16
OPERATION MANUAL
4.3 TENSIONING THE BLADE.
A properly tensioned blade is essential for making accurate cuts
and is necessary before making other band saw adjustments.
1. Raise the upper blade guide assembly as high as it will go,
and adjust the upper and lower guide blocks approximately
0.5mm away from the blade. (Fig.4.4 &Fig.4.5)
2. Adjust the blade tension knob. Turning the setting knob
clockwise will increase the blade tension and tuning the
setting knob counter-clockwise reduces the blade tension.
(Fig.4.6)
NOTE:
This procedure will not work if the guide blocks have any
contact with the blade.
3. Check the tension by pushing with a finger against the side
blade, halfway between table and upper guide, (the blade
should flex not more than 2mm) (Fig.4.7)
4. Turn the band saw ON.
5. Very slowly release the tension one quarter of a turn at a time.
When you see the band saw blade start to flutter, stop
decreasing the tension.
6. Now, slowly increase the tension until the blade stops
fluttering, then tighten the tension another quarter of a turn.
WARNING:
Too much tension can cause the band saw blade to
break. Too little tension can cause the driven band saw wheel to
slip and the saw blade to stop.
Fig. 4.4
Fig. 4.5
Fig. 4.7
BLADE TENSION INDICATOR (BP-310 & BP-360)
On the BP-310 and BP-360 the tension should be checked by viewing the blade tension indica-
tor. The scale indicates the correct adjustment of the blade in relation to the width of the band
saw blade. (Fig. 4.8)
Fig. 4.8
Fig. 4.6
