Hi there
I have a HBS250N hobby series bandsaw which is misbehaving.
One suggestion I had was to replace the tyres - does anyone know where I could find some suitable?
The only replacement tyres on the Axminster site are the Laguna Pu - can anyone advise if this is suitable?
We recently replaced the blades. The saw gets used on a lot of different materials: thin ply, sometimes chopping out pieces of thicker wood up to 2" or so, sheet aluminium (only up to 1 or 2mm), and quite a lot of EVA foam (plastazote), thicknesses from 10mm to 50mm.
It’s also had a bit of sheet polypropylene in it recently which I think didn’t help - the heat of the blade melts it and it seems to leave some crud on the blade edge and tyre surface.
Ideally I want to be able to handle this range of materials without changing the blade every half hour. This last week the blades seem prone to slipping off and I’m spending a lot of time adjusting the tilt on the top wheel to find the sweet spot.
I was never properly taught how to maintain the bandsaw so I’m sure I’m not looking after it well enough - tips appreciated!
thanks
I use the Axminster Tools Premium blades in my Perform CCBB bandsaw;
This is a useful guide from Axminster tools but when aligning the cutting fence make sure this fence aligns with the miter fence slot first and adjust the fence as necessary. Note some bandsaw cutting fences are fixed. And then adjust the table so the the blade aligns with the cutting fence with the bandsaw buddy.
If you don’t have a bandsaw buddy you can use a couple of button magnets on the blade and a straight steel rule.
Premium Bandsaw Blade selection tool;
Bandsaw Buddy;
As for your tyre problem I have never replaced one yet so I can’t speak for those available from Axminster Tools but there are many available from the web like eBay too;
eBay bandsaw tyre
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It looks like you’re running into a few typical issues related to operating a bandsaw with multiple materials. It’s a good idea to change the tyres if they’re worn or damaged, and the Laguna PU tyres might be a good replacement, as they can handle different materials and seem to be long-lasting. Just make sure they fit your model. As far as the blades slipping, you may be experiencing the effects of improper (or too much) tensioning and tracking; I would suggest checking your blade tensioning, tracking alignment, and whether your top and bottom wheels engage the blades properly. The crud from cutting materials like polypropylene can certainly build up on both the blade and the tyres, thus affecting cutting efficiency. Cleaning routinely with a simple solvent like acetone may help with both the tyres and the blade. Also for tougher materials like EVA foam or thicker wood, try a blade with a more coarse tooth design. This should help reduce wear and also possibly eliminate or lessen slipping. Regular maintenance and blade change will improve performance of your bandsaw without constant adjustments.
