Bandsaw "feed pressure adjustment"

[smalltown]

Today I finally picked up a used horizontal bandsaw for projects around the garage. It's the small Jet HVBS-56M (5X6 model) that that does not have the hydraulic down feed piston: just a simple spring that is tightened or loosened with a threaded rod. I need to clean it up, replace a few missing cover screws, find a "stock stop". I made what I thought was a fair offer, and the owner accepted.
It doesn't seem to have been misused, we tested it on a chunk of channel iron that it sawed through quickly. Today after watching a you tube video I realize the blade guide bearings are misadjusted as the bearings are pressing hard on the blade.

I've downloaded the owners manual, but have a question about adjusting the down feed pressure. The manual only mentions how to increase or decrease feed pressure. It's my first bandsaw of any kind, but I'm thinking the down pressure is too much even with the spring tightened all the way. Should I be able to almost stop the down feed ? Not sure how I could tell if the spring has lost its strength without buying a new one to compare.

 

[LXCam]

If you can hear it working the motor and or causing deflection of the blade, it's too much. I'd suggest you set up a small adjustable hydraulic ram for the feed. It's pretty cheap to do. Matter of fact I seem to remember a thread here where a guy did on for really cheap.

 

[APEowner]

They're really not that fussy about down feed pressure. It's more important that you use the correct blade for the material that you're cutting.

 

[Rookie2]

Depending on how long the eye bolt is, you could flip the angle bracket 180 deg.towards the handle grip end. I've had to use several used worn out bandsaws over the years and too much down pressure and too slow of blade speed always tended to throw the blade off.

start with less and depending on TPI and material you'll learn.

 

[royesses]

Here is a link to a write up on my HF bandsaw for a hydraulic cylinder downfeed I installed. Part numbers and details are included. There are many more on the hobby machinist forums:
http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/small-mods-to-my-hf-4x6-bandsaw.36549/

 

[2oolhound]

we tested it on a chunk of channel iron that it sawed through quickly.

That's the most important thing right there. The main things are that it cuts straight and the blade stays on. I'd just use it as is until I got familiar with it, then start tweaking it.

 

[smalltown]

Thanks for all the tips. I'll try using it as it is for now to get some experience.
royesses that's quite a nice job you did there, and a great write up.