using your bandsaw for an extended period of time, especially if you have a wide blade which woul dbe under high tension. I leave a 1/2 inch balde in my 14 inch woodcutting bandsaw, which is best for resawing. It requires tensioning almost to the max (the tension gauge on bandsaws are always inaccurate and tension usually needs to be higher than the gauge says) for best results. Over time leaving the saw at this tension could damage the cast-iron frame. With the newer steel-frame bandsaws, I wouldn’t be as worried.

In any case, the big advantage in this quick-release mechanism is for blade changing. If you change blades often, then this would be great! I’m planning to add the DIY version to my saw for sure. The plans are here: http://www.woodsmith.com/issues/sample/06-07/

]]> By: Rob http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-22087 Rob Thu, 15 Feb 2007 06:16:20 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-22087 From somewhere else, "Band saw blades, when warmed up from cutting, always stretch; and upon cooling shrink by tens of thousandths of an inch each cooling period. Therefore, band saw blades, when left on the saw over tension themselves and leave the memory of the two wheels in the steel of the band saw blade, which will cause cracking in the gullet. When you leave the band saw blade on your saw under tension, not only do you distort the crown and flatten out the tires (which makes them very hard), but you also place undue stress on your bearings and shafts. Believe it or not; you can, and will damage your wheel geometry sooner or later and considerably shorten bearing life. You are also crushing your tires or V-belts." If you de-tension your blades between uses already, then not so hot. If you think it's a pain to do so then you don't de-tension your blades, probably a good thing to have. From somewhere else, “Band saw blades, when warmed up from cutting, always stretch; and upon cooling shrink by tens of thousandths of an inch each cooling period. Therefore, band saw blades, when left on the saw over tension themselves and leave the memory of the two wheels in the steel of the band saw blade, which will cause cracking in the gullet. When you leave the band saw blade on your saw under tension, not only do you distort the crown and flatten out the tires (which makes them very hard), but you also place undue stress on your bearings and shafts. Believe it or not; you can, and will damage your wheel geometry sooner or later and considerably shorten bearing life. You are also crushing your tires or V-belts.” If you de-tension your blades between uses already, then not so hot. If you think it’s a pain to do so then you don’t de-tension your blades, probably a good thing to have.

]]> By: JoshMaz http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-22042 JoshMaz Thu, 15 Feb 2007 03:17:38 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-22042 I recently bought my first bandsaw and started doing my homework on proper care and feeding of the machine. From what I can gather, detensioning the blade between uses is in fact a very good thing for a number of reasons. As for this device, I'm thinking it's not so hot for most users. There are other methods that work just as well for a fraction of the cost, as was pointed out in an earlier comment. Another option is to mark the threads of the tension screw so you know where to return it to. I recently bought my first bandsaw and started doing my homework on proper care and feeding of the machine. From what I can gather, detensioning the blade between uses is in fact a very good thing for a number of reasons. As for this device, I’m thinking it’s not so hot for most users. There are other methods that work just as well for a fraction of the cost, as was pointed out in an earlier comment. Another option is to mark the threads of the tension screw so you know where to return it to.

]]> By: nrChris http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-22014 nrChris Thu, 15 Feb 2007 02:38:58 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-22014 I can't imagine putting a QR anything into a saw--particularly one where exact tuning makes all the difference in the world. Sure the QR may be pretty solid, but I can imagine a micro-readjustment nightmare resulting. No thank you. I can’t imagine putting a QR anything into a saw–particularly one where exact tuning makes all the difference in the world. Sure the QR may be pretty solid, but I can imagine a micro-readjustment nightmare resulting. No thank you.

]]> By: Jeff T http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-21991 Jeff T Thu, 15 Feb 2007 01:50:17 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-21991 Not hot. Not worth it. What the guy above said. It's a rip-off. I also have the magazine of the DIY version around here somewhere. Not hot. Not worth it. What the guy above said. It’s a rip-off. I also have the magazine of the DIY version around here somewhere.

]]> By: MikeR http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-21983 MikeR Thu, 15 Feb 2007 01:34:18 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/14/hot-or-not-a-bandsaw-quick-release/#comment-21983 DIY version: http://www.mv.com/users/besposito/woodworking/quickrelease/ IIRC this method was published in one of the wood mags (FWW possibly) sometime in the past year. DIY version: http://www.mv.com/users/besposito/woodworking/quickrelease/

IIRC this method was published in one of the wood mags (FWW possibly) sometime in the past year.

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