bandsaw woes

[GentlemanArcher]

Hi All,

Having some trouble with my bandsaw, setup and or blade.

So...everything was fine...resawing bamboo flooring was going well.  Craftsman 10" saw with a 1/2" wide wood slicer blade.  I adjusted the fence to account for the blade drift.

Today though, I'm getting about 10 to 14" into the cut and the blade is then bowing.  So the 1.5" tall piece I am resawing is the planned thickness at the top, but then get very narrow at the bottom.

I'd readjusted and tried many times to correct this.  Is this just the behavior of a dull blade?  I hope that's what it is.  I don't understand why the cut is progressing well and then blade bows.  I'm being pretty careful with my feed speed.  And it's just bamboo for crying out loud, not like a hard heavy wood.

Any thoughts here, just a dull blade? is it user error?

Thanks
Gentleman Archer

PS.  I did put a new craftsman blade on, but they are pretty much junk...so I wasn't able to tell much.

[johnny girardi]

sounds like dull blade. the action boo is abrasive do to the type glue and nature of bamboo. hope you didnt over adjust saw tring to make it work.

[macbow]

I've had similar results with a dull blade. Some times only the teeth are bad,on one side.
I have had luck getting more life from a blade with a dremmel and a small stone for sharpening chain saw blades.
Youmshrpenmeach tooth by hitting the gullet and moving to the point.

[Roy from Pa]

http://www.finewoodworking.com/ToolGuide/ToolGuideArticle.aspx?id=34055

 http://www.fundamentalsofwoodworking.com/woodworking-resources/Woodworking-Articles/how-to-set-up-a-band-saw

Dull blades will make the cut wander off.

[tenbrook]

Dull blade for sure!

[JamesV]

If the flooring you were cutting was pre-finished it could have dulled your blade. The finish on bamboo flooring will destroy planer blades.

[beachbowhunter]

Is it tight enough?  Maybe when it gets hot mid way through, it stretches.

[GentlemanArcher]

Hadn't thought about the finish.  I'm pretty sure the tension is holding well.  I've ordered new blades.  I'll use this current one to rip my remaining flooring into 1.5" widths though.

Thanks for all the input.  I'll post an update when the new blade gets here.

GA

[bamboo]

old tires can make a saw wander---i fought w/ my old saw ---changed the rubber--and it was like a new saw!!

[wood carver 2]

Make sure that the guides are in good shape and properly set up. Don't forget the ones below the table.
My saw has crappy guides and it can be a real problem.
Dave.

[kennym]

I'm guessin blade is dull.  

I just gave the guys at Mojam 10 or so blades that feel sharp to your finger, but won't saw a straight line. When they start to wander, they hang on the wall. And my saw is tuned to the nuts...

Blades are cheaper than ruining a good set of lams!

[7 Lakes]

I'm set up pretty tight.  Once the blade starts to wander it becomes the cut out the glass and bow blade.  A new blade goes on for all wood cutting.

[ryguy24000]

Dull blade or loss of temper from getting too hot.  Blades can be sharpened.  I have my timber wolf blades re sharpened as soon as they start to dull.  It only costs $5 a blade for an 80" blade.  If you buy a new blade buy at least two the same size so you can sharpen one and have one to work with.  there is some interesting content on BS blades on timber wolfs web  sight.
 http://www.suffolkmachinery.com/did-you-know/

[GentlemanArcher]

Yep...it was the blade.  I got my new blade and everything is cutting as expected.  Now I know that as the blade dulls, along with cutting slowly, it always will not cut straight.  

Thanks for the input and patience with the newbie.

GA