Hey folks. I’ve got a Rikon 10-325 band saw that has very hard to adjust factory guides. There seems to be a couples of different mfgs. making a retro guide system, including Rikon. Does anyone have one they have retrofitted and which one did you use? Thanks in advance!
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Band Saw Guides
- Thread starter Jim Holcombe
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I have used Carter ball bearing guides as well as the Euro guides that were original equipment on my Minimax bandsaw. My preference is the simple low-cost graphite phenolic Cool Blocks that are made by Olson.
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2010
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- Brandon, MS
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- threeringswoodshop.square.site
Carter guides will make a dull blade cut like butter
I put the carter ball bearing guides on that saw and like them much better than the horrible originals. The only problem I have is when cutting wet wood with just he right moisture content they can cause sawdust to build up on the blade and bearings. Other than that they are great, and I don’t know if other guides would be any better with regards to the gunk build up.
I installed the Rikon upgrade and I have been quite happy with them. Huge improvement over the originals on that saw And very easy to adjust.
I too use the Carter ball bearing guides. I've replaced the ball bearing rollers with others I bought from another supplier and they're fine. They do gum up as mentioned. Not hard to change out.
i'll join the crowd on Carter ball bearing guides. Think this is one of the few threads that has so many positive with no alternative.
I upgraded to the toolless Rikon gides, but I feel that the bottom guides are still very difficult to adjust. It generally requires removal of the table to be able to get and see the bottom guides. If I were to change again, I'd probablly upgrade to the the Carter Micro-Adjust guides for Rikon. Carter has a great reuputation and I don't believe I've heard any problems with their guides for any saw.