Custom bandsaw guides

[jack forsberg]

Can't imagine why manufactures haven't done this yet. Mine are made of Ampco 18 bearings bronze and Cocobolo rosewood .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQvnGgZUKxE

[Bradley Gray]

Nicely done Jack!

I may borrow your method for my 32" crescent.

The lower guides on my saw are several inches below the table and your guides would really tighten things up.

[Howard Pollack]

A great idea. Thanks.
Howard

[Allan Speers]

Jack, Am I correct in assuming this replaces your lower guides?

If so, what happens when you need to adjust them for a different blade thickness? Well, I guess you could make one for each blade.

Hmm, this is interesting.

[jack forsberg]

Jack, Am I correct in assuming this replaces your lower guides?

If so, what happens when you need to adjust them for a different blade thickness? Well, I guess you could make one for each blade.

Hmm, this is interesting.
No this doesn't replace the lower guides . This just gives blade support right at table . Generally guides on most bandsaws are well below the table surface because of the trunnion system . Different blade are fairly simple because they always ride in the centre of the tires and all that is necessary is to sand/grind the leading edge for tooth sets . You see that you in the pictures To be honest though the 30" saw only ever sees a three-quarter and half-inch blade . Also this sans never sees the table tip that would require some undercutting which I show on the drawing below . I much prefer the ship saw for angle cuts but the guild can be removed as you see very easily

[Curt Harms]

Now THAT is clever! Pretty too.

[John K Jordan]

I liked your idea but also wondered about the issue with different blades. But then I remembered I've been sticking with 1/2" blades on my 18" bandsaw. I may make one of these as soon as I finish my current project - restoring an older milling milling machine.

I wonder how lignum vitae would hold up for the guides instead of the bronze. I've used it to make several things and it is strong, easy to machine, and self-lubricating. (And I already have it on my shelf.)

JKJ

[Matt Day]

That's a very slick idea and well executed (and good looking to boot!). What's the diameter of your throat plate?

[jack forsberg]

That's a very slick idea and well executed (and good looking to boot!). What's the diameter of your throat plate?
That one is 4 inch but the other three bandsaws are 2 1/2 inch and that's with the drawing shows so this'll typically fit on any type .

[jack forsberg]

I liked your idea but also wondered about the issue with different blades. But then I remembered I've been sticking with 1/2" blades on my 18" bandsaw. I may make one of these as soon as I finish my current project - restoring an older milling milling machine.

I wonder how lignum vitae would hold up for the guides instead of the bronze. I've used it to make several things and it is strong, easy to machine, and self-lubricating. (And I already have it on my shelf.)

JKJ
you do have a hard time beating Ampco 18 bearing bronzes . To give you the idea of how well the wearing properties are of this bronze it took me an hour to cut that blanks on the bandsaw . So even the cutting teeth on the bandsaw had a hard time wearing it away