band saw tires

[that-guy]

i bought a used horizontal bandsaw about a year ago, its a Wholesale Tool Co. 3024-0005. its 4.5" x 6", 1/2hp, with a 0.5" x 64.5" blade. i am having issues with the blade coming off of the wheels from time to time, as well as the blade slipping on the wheels. the wheels do not have tires, and i can't find any info to say if it ever has. i tried looking up tires but haven't found any.

i have replaced tires on vertical table bandsaws before, but never one of these. the issue i see is, the wheel is grooved, where there is a step on the wheel that stops the blade from being able to slide back on the wheel, but can slide the other way

edit:

the wheels are 7.5" OD

 

[Milton Shaw]

The horizontal metal cutting band saws do not have tires on the wheels, the tracking and tension adjustments are what keeps the blade against that rim on the wheels. Make sure the guides are adjusted and you should not have any problems. Also check to make sure there is no play in the wheel bearings as I have seen some early bearing wear on them that would throw blades off.

 

[Packard V8]

X2 - if the blade doesn't track, it's either an adjustment problem or the bearings are gone or the wheel itself is worn out.

These are cheap Chicom and don't last forever.

jack vines

 

[el monte slim]

What Milton and Packard said about blade tracking, wheel bearings, and guide adjustment, plus here's a couple of other things to check:

The idler and drive wheels might not be in proper alignment. This adjustment could have been overlooked or done incorrectly when the saw was built, or it could have happened if someone changed the wheel bearings and didn't realign the wheels before tracking the blade.

Consider the possibility that your bandsaw blade(s) might have a condition known as excess positive camber. After your blade has dulled, bend and break it if it hasn't already broken on its own. Lay it down on its side lengthwise in front of you, with the teeth pointing at you. If it's not laying flat and straight, but forming a lengthwise curve inward and toward you, that's known as positive camber. More than one-half inch in ten feet is considered excessive, and it can cause a blade to work its way off the band wheels. Sometimes this is the result of a manufacturing defect, but more often it's been induced by a misaligned machine on which it's been running.