Ok, let me start out by saying that I am not wealthy at all. In fact, currently I am quite poor due to a work related injury. Well, I have this small, very old Craftsman bandsaw that needs tires, and I currently can't justify the price of new tires. So, my question is, do any of you have an alternative to the pricy new ones? I have thought of buying a sheet of cork at the office supply store, cutting it into strips and gluing it to the wheel. Unsure if this is a good idea or not. Also concerned that it might come apart at the joint. The other thing I saw somebody do was to take an old bicycle tube and stretch it over the wheel. Has anybody ever tried these methods? If so, did they work well, or do you have a better solution to the problem? I appreciate any help you can suggest towards a possible solution to this problem. Thanks
Bandsaw Tire Alternative?
- Thread starter Midman914
- Start date
tymbo
Well-known member
what is the diameter of the wheels?
I used ordinary friction tape on mine. Works fine.
G_P
Well-known member
A strip cut from a 12" bicycle inner tube should stretch on nicely.
Sent from my C5120 using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my C5120 using Tapatalk 2
Friction tape, that's awesome! Thank you. I really have never heard of the stuff before. What section of the hardware store does one find this stuff, electrical, plumbing or just the tape section? Also, how many times did you go around the wheel, many times to cushion the blade or is one or two passes fine? Thanks for your help. If anybody else has another good suggestion please post up. I like having many solutions to add to a well armed toolbox of knowledge.
O that's fancy.
In the past I have used regular masking tape and if I am really feeling special I may reach for the electrical tape. One thing you have to watch out for is the tire thickness needed so the blade will tension properly. I usually put on 5 wraps or so. My 14" vertical metal saw has these tires on them. Even the premium urethane tires get chewed up by metal chips, so I would rather pitch $1 worth of tape than a $35 set of tires. Now I do use the urethane tires on my wood saw, but those aren't really a wear item.
One last tip, take note of which way you end up wrapping the tape. Just like Teflon plumbing tape, to prevent it from unraveling from the wheel.
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High jack away. The more info the better. What's the make and model of your horizontal bandsaw? I have an old Rockwell 7721 that has 5 7/8" wheels(they probably consider them 6") and it has rubber tires, so I am guessing yours probably had them at one time. I got this thing at the local Habitat for humanity store for $25 and it's like new and came with the metal case. Not having much money has it's rewards. I am forced into buying old US made tools at rock bottom prices. Oh the humanity!
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I just took strip rubber (you can get rubber "tape"in the electrical section) and glued it on with 3M adhesive. (we used to call the stuff "gorilla snot") as long as the "seam" isn't huge, it works fine...
Packard V8
Well-known member
Many smaller horizontal band saws have no tire at all. Blade rides metal to metal. They have a shoulder on the wheel which keeps the teeth of the blade off the edge of the wheel.
jack vines
gus1962
Well-known member
I've never heard that friction tape can be a practical alternative replacement for band saw tires.
onewaydave
Well-known member
For small wheel (typically the C'man 3 wheel saws like Jacks) vacuum belts work like a charm and are found local.
Ditto on tire inner tubes, just try to get one slightly smaller in diameter as the wheel. Use common contact cement to mount. Radius the installed tire to insure tracking.
The purpose of the tire is to protect the teeth, which have a set, that would otherwise contact the metal of the wheel and cause damage to the teeth or the wheel (whichever is tougher).
Dave.
Ditto on tire inner tubes, just try to get one slightly smaller in diameter as the wheel. Use common contact cement to mount. Radius the installed tire to insure tracking.
The purpose of the tire is to protect the teeth, which have a set, that would otherwise contact the metal of the wheel and cause damage to the teeth or the wheel (whichever is tougher).
Dave.