Band Saw Clinic with Alex Snodgrass (bandsaw)

Mexiquite, do you or anyone have any experience with Carter Bandsaw Guides? I was thinking about purchasing a set for my Grizzley Bandsaw to see if they helped improve performance.

I watched the video and it had some really good pointers. I disagree with a couple of things he said. One, I may have misunderstood but I think he said not to adjust the tilt on the saw. How would you adjust where the blade rides on the wheel if you don’t adjust the tilt on the top wheel? Second, he said not to use the tension indicator on the back of the saw because it will vary with different lengths of blades. That is a spring loaded tensioner and it’s not going to make any difference if the blade is and inch longer or shorter. It doesn’t measure length, it measures tension. So you can depend on that indicator to tension your blade to the manufacturers suggested tension for your saw. that’s good information from a guy that has cut a hundred miles on a band saw. As for the carter guides, I have no experience with them.

Thanks Brett, my Grizzley does a good job, but I do get a bit of drift when I try to resaw if my set-up is not perfect. I would like to allow for a bit more of a window to work in. I will put the carter guides back on my wish list and keep my eyes open for a sale.

Thanks Mexiquite, I am going to have to do some research or get on the phone with Grizzly. My bandsaw in an older model 14″, I need to make sure those Grizzly or Carter parts are going to fit. Mine has no bearing guides, except where the back of the blade rides. It has what looks like graphite blocks that “pinch” the blade to hold it steady. I would love to have something a bit more “forgiving”.

Thanks Brett, I am off work the next few days and will have a chance to watch the video that Mexiquite posted. I will definitely be trying these tips out. For the most part my bandsaw does everything I need it to do and it does it well, but when it comes to re-sawing, if I don’t go through the set-up steps every time, I will experience some drift. I can get the Carter bearing guides for $179 (full price, hopefully I can catch a sale), and I don’t mind paying that if I get an increase in performance. Hopefully I can get it to hold its critical setting for longer than a day.

@mexiquite thanks again for posting this. I went to The Woodworking Show in St Louis yesterday and sat in on this demo. I was able to talk with him and ask a few questions, it was very helpful. I am going to follow his steps on the setup, and then decide if I want to add the guides to my saw.

I did not buy the guides yet @Mexiquite, but I have followed some of the steps for the setup. It did help.