BS Quick Release Purpose; Right Tension?

[leehljp]

By attaching the caliper to the untensioned blade and zeroing it, you have set a base line for your blades ability to stretch.
By using Young's Modulus of steel, we know (assume) that .001" of stretch equates to about 6,000 psi.
So, if we tighten the tensioning knob and stretch the caliper to read .003" we have put in in the 18,000 psi category.
I stretch mine to .0035" which gives me around 21000 psi... right in the general neighborhood of the factory specs for band saw blade tension.

It doesn't matter how thick or wide or long the steel is, because in order to stretch it .001" the tension has to be 6,000 +/- psi over the whole mass being measured.

I'll try and get pictures tomorrow of how it works, but basically when you use the caliper you are doing the same thing as when you use a tensioning gauge, although for a lot less cash outlay.

GREAT IDEA! Not too much different from a Tension Gauge; instead of screw clamps on each end of the TG, just strong spring clamps on the caliper. Got to give this a try! THANKS!

[gerti]

Did you install a riser block? When I got my 555 I installed a riser block right away. The tension gauge has been pretty much useless after that (and didn't try before). Being my first band saw I had no idea how much tension is supposed to be on the blade. The flutter method never worked for me either.

Next time I'll try the "caliper tension gauge" method, sounds like a great tip!

[Dal300]

I have to admit the caliper idea isn't mine. My brother, who is a mechanical engineer came up with the idea about 20 years ago when we were using an old band saw to make Reindeer for an old lady who was into yard decoration at Christmas but had had a fire and lost everything.

Back then we used a dial caliper, but since then (about 5 months ago), I've started using the digital.

[leehljp]

Did you install a riser block? When I got my 555 I installed a riser block right away. The tension gauge has been pretty much useless after that (and didn't try before). Being my first band saw I had no idea how much tension is supposed to be on the blade. The flutter method never worked for me either.

Next time I'll try the "caliper tension gauge" method, sounds like a great tip!

I do have a riser block. But the QR did the same on it just before I added the riser block. I pulled the tension, added the blade, move the QR and then backed off tension to 3/8 with the QR in tension. It did not release fully but I didn't think too much about it as I was about to add the Riser Kit as my next step.

After my morning meeting, I am going to try the adjustments suggested in the troubleshooting suggestions.

[leehljp]

I have to admit the caliper idea isn't mine. My brother, who is a mechanical engineer came up with the idea about 20 years ago when we were using an old band saw to make Reindeer for an old lady who was into yard decoration at Christmas but had had a fire and lost everything.

Back then we used a dial caliper, but since then (about 5 months ago), I've started using the digital.

Dal,

Give your brother a great big THANKS for this idea! It should be sent into some of the Woodworking mags as a tip. I am sure you could win a great woodworking tool or a $100.00s or so for that tip.

[LCHIEN]

Dal,

Give your brother a great big THANKS for this idea! It should be sent into some of the Woodworking mags as a tip. I am sure you could win a great woodworking tool or a $100.00s or so for that tip.

Hank, the ideas been around a while. I mentioned it here 5 years ago:

see the 9th post in this thread
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...nsion+calipers

[Dal300]

I knew we couldn't have been the first... there are a lot of people on the web a lot smarter than us! LOL.

The only part I take issue with is the .001" = 5000 psi, you could get in some trouble with that figure.

[leehljp]

Hank, the ideas been around a while. I mentioned it here 5 years ago:

see the 9th post in this thread
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...nsion+calipers

I sure missed it, and it is still a great idea!