4x6 Horizontal Bandsaw mods

[jdurand]

Hi, new to this forum.

I bought one of those used last year and welded my own base for it. OK, how do you keep the blade cutting straight? I tried a few adjustments but nothing seemed to help. Tried tightening it all the way like some guys on YT suggest, still it drifts to the right using it horizontal or upright. Thanks.

There's several things that can keep it from cutting straight. Clamp a large machinists square in the vise making sure it's flat on the bed and just barely touching the blade. Raise and lower the blade and see if it tracks along the square. If not, use your favorite swear words and check the pivot for the cutting head. Usually there's no adjustment, which means you either have to make an off-center bushing or easier, put a wedge under the work to make it cut straight.

Assuming it tracks ok, then check the blade for tilt, you may have to tweak the guide bearings a little or a lot. See my bearing mod that might help.

Make sure your tension is good, you should get a nice boing sound from plucking the blade.