Making hardened steel blade guide blocks for my homemade band saw. More details on the blade guides: ibuildit.ca/pr... More details on the band saw: ibuildit.ca/pr...
I have a saw with bearing guides, honestly I think I prefered the brass guides my old saw used, while the bearing guides work ok they tend to gum up and they are harder to adjust snugly than solid blocks.
Many believe the only acceptable ones are ball bearing. There are also ceramic and graphite. Wood, plastic and a variety of other materials are also used.
Over the plastic blocks? Hard to say (my saw is noisy, anyway), but I expect it's a bit louder. Certainly not enough for me to say: "wow, that's WAY louder" or "they work great, but that nails-on-the-chalkboard sound is driving me crazy".
I'd think twice about aluminium. If you've ever cut any with either a band saw blade, circular saw blade, or even a hack saw, you'll see how it rubs off on the steel.
Band saw blades usually don't wear out from friction, they get dull or break long before that could happen. Bearings DO wear out, and they are a lot harder to make than these steel guides, so you pretty much have to buy new ones. You seem to have missed the point of the video entirely.
Shame they do not understand English, but I'm glad to have found this channel so interesting, you are the master of all apprentice would have;) Regards.
Great solution. A while back I had to create upper an lower guide block assemblies for my band saw. Check out my channel to see how I made them. Take care
Love the saw & guides. Lots of questions: Where do you find the induction motors for the 2 bandsaws? What sort of plastic were the original guides (was that "ultra low molecular weight plastic")? Also why harden the drill bit, wouldn't a regular HSS steel drill bit be hard enough? Or even tool steel or brass - as a sacrificial guides (e.g. as it wears push the guide bar in a bit more each time you adjust the guides if necessary). 3 years on: any reason to go back to the earlier guides - or can these hardened steel guides "do it all"? Nice job :)
Well thought out nice vid just one thing John did you make the drill cabnet behind if can you send the link that would sit well in my wirkshop cheers Dave
I thought there wasn't enough blade to maintain good contact and stay between the guides due to it's narrow depth. I am enjoying your posts thoroughly. Thank you for your answer and wonderful site.
I have a saw with bearing guides, honestly I think I prefered the brass guides my old saw used, while the bearing guides work ok they tend to gum up and they are harder to adjust snugly than solid blocks.
Many believe the only acceptable ones are ball bearing. There are also ceramic and graphite. Wood, plastic and a variety of other materials are also used.
Over the plastic blocks? Hard to say (my saw is noisy, anyway), but I expect it's a bit louder. Certainly not enough for me to say: "wow, that's WAY louder" or "they work great, but that nails-on-the-chalkboard sound is driving me crazy".
I'd think twice about aluminium. If you've ever cut any with either a band saw blade, circular saw blade, or even a hack saw, you'll see how it rubs off on the steel.
Band saw blades usually don't wear out from friction, they get dull or break long before that could happen. Bearings DO wear out, and they are a lot harder to make than these steel guides, so you pretty much have to buy new ones.
You seem to have missed the point of the video entirely.
Saw that - looks like you used the same plastic that I originally used. How's yours holding up?
Thanks. There is one, actually. Search "Band saw mods" on my channel page.
I did. More about that in the website article, link in the description.
Why, when these work as well, or better?
Just moved them back - there's enough space there to do it.
Shame they do not understand English, but I'm glad to have found this channel so interesting, you are the master of all apprentice would have;) Regards.
You said steel guides have a bad reputation. What other materials are used? Or do you mean that people would prefer ball bearing guides?
Less friction between the guides and blade => less wear?
No need to heat treatment?
=)
Doers not get much better than that.....every bit as good as my 14 inch Delta.
Great solution. A while back I had to create upper an lower guide block assemblies for my band saw. Check out my channel to see how I made them. Take care
Hey John, how are these holding up?
Why not use two small bearings as guides?
They are holding up well. Eventually I would like to make them out of aluminium but that will come with time.
Very interesting John, enjoyed it mate.
Cheers
Mike
Love the saw & guides. Lots of questions: Where do you find the induction motors for the 2 bandsaws? What sort of plastic were the original guides (was that "ultra low molecular weight plastic")? Also why harden the drill bit, wouldn't a regular HSS steel drill bit be hard enough? Or even tool steel or brass - as a sacrificial guides (e.g. as it wears push the guide bar in a bit more each time you adjust the guides if necessary). 3 years on: any reason to go back to the earlier guides - or can these hardened steel guides "do it all"? Nice job :)
Well thought out nice vid just one thing John did you make the drill cabnet behind if can you send the link that would sit well in my wirkshop cheers Dave
I thought there wasn't enough blade to maintain good contact and stay between the guides due to it's narrow depth. I am enjoying your posts thoroughly. Thank you for your answer and wonderful site.
Thanks John,appreciate your time posting this for us.Cut thru the the 3 1/2" maple with no issues. Looks like it's good to go...
As usual, good video John, It would be cool to see a video discussing the mods you did to your little store bought band saw.
Gosh I wish you lived near me. I would pick your brain and finally have some cool tools!
My large metal band saw uses solid carbide blade guides so no worries about metal on metal.
Good info! Please be sure to do an update after some time of using them, as "Time will tell the tale". Thanks
How did you adjust your guides back the correct distance to not wear the blade "set" off your blade?
I am curious how the guides are secured in the saw. What holds them in place?
Informative post. Thanks.
Looks great, John.
It seems you don't see a need for a casual wood worker to use kool blocks?
a good idea
avrei bisogno gentimente di tutti i disegni tecnici per realizzare la segha a nastro in legno .
John what kind of table saw fence?
Any appreciable difference in noise?
very informative!
Good vid John
big fan of your videos :)