Do you reduce tension on BS blade when not in use?

[cgallery]

Do you reduce the tension on your BS blade when you're done using it? Or do you just set it and forget it?

I guess I'm asking what you're supposed to do, not what you actually do. :-)

Thanks,
Phil

[Tom Miller]

If I use the BS, I tighten the blade then, and leave it tightened for that period in the shop. If I'm leaving the shop long enough to turn out the light, I detension the blade. Who knows when I might be back.

As a reminder, when I tension the blade I turn on the task light that I have connected to the BS. I leave the light on as long as the blade is tensioned. When I turn out the shop lights, it's easy to see if I've forgotten anything.

Regards,
Tom

[gjbivin]

I always try to remember to loosen the tension by seven or eight turns of the knob when done with the bandsaw. It prevents flat spots from forming on the bandsaw tires, as well as preventing stretching and deformation of the blade.

Be sure to leave a "reminder" that the blade is loose to prevent nasty surprises when you use the saw the next time . My saw has one of those yellow "keys" in the power switch; I pull that and put it on the saw table next to the blade. Some people have little signs or put a spring clamp on the blade as reminders.

[LarryG]

If I use the BS, I tighten the blade then, and leave it tightened for that period in the shop. If I'm leaving the shop long enough to turn out the light, I detension the blade. Who knows when I might be back.

This is precisely what I do. My BS is the popular Grizzly G0555, which comes stock with a QR tensioning lever, so tensioning/detensioning the blade is dead easy to do.

EDIT: And BTW this is not only what I do, but also what I'm supposed to do. I think most if not all the BS mfrs recommend the blade be detensioned when not in use.

EDIT2: Tom's light trick is a good one; gotta remember that, make it an excuse to buy myself a light. In the meantime, my reminder that the blade is detensioned is to drop the guide post assembly all the way down onto the table.

[LCHIEN]

I always know that the BS was supposed to be detensioned.
The wider blades are the worst offenders - they put more tension on the saw. I think the dangers are that
1) the wheels may deform and go out of round - they're just spoked hubs and are a compromise of weight vs strength.
2) The tires may develop flat spots causing vibration
3) the blade may take a permanent set being wrapped tightly around the wheels leading to more vibration and damage to the welds.

the saw body may deflect under load but being steel or cast iron I guess it won't hurt being under continuous load.

I did pick up some good ideas here on reminders - While I know I'm supposed to I don't always remember. Right now I have a label above the switch that says "check tension".

I like the clamp idea and the light idea.

[rickd]

i take the tension off every time i finish using my bandsaw. the ryobi 10" bandsaw has a tension lever so it's simple and fast.

[Tequila]

When I'm using the bandsaw, I'll leave the blade tensioned for the whole day's worth of shop time. But at the end of the day, I always relieve the tension on the blade.

[Ken Massingale]

I don't detension, but probably should. I have not seen any ill effects yet and I check the tires regularly. I do normally use Timberwolf low tension blades, tho, except for resawing.
k

[maxparot]

I installed a Carter QR tensioner on my HF BS makes it so easy that there is no reason not to detension.

[Wood_workur]

I detension, and I really don't have a method of reminding myself- I alway spin the wheels a couple times by hand before plugging it in/turning it on. I can always tell when I realeased tension.

[Luckbox]

I do my best to detension the blade. Need to try the light trick.

[Tom Miller]

My BS is the popular Grizzly G0555, which comes stock with a QR tensioning lever....

Lucky! Ever take it off any sweet jumps?

[To those of you who don't get the reference: my apologies. To everyone else: my apologies.]

Since I'm not as lucky as Larry, I made a little contraption to indicate how many turns I detensioned the blade (different # for different size blades). It's just a little wooden knob dial attached to a piece of wood that has markings from 6 to 12. I turn the knob to point to the # of turns, and then place it in front of the blade. (Had a little time on my hands one day....)

Regards,
Tom

[LarryG]

Lucky! Ever take it off any sweet jumps?

[To those of you who don't get the reference: my apologies. To everyone else: my apologies.]

Okay, it's been at least forty-two seconds. I give up. Ummmm ... wut?

[Ken Weaver]

I haven't so far, but I turn it on usually at least once a day. I've seen some things said about detensioning, but nothing says for how long. In other words if you use the machine every 24-48 hours, should it be detensioned?

[Thom2]

I haven't so far, but I turn it on usually at least once a day. I've seen some things said about detensioning, but nothing says for how long. In other words if you use the machine every 24-48 hours, should it be detensioned?

Technically the blade should be detensioned RIGHT after use and before it has a chance to cool. The blade stretches more during use when it's hot, then tries to ever so slightly shrink as it cools. With tension on the blade during the cooling cycle, the blade ends up being slightly stretched even after it has cooled, repeatedly doing this is what actually stretches a blade to the point of breakage.