How do you tension and old band saw?

[Toney Robertson]

How do you go about tensioning an OLD band saw? Think Flintstones old, way before tensioning gauges. I would think it is AT LEAST 75 years old and quite probably older.

It is an OLD cast iron behemoth - 32" wheel - babbitt bearings. It is so heavy that my 1/2 ton pickup truck almost did a wheely when I hauled it. It has a ~5" wheel under the axle. You loosen two square headed bolts and crank up the wheel to apply tension.

What do you do? Pluck it like a guitar until it reaches middle C? http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yellowlaugh.gif

Here is some pics.

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj101/iublue/BandSaw1.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj101/iublue/BandSaw2.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj101/iublue/BandSaw3.jpg

TIA

Toney

[James Williams 007]

I would do the flutter method that I use on my wolverine blades wait until the blade stops fluttering and your there if you can add tension while its running. Man that is a nice bandsaw!!!!

[Toney Robertson]

I would do the flutter method that I use on my wolverine blades wait until the blade stops fluttering and your there if you can add tension while its running. Man that is a nice bandsaw!!!!

James, I don't know if you could tension it while running. In the past I have loosened the four square bolts that you can see in picture three and I don't think you would want it running when you do that because the wheel tends to tilt. Maybe I am wrong, maybe you could just loosen them enough to let it move. That is why I come here - to learn.

Does anyone KNOW or has anyone had a band saw like this in the past?

[Eric Haycraft]

Congrats on the new saw. Looks gorgeous.

How about this?
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuideProduct.aspx?id=5890

Eric

[Scott Banbury]

I've got a 1907 36" American and a 32" Crescent. On both the bolts on the ways are snug but still allow the upper assembly to move when the tensioning wheel is used.

I tighten my blade until it tracks well and then fire it up and then adjust the tension until the blade doesn't flutter.

[Pete Bradley]

If you haven't already, check in with the forum at www.owwm.org

I'd use flutter at first, feel once I was used to it.

PEte

[Toney Robertson]

Congrats on the new saw. Looks gorgeous.

How about this?
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuideProduct.aspx?id=5890

Eric

Interesting, thanks for the link. A little pricey but it looks like it would do what I want.

BTW, it is not a new (to me) saw. My father owned a small lumber yard in a small town and it had a shop. This saw is from that shop. I took it to Indy several years ago and had new guides put on it. They also heated the babbitt material to redistribute it around the axles. they also mounted a new motor to it because before that it ran off of a jack shaft under the floor.

I also have a VERY old table saw that used to run off the same jack shaft. It is so old that it has a wooden top.

Toney

Toney

[Toney Robertson]

Yes, I need to check out the old machinery site.

Thanks for reminding me.

Toney