I can't cut straight with my bandsaw!!!

[afterhours]

i know that on my jet i had to adjust the blade for perfect cuts-pia, but worth it. get a test piece adjust- test- adjust - test 'till it's good.

[BigFish]

Buy a compound mitre saw....its alot quicker and you won't get that blade inflection.

[Thumb-Burner]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Buy a compound mitre saw....its alot quicker and you won't get that blade inflection.

two issues there.. 1) i'm broke 2) my shop is VERY small and i already have tools sitting on the floor when i'm not using them.. 3) I'm broke..

do you use the mitre saw for just cutting stock, or for lips too?

also, i'm hoping to cut out some handcarveds at some point so i gotta get this figgured out.

[Slipknot]

put a wider blade on if you can

there is nothing worse than trying to use a power tool that is inadequate for the job. Another words, small cheap bandsaws are mostly for hobby type stuff, very thin wood. Maybe the saw is not strong enough to hold the blade tightly enough. Bandsaws are fickle and have to be tuned just right, p.i.t.a. I know.

if you have a table saw you can crosscut with that
if you have a handsaw you can do lip slots with that

[BigFish]

No.....use the bandsaw for lip slots! When you can try and pick up a new or used compound mitre. Worth the money. Keep your eyes on the classified forum! New Dewalt is about $120.00.....might find a nice used one for around $50.00!

[l.i.fish.in.vt]

TB,i think what your problem is is trying to set your fence up parraell to the bandsaw blade. ever blade will cut diferantly even on larger sawa. what you have to do is is set your fence up at what ever angle is necesary to cut a straight line.so your fence that is guiging your work piece might not be square to the blade.

[Thumb-Burner]

not using a fence for cutting the stock to length.. sounds like part of what i need to do is use something else for that.. maybe a mitre saw in a mitre box?

so what LI is saying is that i should just compensate for the angled cut?

[Thumb-Burner]

Wife and kids got me the bandsaw.. it's a inexpensive delta.. but i think others use it with success.. so it's not the best i know, but i think it should be useable..

a wider blade might be the ticket.. tobias i think suggested a thicker one too..

maybe i'll just use a hatchet..

[afterhours]

i adjusted the four metal sideblocks and the rollers. if it has blocks it should be adjustable...mine was a pia to get just right. also correct blade tension is a must. like bruce said a wider blade may help..

[Thumb-Burner]

Originally Posted by afterhours

i know that on my jet i had to adjust the blade for perfect cuts-pia, but worth it. get a test piece adjust- test- adjust - test 'till it's good.

what types of things did you adjust?