Bandsaw blade length?

[scoly]

Installed new urethane tires (thinner that the old tires) and found that when I tension the blade the wheel rubs the surrounding housing. I'm guessing that the blades that came with the saw when I bought it used) were actually to long for the saw. If that is the case I need new blades in the proper length.
How do I go about measuring for the blades? Feel like I could crank the tensioner to 0 and stretch a string around the wheels leaving a bit of slack, measure the string and get a dimension close to the standard blade length. Would this be the way or can someone give some guidance?
Thanks
Steve

[cabinetman]

What you could do is set the wheel in the middle of the adjustment allowance and use a ribbon tape measure like used for sewing. You know the one - the one that the haberdasher has hanging around his neck before measuring you for your suit. They come in cloth and some are plastic coated.
.

[momo44]

You can also measure the diameter of the wheel and the distance from the bottom of the top wheel to the top of the other.
Then the total length is just:
Diam x PI(3.14) plus 2*Diam plus 2*distance between wheel

Example - 14 inch diameter tires, 12 inches between wheels

14*3.14 + 2*14 + 2*12 =
43.96 + 28 + 24 = 95.96 inches

[scoly]

Will try both and see what I get. Thanks!
Steve

[Ken Massingale]

Is it a standard 14", 16" or 18" BS? And does it have a riser?
k

[LCHIEN]

You can also measure the diameter of the wheel and the distance from the bottom of the top wheel to the top of the other.
Then the total length is just:
Diam x PI(3.14) plus 2*Diam plus 2*distance between wheel

Example - 14 inch diameter tires, 12 inches between wheels

14*3.14 + 2*14 + 2*12 =
43.96 + 28 + 24 = 95.96 inches

In the above the distance between wheels is between the closest points on the wheels.

Another measure would be
(3.1416 x diameter) + ( 2 x center-center distance between wheels)

Probably better than the tape method.

[JR]

Isn't it pi x radius-squared for circumference?

JR

[LarryG]

Isn't it pi x radius-squared for circumference?JR

No, that's area.

Which, if this happens to be a Harbor Freight band saw, might be close enough.

[momo44]

In the above the distance between wheels is between the closest points on the wheels.

Another measure would be
(3.1416 x diameter) + ( 2 x center-center distance between wheels)

Probably better than the tape method.

Thanks Loring! That is a much simpler way of looking at it. Either way, you only need 2 measurements.

[scoly]

Ken
It is a 14" Toolcraft without a riser. Fairly old model. Bought cheap.
Loring
In your equation (3.1416 x diameter) + ( 2 x center-center distance between wheels)
the 2x center-center distance between wheels means what? Confused by "center" and center distance between wheels.
Thanks for all the input.
Steve

[Ken Massingale]

Hey Steve,
Ckeck the 4th item on this page, it has a phone number for Toolkraft that 'may' still be good.
http://farmindustrynews.com/mag/farming_input_24/

even better http://www.toolkraft.com/

[JR]

No, that's area.

Rats. It's only April and I've already made my mistake this year.

JR

[scoly]

Thanks Ken. Had no idea there was a place for their parts. Will be giving it a try.
Steve

[jackellis]

I did this earlier today before ordering a resaw blade. I used the same approach Loring recommended because it is much easier than using a tape.

[Ed62]

the 2x center-center distance between wheels means what? Confused by "center" and center distance between wheels.

Steve, I don't know if Loring didn't see your post or if he hasn't been online. But what he's telling you is to measure the distance between the center of the wheels, and double that. The reason for that is that's where your belt will leave the wheel (the diameter). Hope that clears it up for you.

Ed