A sad reflection on us all , not many of us use the tools forum–why ? Are we so convinced we know how to use them ?
OK , here’s one to think about .
I was checking the settings on my miniature bandsaw , A Proxxon model ,very nice .Now don’t rush off if you don’t have a bandsaw , you may still find this useful.
My bandsaw was out of true , using the slide on it to cut square , it didn’t . Or so I thought .
After some time faffing about , I decided to check the L square I was using . A build up of crud was giving me false indications ,I checked the square using the trick of drawing a line with it then turning it over and drawing another --it immediately showed the problem . I cleaned up the glue that had dried on it , picked up whilst holding a wet job square for it to set . The crud was less than a thickness of paint . I had boobed . I shan’t next time .
My saw is now square .
Don’t assume , check .
Mike
Mike Morgan said:Yes, dear.........................;)
A sad reflection on us all , not many of us use the tools forum--why ? Are we so convinced we know how to use them ? OK , here's one to think about . I was checking the settings on my miniature bandsaw , A Proxxon model ,very nice .Now don't rush off if you don't have a bandsaw , you may still find this useful. My bandsaw was out of true , using the slide on it to cut square , it didn't . Or so I thought . After some time faffing about , I decided to check the L square I was using . A build up of crud was giving me false indications ,I checked the square using the trick of drawing a line with it then turning it over and drawing another --it immediately showed the problem . I cleaned up the glue that had dried on it , picked up whilst holding a wet job square for it to set . The crud was less than a thickness of paint . I had boobed . I shan't next time . My saw is now square . Don't assume , check . Mike
Susan has this level that’s crooked. About 1/4 a bubble off. Now she insists everything has to be done to micrometer precision. This level caused me much frustration till I painted one end and called it “North East.” Now the whole place is crooked, but it’s crooked the same direction. hehe
Ken , duckie , Have you really checked to see if your thing is bent ?
It pays never to take your tool for granted . Never stick it anywhere unsavoury , the result can be quite a pain , and ruin your enjoyment of your favourite hobby ; self pleasure is so important .
Mike
Mike,
My band saw table wouldn’t stay put and I had to continually re-adjust it almost every time I used the saw.
One day in frustration at not getting it to stay put, I used my rubber mallet and gave the adjustment handle a couple of thumps. The table stayed in place for a week or so then the table was out of alignment again. When I tried to loosen the handle it wouldn’t give so I gave it a couple of thumps to loosen it.
After I ordered a new handle from Sears and used a pipe wrench to take off the broken piece. I found that grease I put on the threads to make the handle tighten easier had gotten on the surface of the adjustment plate.
After cleaning and lightly sanding the mating surfaces I have had no further problems with the table.
I’ve found checking all of the alignments on my band saws regularly are needed. Blade guide blocks need adjusted do to wear also on less expensive saws.
If you have long periods when your band saw sits idle, loosening the blade tension will add life to the blade.
Yogi Wallace
Bellaire, Ohio
That’s a new one for me , thanks , I didn’t know about the blade tension trick . Makes sense though when you’re prompted to think about it .
Good one ,Yogi .
Mike
ps had to laugh about taking the bits off after rubber hammering .
Mike Morgan said:I haven't checked it lately, but next time I go to use it I will give it a thorough inspection.
Ken , duckie , Have you really checked to see if your thing is bent ? It pays never to take your tool for granted . Never stick it anywhere unsavoury , the result can be quite a pain , and ruin your enjoyment of your favourite hobby ; self pleasure is so important . Mike
Quote:Funny....me mother used to tell me the same thing when I was younger...........;)
It pays never to take your tool for granted . Never stick it anywhere unsavoury , the result can be quite a pain , and ruin your enjoyment of your favourite hobby
Well , my Mom said it will make you blind , so I did it a little bit and wear glasses .
Mike
Oh youse guys 
When nothin’ seems to work, you getta BFH.
I am still trying to figure out BFH . As it’s probably not fit to print on a family site , it may be better left unsaid . After all , we have no wish to be vulgar , have we ? NFF.
Mike
Mike, din’a worry, JB is still trying to figure it out, too.
Mikey,
Yer werkin’ on a big metal project. Something like cutting up a set of racks with a torch.
It just won’t quite breake off, so you grab a sledge and start wailin’ away at it. Meanwhile, yer deafenin’ all yer co-workers. One of 'em yells, “Why 'n the hell don’t you git a Bigger F$#%&^$ Hammer”—hence BFH.
O,i c ,
i 8 acronyms , but they can be useful , ,so I had better get learning .
Hey , John , they don’t DO bigger hammers than the one I use .
You must remember , I come from Birmingham , England , one time world capital of engineering excellence , where a hammer is known as a "Birmingham Screwdriver "
I’m proud to say I resemble that .
Mike
Mike…is yer Birmingham Screwdriver anything like our Mexican Socket Set (a vise grip)?
Towne
That’s the one I was trying to remember , when I explained the Birmingham Screwdriver to the blokes at Clark Field , they said-“Oh , you mean Mexican Socket Set stuff?” then went on to come up with more that I cannot remember .
Universal engineering terms ? Make servicing at bases away a lot easier .
Mike
It’d be fun to get a whole listing of those euphamisms! Any body else got a couple?
Aside from Taco Bell being the Mexican telephone company, I don’t have any.
SteveF
OK -
I can read all the name calling posts and just laugh. But when things start to get racist then I think it’s time to pull the plug.
Towne & Steve - Please grow up.
JRad
Mike,
Another thing on keeping your saw tuned up.
If you are accident prone do not try this, stop here please.
[color=#ff0000]Warning what I’m suggesting can be dangerous.[/color]
When making a lot of cuts in wood like Pine the rubber tires on the saw gets a build-up of pitch and saw dust on them. This is the proper way to clean the wheels.
After unplugging the saw, remove the outer cover look to see where the blade tension indicator is, make a mark on the saw body so you will have point when adjusting the blade later. then loosen the tension on the blade remove it, and clean the tires. One of the nylon dish scrubbers will work sometimes.
[color=#ff0000] Again a Warning what I’m suggesting can be dangerous.[/color]
I have a bad habit of taking the easy way to do things at times.
As when there is a very heavy build-up on the wheels.
I do the following
To clean the tires I remove the outer guard of the saw exposing the wheels, blade and all.
[color=#FF0000]You will be in close proximity to the blade so care must be taken not to come in contact with the blade when the saw is running. Look and make sure the blade and wheels are clear before turning the saw on. [/color]
Using a stick while the saw is running and in a position where the stick can’t be pulled between the blade and wheel, I lightly hold the stick on the wheel and remove the built-up material from each wheel.
Unplug the saw and clean out all of the dust etc. and adjust the guides as needed.
replace all covers.
Lawrence ,
Yes , that makes sense , and as I have not had the saw for very long , it has not got a crud build
up . I had the cover off earlier today to see why the contact wheel guide was out of true , somehow a sliver of wood had got between the slide and body . So it ran up and down off true .
Anyway , I noticed the blackening on the drive wheels , I have to admit that I wouldn’t have tried the method you mention . But , the way the housing is cast , there’s a little ledge in just the right place to support a piece of wood to operate as you said . The nylon brushes seem to be working OK , but as I only cut pre-dried wood from model shops on this one , I shall probably not get too much of a problem . Do you get a bumping noise if the crud does build up ?
Our Tumble Drier gets that problem , lumps of lint get onto the drum seatings , and by golly , you can hear it down the road . Needs a belly button lint de-fluffer fitted .
Mike