Acoustic Guitar Construction

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"

ken cierp wrote: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?

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.

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!

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....:-)

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

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