angus89

Hello everyone I am new to the forum and fairly new to woodworking. I am posting cause I need as much help as I can get.I recently bought the 10 in craftsman band saw http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...Name=Band+Saws
I am using the stock 1/4 in 6 tpi blade and I am just trying to cut some circles maybe 2-3 in diameter out of some 1/4 in mdf and for the life of me I cant get it to cut curves and on the rare ocasion that it does cut curves they are very inacurate and the blade just kinda goes where it wants wich I am sure has alot to do with my inexperience but I don't know what I am doing wrong. I have read several books and articles on bansaw setup and I have followed everything to the T. At first I thought it was the blade tension but I have tightened it as far as I can wich has helped somewhat but not very much.The wheels are in perfect alignment, all the guides are adjusted right, the blade runs straight and true and still when I try and cut a turn the blade just twists.I have tried different feed rates and basically evrything I can think of. What do I need to do? All help is much apreciated cheers.

user4178

Maybe a 1/8" blade would be better.

Al B Cuttn Wud

Without being there with you, I would say you might be better off using a smaller blade for cutting that small of a circle. I would use my scroll saw for something like you are trying to do becuase of the smaller blade, hence my reasoning behind using a smaller blade. Not saying it can't be done with the 1/4" blade, you just have to go really slow.....really slow.

Handyman

You need a smaller blade. But I bet you have read that already. I have 3 bandsaw, all set up differant. The smaller the blade, the tighter the circle.

PS: Welcome aboard the forum

Check twice!

angus89:

Maybe try this video, I cut 3" circles with a 1/8" blade (96 of them) using this jig. I did find I had to make a jig for my disc sander after cutting the circles to get them smooth. http://stusshed.wordpress.com/2007/0...ircle-cutting/

I hope this is of some help. If I can find a way of uploading photos, I have some good shots of my set up, and resaults.

Good luck and be patient! :)
John

__________________
Cleaning my glasses will not make me look any better.
But will make what I am looking at better!

angus89

Thank you guys for all the help and suggestions.I made one of those circle cuting jigs and I set it up to cut a 6 in circle and it just twisted the blade so I am still just really confused on what I need to do cause I also bought mark duginskes video on bandsaws and he was able to to cut a circle the size of a quarter with a 1/4 6 tpi blade.

Handyman

WOW that Mark Duginskes is way better than me and I am an Expert. When I am going to cut circle that small I us one of my tabletop scroll saws.

__________________
Collector of Old Tools
Fixer of all things broke
Expert = Drip under pressure

BillWood

Maybe the blade is not a good brand/dull/dirty. I brush my blades in a downward motion(Unplug saw and rotate by hand) on both sides with a nylong brush after every project is complete. MDF is very tough on all types of blades. You can use a tuning tool or old sharpening stone and wear down the back two edges of the blade to make the backside of the blade rounded instead of square. This will allow you to turn a little tighter. Clean saw of all dust and disconnect dust collector as this will create some sparks. Rule of thumb, if what you're doing is making the blade twist, use a smaller blade. Good luck.

thekctermite

Agreed, go with a 1/8" blade. Get a quality blade like a timberwolf. The cheap blades you probably got at Sears will never give good results.