Bandsaw cutting and blades is there a remedy for this?

D

Dixieblade57

Joined
Jun 20, 2007
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First I have got to say thanks to Stacy and the rest that recommended these blades, Lenox Diemaster2. The blades are fantastic they cut through steel like hot butter and no bump at the seam, but I have a problem.

Its a blade problem that comes from cutting a tighter radius with the blades, a long sweeping radius doesn't seem to create this problem. Let me specify something it is not just these blades but any blade I have tried. It is worse with other brands of blades. It seems that cutting a radius to the left of the blade starts a twist in the blade! I am not sure if it is trait that is characteristic of the machine or of all portable bandsaws or what to say about the problem. This is my set up.
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Once you cut a radius the blade takes a twist, so to cut a square cut of any width after that you are basically running at angle to get through it and maintain anything close to square! With the Diemaster 2 blades it seems less but it is still there.

If you cut a radius to the left of the blade the blade will jump off. This doesn't seem to be a problem when cutting a radius to the RIGHT of the blade. If anything it seems to take the twist back out the blade TEMPORARILY! As soon as you make that radius cut to the left of the blade the problem is back again.

It looks like if the blade would set deeper into the rollers it would track well enough to stop this problem but I have looked the machine over and do not see an adjustment to let it ride deeper in the rollers. You can sit it deeper but as soon as the machine rotates slightly the blade re-adjusts to running shallower in the rollers!

Is there a remedy for this short of just not cutting a radius to the left of the blade. I have tire doing it only the right of the blade and not all radiuses can be cut that way!

I know I am not the only one with problem because I have heard others make mention of it! What if any is the remedy to this problem? Short of not using the bandsaw to cut radiuses!
 
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Bandsaws really aren't meant to cut curves. The only ways I know of to do it and avoid twisting a blade that wide is to make a series of stopping cuts perpendicular to the radius, and nibble away the chunks in between them, so they come off before binding the blade, or just cut the thing straight but oversize and grind the radius in. That's probably the fastest way.
 
Cliff, like James said, you use the multiple cuts/nibble technique for anything but shallow curves. It's much easier, and faster, to do the rest flat on the toolrest at the grinder with a coarse grit belt anyway.
 
Since the portaband will only take a specific size blade, you're limited to not cutting tight radi.

It's only a problem on concave, internal curves.

Try drilling a hole to create a radius.

On using a bandsaw I've found that I just cut a series of straight cuts like sunrays coming out from the desired radius.
that way when you cut in on the radius, you create a clearance as you go and avoid twisting the blade.


Edited - I guess I had the window open too long, same idea as the above posters.
 
Another thing is that the blade guides on the DeWalt saws could be better. I have one too, it doesn't take even cutting a radius for the blade to eventually take a set to the left. That's just the tension of the guides twisting the blade straight there. Sometimes the little casting that the lower guides are mounted on will crack and split from this force as well, that's REALLY annoying and the little part costs way too much.

Those guys are right too, the blades you get for portabands are not for cutting radii, as they are too wide. If you want to cut radii with a band saw you need to have a blade 1/4" wide or less, and a higher quality saw with a longer wheelbase.
 
My dewalt does the same thing. It's the machine. I don't know if the millwaukee porta bands are any better.
 
I have a Makita 2107F. It doesnt do that. Blade tracks solid, does't matter left or right radius cut. I have broke too many lenox blades because of a tight turn, but no problems as you describe..
 
Likely would not make a difference but Lennox does make an m42 steel blade for the portabands. I Helene they are masterband blades.
 
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