Oh man, did he have to use MY bandsaw for this??

[ken cierp]

We have the Carter guides - highly recommended in my opinion takes re-sawing to the next level. As mentioned the parallel in-line thrust bearing is the key to its tracking superiority.

Standard on the Powermatic 14"

[Jim Ball]

I have a 12" Craftsman purchased about 45 years ago. In the past 30 years it has been used almost every work day! All original except for "cool block" blade guides. I made one change, I built a shelf onto the stand to hold a bag of sand. This added weight virtually eliminated all vibration. A good idea for any light weight stationary tool/machine.

My 14" Ridgid BS has a too-lightweight base and suffers the shakes. I think I'll try your idea. I also thought about replacing the base with a heavy cabinet made of 3/4" ply with lots of bracing and reinforcement, but question the cost vs benefit. Have you ever tried the linked belts that are supposed to reduce vibration?

[Jay McClellan]

I haven't used them on a bandsaw but I've used link belts on other tools and I'm a fan. I think they especially help for tools that have old-style V belts (as opposed to the thin multi-V belts on many newer tools) that sit for a long time between uses, when a regular belt seems to develop kinks that cause vibration, and they're also great for tools where it's a PITA to change belts since they just unhook, plus there's never a problem finding the right size as long as you have enough links. Too bad they're so pricey though.

[Ray Ussery]

Mine is just like yours Dave...no throwing it off a 10 story building, no "Hammer job" either....it did shake...the pulley on the motor DID come loose...and when I tightened it up...I still had a good deal of shaking.

3 days...I'd go look at it...walk away...come back in a couple hours...look here...look there...read and reread book...look again...finally I started measuring and discovered that the aluminum casting had a small spot on it that wasn't removed after the casting was made, that prevented the washer from seating so they only installed 3 where there should have been 4. IT STILL shook.

I checked belt alignment again...perfect! So I reverted back to something I had seen while working as a mechanic...I loosened each screw evenly a tiny bit and tried it...no more shaking.

Oh yeah...the motor will come off if you loosen the slide adjustment without taking the whole saw apart.... :)

I love my little saw!

[Dave Bagwill]

You are a more in-depth kinda guy than I am, Ray! I would rather staple a dead skunk to my forehead that loosen every little screw a little bit. Then again, we have no skunks, and I do have a screwdriver, so maybe....:-)

[Ray Ussery]

I can send you a skunk in the spring if you'd like...dead or alive...your choice...(Maybe the Post office won't especially like it...but they got the best rates) I'm sure I'd get a call from a Job Stuart before the sun goes down if I send it UPS...
I could send it FED-EX..but getting it in that little door on those boxes they have set up for the folks around here might be a little tough...
but if I can get a fresh road kill, and I can con O'l George into watchin' for cars...I'll bet I can get a good'en and over-night it and none of 'em will know the difference....
I'll figger it out...I mean...what are friends for anyway??

Later Buddy!
Ray

[Dave Bagwill]

Ok, you made me laugh! You WERE kidding, right?????????????