3
Tips & Troubleshooting
If you are unable to get the blade tight,
Make sure that you remembered to loosen the tension, so that the tips of the blade will touch the ends of the
holes. Also, check the length of the blade. It may be too long or short; standard length is 5 1/8”
Tightening means to turn a screw clock-wise.
Some people like to remember this by saying, “Lefty-Loosey, Righty-Tighty”
If the blade breaks before you start sawing,
either:
• The blade is over-tightened, or
• The blade is too brittle. Some brands don’t have the tensile strength to stand up to the users’ desire for
blade tautness.
If the blades pull out of the holder prematurely,
unscrew the knob, and check for broken bits of
saw blades inside the hole.
Note: The bottom clamp knob has only one lever.
The opposite side has been removed to prevent
bumping into the bottom of the bench pin.
Changing clamp knob orientation
If you prefer to have the clamp knobs on the opposite side of the frame:
Remove the the clamp screws and set screws (use a 5/64” allen wrench/hex key for the set screws).
Re-install the set screws so that they are flush with the outside of the barrel of the blade holder.
Adjust the position of the lever on the lower clamp screw to prevent it from hitting the bottom of the bench-
pin on the “up-stroke”, which can often break the blade:
• Install the lower clamp screw with your favorite size blade
• Tension the saw blade.
• If the lever on the knob points upward (10 to 2 o’clock), loosen the clamp and adjust the set screw “in”
slightly, so that the “tight” position of the lever will be lower.
Correct alignment
Because the anvil screw can be moved from one side to the other for those left
handed folks out there, its alignment is important. This cut-away provides a
visual of what is going on inside the blade clamp. When properly aligned, the
blade will go in easily, and when the clamp knob is tightened, the blade will
stay straight.
Anvil screw out too far
This shows what usually causes bent or broken ends.
Adjust for correct alignment.
Mis-alignment
This shows an extreme example of the anvil screw out
of adjustment. As you tighten the clamp knob, notice
blade movement. If it wants to angle to one side or
the other, the anvil screw must be adjusted.
The loose end of the blade usually tilts toward the side that’s in too far
Use a 5/64” hex key to adjust it.
.
These instructions have been written by Lee Marshall and Cynthia Eid.
Suggestions for additions and corrections are gratefully received at [email protected] & [email protected]
Photography & Graphics by Brian Meek.
