Wobble Problems With a BS100 Band Saw

Blade Tension

• If the tension of the blade isn’t adjusted correctly, the BS100 blade will wobble or make untrue cuts to the wood. The BS100 blade can be adjusted using the tension knob on the top of the machine. After the desired blade is affixed to the tension wheels, the knob needs to be turned clockwise or to the right by hand, until the spring beneath it compresses. The tension should be increased tighter for a thicker blade and looser for a smaller blade. For instance, an eighth-inch blade should be tightened two and a half turns after the initial compression of the spring, whereas a fourth-inch blade should be tightened three turns.

Pointer

• The band saw tilt table can be adjusted to support cuts at different angles. The pointer attaches to the right side of the BS100 and indicates the angle of the tilt table. If cuts are wobbly or inaccurate, the pointer might be off and require adjustment. The pointer can be removed with a screwdriver, reinstalled and tightened. For the pointer to read correctly, the pointer must be aligned properly with the pointer groove to the side of the table teeth.

Blade Guides

• The blade guide assembly, which is located just above the bottom-most part of the blade, should be no more than an 1/8 inch above the wood. Attempt to get the blade guide assembly as close as possible to the working material to ensure that the cut isn’t wobbly or inaccurate. To adjust the blade guide, you loosen the knob at the front of the machine just above the assembly. Turn the knob to the left to loosen it, move the blade assembly as close as you can to the wood and turn the knob to the right to tighten it.

Blade Tracking

• Blade tracking allows you to set the blade further toward the front or the back of the machine. If the tracking isn’t set correctly for the cut, control is lost and the cutting process becomes wobbly. You can adjust the blade tracking using the triangle-shaped knob on the left side of the BS100, if you’re facing the machine. A slight twist of the knob to the right or clockwise moves the blade back toward the neck of the machine. A slight twist of the knob to the left or counterclockwise moves the blade to the front of the machine.