TIMBER WOLF BANDSAW BLADE TENSIONING

THE “FLUTTER TEST” FOR PROPER SILICON STEEL BLADE TENSIONING

This test is a guideline and should be used whenever possible. By using less tension you will prolong blade life, consume approximately 20% less horsepower and increase the life of your wheel shafts and bearings. If a specific cutting application requires that more tension be applied to the blade, such as resawing large material or cutting extremely large diameter logs, the determined force can be increased by as much as 20%.

BAND SAWS & BAND MILLS EQUIPPED WITH TURN-SCREW SPRING TENSIONERS:

Note: You will not be cutting any wood during this test. Also, your band saw tires and wheels must be in good working order. This test will not provide you with useful results if performed on a saw with damaged, cracked or flattened band saw wheel tires/band mill pulley v-belts.

Remove the upper and lower band saw guides (the band saw blade body cannot be restricted on either side) and remove the table insert on your saw if equipped.
Mount and track a blade on the wheels as recommended by the band saw/band mill manufacturer.
Close all covers on the saw.
Apply the recommended tension for the specific width of blade as per the band saw/band mill manufacturer.
Start the motor or engine on your saw and bring the blade to full cutting speed.
Allow the blade to run for approximately 30 seconds.
Once you are satisfied that the blade is stable on the band saw wheels at full speed, very slowly reduce the tension on the blade while watching the blade between the wheels.
As you slowly reduce tension on the blade you will see the blade start to move laterally on a vertical saw/mill and vertically on a horizontal saw/mill.
Reduce tension until you see the blade develop a constant, not intermittent, flutter between the wheels. The amount of flutter will vary depending on the size of the saw and blade you are using, i.e., a ¼” blade running on a vertical saw will move approximately 3/16” from side to side whereas an 1 ¼” blade running on a horizontal band mill will move ¾” up and down.
Once you achieve the appropriate amount of flutter for a specific blade you have reached what we call “zero”.
At this point slowly increase the tension on the blade until the flutter is reduced to about 1/16 of an inch.
Shut the motor or engine off and wait until the blade comes to a full stop.
Add another 10% of tension to the blade by turning the screw-tensioner approximately 1/8 to 1/4 turn. The “flutter test” is now complete and you are now at appropriate tension for that particular blade.
If equipped, make note of where the tension indicator is on the scale at this time or measure the compression of the spring in your tensioning mechanism.
Re-install your band saw guides and if equipped re-install your table insert. Saws that use a pressure band saw guide will require you to release tension on the blade before re-installing the guides.
If necessary, re-track and re-tension the same blade to the desired tension. You are ready to saw.

NOTE: All band saw blades will grow by a few thousandths of an inch in length within the first few minutes of sawing due to heat/thermal expansion. If you notice degradation in cut quality increase the tension on your blade by 5%. Before moving to the next page please see the last paragraph below.

B. BAND SAWS & BAND MILLS EQUIPPED WITH HYDRAULIC TENSIONERS:

Follow the same procedure as indicated above for saws with a turn-screw tensioner but adjust your hydraulic tensioner by 25 lbs. when both decreasing and increasing tension on the blade.
Refer to page 9 for proper hydraulic tension on common band mills and resaws

NOTE: All band saw blades will grow by a few thousandths of an inch in length within the first few minutes of sawing due to heat/thermal expansion. Adjust your tension as necessary. You should not have to adjust tension continuously during a normal run cycle. Before moving to the next page please see the last paragraph below.

C. BAND SAWS & BAND MILLS EQUIPPED WITH AIR/ PNEUMATIC TENSIONERS:

Follow the same procedure as indicated above for saws with a turn-screw tensioner but adjust your air/pneumatic tensioner by 5 lbs. when both decreasing and increasing tension on the blade.
Refer to page 9 for proper air/pneumatic tension on common band mills and resaws.