The 5 Tenets of Bandsaw Sawmill Blade Care

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Your bandsaw sawmill has a combination of functions and features to help you get the job done, but any sawyer knows that the blade is the business end of their mill. All the clamps, guards, and bearings in the world aren’t worth much if your blade isn’t in working condition.

Portable Bandsaw Mill

For it to work efficiently and to achieve the attractive cuts you desire, it’s crucial to keep your blade in tip-top shape. With proper maintenance, you can also maximize the life of each blade and spend less on replacements.

This article has the information you need to get the most out of each bandsaw sawmill blade. Here are the five tenets of blade care for owners of portable bandsaw mills.

#1: Store Your Blades Properly

Rust and metal are mortal enemies, so you’d do well to separate them. That means storing your bandsaw blades in a cool, dry location. Keeping your blades out of humid or moist areas is essential.

It also pays to clean your blade regularly. Keep it clear of any sap, sawdust, or other debris. These substances can prematurely dull your blade, requiring you to use more force when cutting and creating unnecessary friction that can harm both your blade and your timber.

#2: Ensure Correct Blade and Belt Tension

Keeping your drive belts tight ensures optimal power transfer to your blade. To realize the greatest results, keep your blade properly tensioned. This will allow your blade to perform at higher speeds.

When you finish using your sawmill bandsaw for the day, be sure to loosen your blade. This will prevent flat spots from forming on your rubber belts—any flat spots can result in severe vibrations while you’re using the mill.

#3: Provide Adequate Blade Lubrication

Lubrication is key to keeping your blade clean and smooth, which is vital to making attractive, efficient cuts. By using lubrication to keep your blade free of sawdust, sap, and other buildup, you can extend its life.

The leading models of portable bandsaw mills feature a built-in, automatic lubrication system. Simply fill the lubrication tank and get to milling. A system like this will save you significant time over the lifespan of your mill.

#4: Carefully Break In New Blades

As much as we all enjoy a clean, new bandsaw blade, you can’t simply rush into milling at your normal rate. You need to break in each new blade carefully. Make a few test cuts at medium speed and allow the blade to acclimate or warm up. Once it’s ready, you can get back to milling as usual.

#5: Don’t Join “The Club”

More than a few seasoned sawyers have made the mistake of leaving their log stops too high and hitting their stops with the blade. This damages both the blade and the log stops. Double-check the height of your log stops against the height of your blade as you progress through each log and adjust as necessary.

Hitting a log stop can be frustrating, but it’s not the end of the world. In fact, some of the leading portable bandsaw mill models feature standard blade guards to prevent accidental collisions.

About Woodland Mills

 “Value through Design” isn’t just a motto—it’s the mission of the folks at Woodland Mills. Through cost-effective manufacturing, innovative design processes, and direct-to-customer sales, Woodland Mills has become a global leader by offering the best-valued forestry equipment in the industry. Since launching the flagship HM126 portable bandsaw sawmill, Woodland Mills has expanded their line of mills and added Woodlander™ mobile trailers, wood chippers, stump grinders, and accessories. Perhaps the best thing about Woodland Mills products is they’re available at prices hobbyists can justify. But it’s not just the practical design, durable build, and reasonable price point that keep sawyers returning to Woodland Mills. Ask any member of the Woodland Mills community, and they’ll tell you the customer service is second to none.

 See why sawyers around the world rave about Woodland Mills at http://www.woodlandmills.com/

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