Vertical bandsaw advice needed

[86Trooper]

Guys,

I picked up a Powermatic 143, 14" vertical bandsaw about a year ago from an equipment auction. Its been cleaned up and a 1hp motor installed. Tilting table and the miter gauge from my table saw fits. Now its time to get to work.

My rig needs bumpers. I have 1/4" thick angle iron and some steel tube to cut. A bimetal 14tpi blade is coming from McMaster. Got that much from searching the forum.

What I need to know is what else I need to know. How do I break the blade in? How hard do I push - How much pressure? What should my speed be - there are two speeds and multiple pulley settings?

Thanks in advance.

[lsloth]

I don’t know if it makes a difference but on my horizontal band saw I like to run mine at about 120 feet per minute. When I have used it in the vertical mode I do not push really hard, I let the saw do the work.

[lsloth]

This will help calculating the FPM:
http://woodworking-woodworking.com/bandsaw.html

[Reflexx]

Hey!

The first thing I'd suggest is to get a stick of wax. It's about the size of a tube of caulk. you just rub it on either side of the blade (while running) and get some on the teeth of the blade. It will keep the cut lubricated and keep the teeth from clogging. re-apply often.

As for pressure, it's a matter of feel. Push on the workpiece enough to get a steady cut.

For speed, slower is safer. The increase the speed as you get more comfortable and at least 3-4 teeth in the material at all times.

how's that?

Reflexx :D

[lilscorpion]

A blade is a blade and this is how my source tells me to break my blades in:

1) Run full coolant
2) turn the feed down as slow as you can get it
3) Make two cuts through 1" solid stock (I personally use 1.5" solid but they said 1").

The reason for this, if I understand correctly, is to get the blade to cut with a light chip load which, somehow, puts just enough heat in the blade to get it off in the right direction.

I've followed these instructions for years and my blades last a long time.

Matt