If you have wavy boards, check your blade tension gauge for accuracy.

[DGK]

After 4 years of trying to troubleshoot why I was getting wavy boards in wide cuts, I have finally solved the problem. I borrowed a blade tension gauge (Starrett - saw tension gauge) from Wood-mizer and compared the borrowed saw tension gauge to my hydraulic tension gauge that is installed on my mill. It read between 300 - 500 psi difference. Now, I crank my tension up to 3000psi and and no more wave even on 24" wide cuts. :-)

[VictorH]

Do you plan to replace the gauge on the mill or just keep it turned up?  Thanks for the tip.

[giant splinter]

Good call Doug, looks like you got it dialed in now.

[drobertson]

Nothing like knowing for sure! Never hurts to double check, in this case sounds like you nailed it.

[dboyt]

Hitting a nail is usually a bad thing when sawing, but I'm glad you nailed it.  Do you go with more tension for thicker blades?

[5quarter]

DBoyt...I occasionally run .055"s and find that they'll run straight with a little less tension and still give me the benefit of the stiffer blade body. Others with higher HP mills probably run them with the same or greater tension with good results.

[DGK]

I inquired about any possible damage to the machine from running higher than recommended blade tension and was told that there is little risk. I have never broken a .045 band but have broken the .055 with regular or lower tension. For now, the 7 deg 1.25 with standard set is working great.

[Dave Shepard]

I was told when the mill was delivered to pin the gauge at 3,000. Seems to like it just fine.

[DGK]

3000psi and sometimes over, is where I am running it now. According to the Starrett saw tension gauge, 3000 is equal to about 2600 on my mill.

[Larry]

I've checked several with my gauge.  Most mills are off some, to a lot.  Doesn't seem to be brand specific either.  Its something that needs to be checked, possibly on a annual basis.

My TK won't tension 1 1/2" bands to factory spec but on the good side it doesn't seem to make a difference.

[Peter Drouin]

 

 

;D

[Dave Shepard]

On WM mills, make sure the two chrome rods are lubed properly.

[Magicman]

Or three.

[Dave Shepard]

Three?

[Magicman]

Two rods and one piston.  Anyway, I have three shiny things to squirt.   ;D

[YellowHammer]

Two rods and one piston.  Anyway, I have three shiny things to squirt.   ;D

Two are out in the open, the third is kind of hard to get to, just behind the others.
YH
 

[backwoods sawyer]

My gaudge only only goes to 120 lb I grease the zert daylie, give it 16 turns and run it at 80 psi ;D zero shiny rods to oil ;)

[highleadtimber16]

Wood-Mizer told me today that higher tension reduces the chances of cracking and blades breaking. I just can't wrap my head around that theory. Anyone else been told this??

[CalebL]

Wood-Mizer told me today that higher tension reduces the chances of cracking and blades breaking. I just can't wrap my head around that theory. Anyone else been told this??

Yes.  Will at the Missouri branch has told me repeatedly to crank up the tension on the blades.  Less problems that way.  I have been doing this for 2 years without any problems. 

[backwoods sawyer]

my manual calls for 60 psi woodmizer recomended that i go as high as 90 psi when I was truoble shooting a tracking issue, (bad idler arm pivot bearing) i settled in at 80 psi. Haven't lost a saw to craking in a quite a while.

[Dave Shepard]

Two rods and one piston.  Anyway, I have three shiny things to squirt.   ;D

The manual says nothing about squirting anything on the piston. That would be like going around and oiling all of the rods on all the hydraulic cylinders.

[Magicman]

OK, but hydraulic cylinders retract and keep the piston rod oily.  The piston rod on the blade tension does not and is always exposed to the elements.  While I am squirting two, I just do three.   ;D