I use a piece of orange para cord tied to my tension bar. When I detention the saw I tie the loose end around the blade with a slip knot. No metal dangling around to have to worry about it getting into the blade.
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Laguna 14BX Bandsaw
- Thread starter Matt Fawkner
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2018
- Messages
- 1,325
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- 2,843
- Location
- Baltimore, MD
- Website
- loujacobswoodturning.com
I use a strip of Mylar taped to the tension release lever. Very lightweight so it flutters in any breeze giving me a good reminder. This particular stuff is sold by the roll for use in the garden to discourage opportunistic feeders.
I use this tag over the on/off switch of my Laguna ref. tensioning before turning it on.
I made it on a laser using some thin painted plywood. (The profile was cut and the lettering engraved.)
I made it on a laser using some thin painted plywood. (The profile was cut and the lettering engraved.)
I have on several occasions started my bandsaw with the tension released. It's immediately obvious from the racket and gets a quick punch of the stop button. Doesn't seem to cause any harm. Unfortunately I also forget to release the tension, and may not use the saw again for weeks.
Surprising.
I have the Grizzly GO636X 17" 5 hp extreme bandsaw and their G1023RLWX 5 hp table saw, and I don't have 3 phase power.
With respect to the blades, I use Wood Slicer blades for resawing KD stock and Timberland blades for milling logs into turning blanks.
Good luck with your new machine.
I got tired of forgetting the tension release before and after using the saw. Tried several things dangling from the lever, but didn’t help much. I ordered a limit switch on Amazon and wired it in to cut power. Shuts off the light as well, so reminds me to detention blade and prevents me from starting with tension released.
I too have a Laguna 14bx bandsaw. Yes, you are correct by saying that it is easy to forget to release, and or add tension, to the saw blade. I like your idea of adding a limit switch to the saw's power. Is there a special name to get this switch from Amazon, or do you just quote BM-6002?
This is the one I used.
I have had a Laguna 16HD for at least 10 years. I never take the blade tension out. Never noticed any compression of the tire rubber/neoprene. They didn't have the quick release things back when I got it.
robo hippy
robo hippy
Very good method. I like how the raised arm also raises the reminder out of the way.
love mine had it for 5 years. I do wish I had stepped up to the model with a brake, however.
I've had my 14BX for 6-7 years and really like it. I don't do other woodworking other than the random small projects but it has been nice to use. I started out using other blades but have moved to the Lennox Dimaster bimetal. They seem to last a lot longer than the other blades I had been using. As others have said, it would be hard to go back to not having a footbrake.
Great ideas on how to remember to put the arm up/down. I may have to steal some of those ideas!! Early on I bent a blade pretty badly when I turned the bandsaw on without tension and then used the brake without thinking to slow it down.
Thanks,
Tom
Great ideas on how to remember to put the arm up/down. I may have to steal some of those ideas!! Early on I bent a blade pretty badly when I turned the bandsaw on without tension and then used the brake without thinking to slow it down.
Thanks,
Tom