Need hitachi CB13F BS help

[newood2]

I started using the BS and found out I needed a good blade so I ordered the Timberwolf 80"/ 3/8"(as recommended here) and waiting for delivery. Then I started to do some adjustment and discover that those pin-type metal blade guides are, IMHO, lousy. I can't even get the left guides to within less than 1/16"of the blade. It was mentioned on here sometime ago about using different kinds of guides and guide blocks, also a Website dedicated to the CB13F. I did a search but could not find it.
I need some help here.
Thanks
Howie

[BasementDweller]

Lots of Info

You can find lots of information on the CBF on this site: http://cb13f.cpu-etc.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl I'm guessing that was the one that had been mentioned before.


Hope that helps!

[Wood_workur]

I've heard of using wooden dowels.

[PALefty]

I started using the BS and found out I needed a good blade so I ordered the Timberwolf 80"/ 3/8"(as recommended here) and waiting for delivery. Then I started to do some adjustment and discover that those pin-type metal blade guides are, IMHO, lousy. I can't even get the left guides to within less than 1/16"of the blade. It was mentioned on here sometime ago about using different kinds of guides and guide blocks, also a Website dedicated to the CB13F. I did a search but could not find it.
I need some help here.
Thanks
Howie

There are 'round' cool blocks that are supposed to fit it. I believe they are listed as Old Style Sears. I just ordered a set of 4 at ~$13 from Highland Hardware. There is also a Carter upgrade that is supposed to fit... but that goes for more than I paid for the entire saw. I wish HF or Sears sold their rollers...because they both look like they would fit to me.

[newood2]

Thanks for that website, lots of information. I went ahead and purchase the Cool Blocks from Highland, $17.98 with shipping.
I'm a little confuse with the blade tension gauge as to, what part of the spring lines up with the blade size markings(1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4) for correct tension. Hitachi said it's the bottom of the spring, but sounds like he wasn't too sure.
How do you adjust for correct tension?

Howie

[Wood_workur]

This is how you tension:

1. FOR TURN SCREW AND SPRING TENSIONING MACHINES
   
   1. Remove guides--you CANNOT run this test if the band saw blade is restricted in any lateral movement.
   2. Make sure tire surfaces are in good condition--they cannot be hard, flattened out, cracked or brittle. On mills with loose fitting V-belts, replace them with the next size down so they are tight fitting. This will eliminate over 80% of the vibration in your mill and the blade.
   3. Mount the blade on the machine and apply the tension to the band that the manufacturer recommends for other steels.
   4. Close all covers for safety purposes.
   5. Start the machine, engage the clutch into the high speed cutting mode. NOTE: You will not be cutting any wood.
   6. Stand at the head of the machine, with your hand on the turn screw tensioner and your eyes on the band saw blade. Very slowly start detensioning by half turns at a time, keeping your eyes on the band saw blade. The object is to bring the tension of the blade down to a point that the blade starts to flutter. TAKE YOUR TIME.
   7. When you see the band start to flutter, you have hit ground "ZERO". Now start ADDING quarter turns of tension, SLOWLY, until the band stops fluttering and is running stable again. At this point ADD one-eight to one-quarter turn of tension.
   8. You have now tensioned our blade correctly. Shut off the machine and put your guides back in place. You are now ready to start sawing.
   9. ALWAYS DETENSION YOUR BAND SAW BLADES. Since you do not know exactly where the proper tension is, it will be easier to remember if you take off 8, 9, or 10 full turns of tension until the band is completely relaxed. The next time you use our bands, add the same amount of turns of tension that were taken off. At this point, you will only have to run the flutter test one time.

To tell you the truth, I always used the top of that little bolt in the assembly, but If you start the above test with too little tension, you can stop and add more.

[THyman]

How do you adjust for correct tension?

Howie

If you haven't already done so, I would ask the same question on the CBF website.