Adjusting for drift on Laguna SUV 14 Bandsaw???

Re: Adjusting for drift on Laguna SUV 14 Bandsaw???

I’d first make sure the blade is properly centered on the crown of the drive wheel.

next, a 1”:blade is a lot for a 14” saw.  They can’t be properly tensioned.  I tried an ordinary steel blade on my Delta 14” and it never worked right.

Re: Adjusting for drift on Laguna SUV 14 Bandsaw???

I just went to the Harvey Tools site and looked at the C-14 model and it makes it clear that many of these have been sold under other names. That matches with my recollection.  I looked at the manual on the Harvey site and it matches the saw perfectly.  I found the instructions in the manual on setting the miter slots and checked mine.  The setting is correct, but now I know how to change it if necessary.  As far as the 1" blade goes both Laguna and Harvey say the saw is rated for blades up to 1 1/4".  The frame on this saw is a beast compared to the classic 14" saws.  (I have had one for twenty years)  This saw came with a 3hp motor.

Not sure I am going to like Laguna's ceramic guides.  May check and see if Harvey's or Carter's roller guides will work.

Re: Adjusting for drift on Laguna SUV 14 Bandsaw???

Barry, Go to YouTube and look up Alex Snodgrass.  He has a 6-step set-up process that works great for me.  I keep a copy of it posted on my saw.  I have the 14" Laguna 14BX saw.  If I recall correctly, he even sets up the 14 Laguna (14/12, I believe) in a video.

Thanks Peter...

I am 99% sure they are the same except Laguna put their own ceramic guides on their version.  Not sure I like them but we will see.  The ceramic guides do a decent job of cleaning the blade but can cause wear.  OTOH the roller guides sometimes tend to pack gunk onto the blade, especially with sticky wood like pine.

Your artificial intelligence thing was interesting, got to think about that more.

Joe, Alex Snodgrass seems to be The Man...

I will have to check his stuff out.  I am almost sure I have seen it if not the exact version you speak of.  Now to just remember to detention the blade when not in use.  Got to develop the ritual.  Thanks

And now that I have the blade and everything is aligned I need a project that makes use of it.

Re: Joe, Alex Snodgrass seems to be The Man...

Part of my ritual is that I made a 1/8" scrap of plywood with a slot cut that I lay on the table around the blade that says:   TENSION BLADE.  It has a rare earth magnet on it, so I stick it to the top cover as a reminder to detention the blade.  It is difficult to remember with the tension lever on the back side.  I've thought about putting a long thin spring attached to the arm so that when the arm is tensioned, the spring pokes down into view.  But since it is a spring, it will move out of the way when resawing.  Will probably paint it RED to make it obvious.  When the lever it down, the spring will be up and out of sight.  I also tried putting RED tennis racket grip tape on the the lever arm handle, but it became a sticky mess.

Re: Joe, Alex Snodgrass seems to be The Man...

I have one of those old student articulating desk lamps that have  long enough extension springs.  Might be just the ticket.  If not a spring, a 1/4" dowel that can push out of the way.

I have to say this carefully

Sorry to those that are learning through youtube, but the name dropping and youtube worship is driving me nuts. It's a recent trend, but hoped it wouldn't happen here. I see posts about I made a so and so table, so and so bed, and then the high worship level of Snodgrass has now entered. I can't agree with everything Snodgrass says. His methods should not be held up as gospel. Mark Duginske was the go to guy for bandsaws and his advice was very good. He just didn't market himself on youtube. Fire away guys, I just had to try and direct some of you off youtube worship.

Re: Adjusting for drift on Laguna SUV 14 Bandsaw???

IMO a better method that worked for me and others I know is detailed in this video.  I tried the Snodgrass method and had to fiddle around every time I changed blades.  Once I aligned the table to the blade, the only adjustment I make is to get the blade centered on the upper wheel.  I can resaw and rip using my fence, make long cross cuts with my miter gauge, and my circle cutting jig works much better.

Re: I have to say this carefully

Dick, you are correct.  YouTube is not scientifically reviewed and not pier reviewed.  One thing I notice is if some "Influencer" type posts his latest trick others will post a very similar trick soon.  They feed off each other and are beginning to post cameos in each other's videos.  That doesn't mean there is nothing of value there, but it means you have to think it through for yourself and do more research.  

I found it interesting that Laguna's manual said nothing about squaring the table with the blade, but Harvey's did and they made the bandsaw and Laguna rebadged it.  I had seen the Fine Furniture video posted in this thread, but couldn't find it again. 

Wood Central is a very valuable resource but not immune to the influences of YouTube or other Influencers.

I watch sawmill videos and have never run a mill, but every now and then I say Whoa, that's a mistake.  And often I am correct.  I am going to have some logs sawed this week and hope I have learned enough to at least have a critical eye. 

Thanks for your comment.

Re: Joe, Alex Snodgrass seems to be The Man...Joe

My other Bandsaw has carter guides and tension lever.  the lever has a red ball or knob on it.  I got in the habit of calling the red ball "Bozo Nose" and I would check the position of Bozo Nose when turning out the lights.  The new saw has a black knob and one them is up and the other one down when the tension is off.  Very confusing to this old brain.  I have a strip of plastic laminate secured with a magnet and I put it over the switch to remind me to retention the blade before turning on the saw.  Lets hope I am still trainable.

Re: Adjusting for drift on Laguna SUV 14 Bandsaw???

Dick,  I'm not a Snodgrass bandwagon guy.  I tried his method and it works for me.  I have also read Mark Duginske Tablesaw and bandsaw books cover to cover.  Excellent reads.  The Snodgrass method makes sense to me and, more importantly, works for me.

Re: Adjusting for drift on Laguna SUV 14 Bandsaw???

Roger Cliffe was the Tablesaw book.