289. Bandsaw drift: update your blades #mtbitesize #makethings

For close to two decades, I’ve fought my bandsaw when it comes to resawing lumber. It’s taken me almost that long to figure out the real issue isn’t the bandsaw or my setup. The actual problem, which continues to be a problem, is outdated blade technology.

Early blacksmiths discovered that if saw teeth were offset—or “set”—alternately left and right, it created a slightly wider kerf than the blade itself, which helped prevent binding. The problem, as I covered in my bandsaw drift video, is that if even a single tooth on one side or the other becomes damaged or dull, the blade will drift towards the side of least resistance. If you’re freehand cutting without a fence, this isn't much of an issue. But resawing is where the mind-numbing frustration kicks in.

Nowadays, we have carbide-tooth blades that don’t rely on setting. These blades don’t drift. This means I can make a series of cuts on a piece of lumber and get near-perfect results with minimal cleanup required later. The downside is that they create a wider kerf, but that doesn’t matter as I used to rely heavily on my planer to clean things up. The best part of carbide blades is that they last much longer than regular blades, making them worth the extra cost.

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#MTbitesize #makethings

[MakeThings]

Hey Makers!

You've got to watch the blade drift video...I used a bit of history to explain things.

Check out my second channel! → @makethingswithrob

[jimr]

Aligning the wheels made all the difference on my bandsaw, really tamed it in 15 minutes and a few washers.

[Neverbe]

Tufftooth blades from R&D Bandsaws are great.

[Thunder_Moth]

I'm a carpenter and bandsaw drift is mostly user error. If a band is missing a tooth just throw it away they are very cheap anyways at least here in Germany. Another reson might be incorrect placement of guiding rollers. the side rollers should always be behinde the beginning of the teeth or it willbend them and ruin the setting. Any how be careful lads bandsaw is just code for fingercutter 3000.

[justsomebread]

Slightly unrelated, but when buying a hand saw, make sure that the teeth actually are offset. If they are the same width as the body of the blade, it will make it very difficult to saw anything as the entire blade is in contact with what you're cutting, creating a huge amount of friction

[dvtyler]

Or just... you know.... apply some small amount of pressure towards the that might work too....

[Simonfrios]

Yeah the one time I bought a Laguna resaw king it broke after a few months. Sent in for repair and it came back with a wobble at the weld that made it unusable. Wrote Laguna and they never got back to me. I'm happy with my standard blade now.

[raza]

I'm told use a wider band saw blade as smaller bands tend to drift with larger bits of wood

[osmacar]

One time tech actually DOES matter over skill.

[stur.]

That may be true to a small extent but the cost of a carbide is almost pronouncing the word ridiculous along with it's re-sharpening costs. What you are also showing is re-sawing wood over 8% moisture in those green logs.

[dieselsoggydog]

Never lost a tooth on a conventional blade, lost carbide teeth though.

[dominic]

Carbide cost a fortune, too, if you're not a pro

[johnanon]

This is like the low budget hydrolic press channel?

[Fishing_theHal_i-but]

No it’s just you using the saw wrong …. Has nothing to do with what you are saying it’s not blade drift or wood twist it’s blade speed and your inability to use the saw properly

[thylordsatan]

And they worked for everyone for year and years and because you suck using one. Everyone has the same problem. Its Your LACK OF SKILL

[chuckandjanegoodguys]

This is a scam vid, they are moving he wood around.

[Dudis_Lamis]

Buddy at least use the saw right 😂 20 years using it and you havent learned how to use ot correctly?
"Did you know things go wrong if you do it wrong?" Is a better title.

[wcfaith]

They've had carbide blades for 2 decades