Need help with Bandsaw issue

[JeffSmith]

I’ve been using the Grizzly G0555 14” bandsaw for about a decade now, and it’s just started doing something I’ve never encountered. A little background - I seldom use this saw to round blanks, preferring to just knock the corners off with the chainsaw and go directly to the lathe with blanks. I do use it to prep the quarter—sawn wood from cutting out the pith when process I get rounds. Once in a while it’s used to resaw these pieces or prep spindle blanks.

Today I was getting ready to process some wood brought home from a recent road trip when the blade broke at the weld. No problem, change out the blade (a slightly used blade was handy), adjust the guide and thrust bearings and get back to work. But now when cross cutting a piece of black acacia I noticed a loud noise best described as a chatter when cross cutting. The exit side of the cut showed chipping along both sides of the kerf edge That I’ve never seen, and feeding stock into the blade was more difficult than I’ve found usually. The weird thing is that ripping seems perfectly normal.

I decided to change to a new, unused blade and see what happened. After checking all guides, tracking, tension the result is the same. Thought it may be the acacia (it’s notoriously strong and brittle by nature) so I tried some cherry I had sitting around - again, strange sound on cross-cutting, torn out along the exit side of the cut line, but perfectly normal when ripping the same stock.

Any ideas? The only thing I haven’t changed is the throat plate - it’s one of the plastic ones, I have a few new ones sitting around…and the one that’s on there could be much tighter to the blade…

 

[Odie]

Tell us about the bandsaw blade you're using.

I've found that by increasing the TPI to 10-12, it's slower to cut, but more controllable.....especially with more difficult wood species and uneven shapes that don't sit perfectly flat to the bandsaw table. .

-o-

 

[Bill Boehme]

My initial reaction was dull blade until you ruled that out. Check for something out of whack (worn out tires or something out of the ordinary) and then ... put it back in whack?

 

[robo hippy]

I do get some 'chattering' of the blade, mostly when dull or the bottom/table side of the slab is not dead flat. I have had some times when it just seems to do it for no other reason than it can.

robo hippy

 

[hockenbery]

again, strange sound on cross-cutting, torn out along the exit side of the cut line, but perfectly normal when ripping the same stock.

Like @robo hippy
Seems like the piece is not flat on the table on the exit cut.
If it’s cupped a bit on the bottom the exit cut will try pulling it down.
Ripping would be closer to flat.

 

[Richard Coers]

Slow your feed speed down. If you have a high tooth count, the gullets can get filled up and cause all kinds of issues.

 

[Vitor Cruz]

Hi Jeff,
did you check the support bearings on the blade guideS? The saw dust easily degrades them...

 

[JeffSmith]

I have checked the guide bearings - they’re okay, tires are in good shape. May be a little cupping on the bottom side, but trying two different species would seem to maybe rule that out, but I’m going to check. Will also changeout the throat plate while I’m at it. The blade that’s on there now is a new Highland Woodturner’s blade - 3 tip, 3/8” wide. Seems sharp…

 

[Steve Bonny]

A slack blade can chatter. Have you tried tweaking the tension up a bit?

 

[JeffSmith]

Just came in from the shop - I think I know what’s going on (at least with the new blade I put on). This blade has a bad weld (not perpendicular to the length of the blade) that causes the blade to jump forward slightly as it comes around to the guides. The blade pushes the wood against the feed direction and causes it to jump just enough to cause the wood to ‘tear out’ at the exit edge. It won’t allow a consistent feed rate - the bump stalls it.
Going to need to order a new blade…thanks for everyone’s help. I’ve now got new guide bearings installed and a thorough tuneup of the saw. I really don’t us it too much, as I say, I’m happy knocking the corners of most blanks with the chainsaw, but I do prep spindle stock with it - mostly ripping.

 

[JeffSmith]

Last update - sent an email to Highland with the photo attached. Turned out not to be at the weld, but a weird bend in the blade stock itself - no dimple on the face, sides are flat and true. No deflection side to side when running, just front to back causing feed to stall and the stock to lift off the table.

 

[JeffSmith]

Final update - Highland customer service is replacing the blade after seeing the photo…good service.