Top Categories
- Garden / Landscaping / Patio — 235
- Kitchen / Bathrooms — 220
- Appliance / Repair — 177
- Interior Design / Decor — 170
- Real Estate / Finance — 159
- HVAC / Air Conditioning — 129
- Cleaning / Maintenance — 122
- Improvements / Remodeling — 112
- Floors / Tile / Hardwood — 107
- Doors / Garages — 105
- Construction / Materials — 100
- Safety / Security — 100
Latest Articles
6 Home Repairs to Leave to an Expert
Being able to repair things around your home is a point of pride. When you can take something that is not working, or doesn’t look great and...
on Jan 27, 2021
6 High Value Renovations to Increase Fix and Flip ROI
So you have analyzed the market, purchased a property and now you are ready to renovate? After purchasing an undervalued home for a fix and flip,...
on Jan 26, 2021
7 Top Home Decor Trends for 2021
A lot of us have spent most of 2020 sheltering in place. We have transformed our living rooms into multifunctional spaces that are all about...
on Jan 25, 2021
7 Tips to Increase The Value of Your Property
If you are considering renovating or selling your property, it should be able to add value to space. Several projects that are aimed at increasing...
on Jan 25, 2021
When to Replace Your Heater
Consider the number of damages the heating unit has so that you will know right away if you will need to buy a new one or not. You better replace...
on Jan 16, 2021
Popular Articles
When to Use a Brush, Roller or Sponge Brush
Brushes are a good choice for painting trim and woodwork. They are also useful for cutting in the edges around the top and bottom edges and corners...
60443 Views
Three Places to Spend Money on the Exterior of Your Home
When you have the exterior of your home remodeled, you are investing, time, energy and convenience into the project and you want to make sure that...
57791 Views
Homemade Headboards-Make an Upholstered or Wooden Headboard
Homemade headboards can add a lot of personality to any bedroom. They can be coordinated with existing furniture and room decor or they can be the...
53448 Views
Creating a Cottage Kitchen with Bead Board
Kitchen decor can range from modern and bold to elegant and elaborate by using strategic kitchen pieces. One of the most popular decorating trends...
35218 Views
Gas Fireplace Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Follow these steps for diagnosing and troubleshooting Gas Fireplaces repairs. For the average DIYer, this may seem intimidating, depending on the...
23069 Views
Cutting the Confusion on Setting Bandsaw Blade Tension
by Tom Grant on Apr 18, 2013
Every woodworker will have their unique method for determining the correct blade tension on a bandsaw. Some may rely on sight or even sound to check that they have the correct setting, and others will use expensive equipment to get an accurate reading. Attempting to saw a piece of dense material with an incorrectly calibrated blade could result in an uneven finish, and possibly ruin many hours of work. To avoid this it is essential to check that your bandsaw is set to the correct tension for the thickness of the blade, and some methods employed by other workers may prove inaccurate. A beautifully crafted piece of wood requires skill and reliable tools, so by making sure your machinery is properly set to the task in hand, you will be able to continue your work with confidence.
Don’t Play It By Ear
For those with pitch-perfect hearing, it is possible to judge the tension by plucking the blade and listening to the tone it emits. Whilst impressive, this is not an accurate way to gauge tension and could result in uneven edges or even a snapped blade. Others will simply adjust the tension until the saw feels comfortable, and use the same tension setting for many different types of wood. This can give unpredictable results as materials of different densities require specific tension settings. It is important to remember that you only need to set the blade to maximum tension if you will be sawing very thick or dense wood and that it is advisable to relax the tension when it is not in use.
The Right Tools For The Job
The only way to accurately determine blade tension is to invest in a tension meter. These are handheld devices that work by gripping onto the blade and measuring the tension using a system of rollers. Whilst the models from well-known brands can be expensive, it is possible to pick up secondhand or cheaper models on sites such as eBay. If you cannot find a tension meter within your price range, there are other methods you could try. Once the blade is securely in place, move the guide blocks out of the way and push against the side of the blade. Begin to tighten it in small increments using the tensioning knob until it moves no more than a ¼ inch when depressed. When using this method it is advisable to perform a trial run with a piece of scrap wood to ensure it is correctly calibrated for your chosen project.
What Does It Say On The Box?
The majority of blade manufacturers recommend a tension setting of 15,000 psi to 20,000 psi based on a regular carbon steel blade. This varies widely when using blades of different materials, and a carbide-tipped blade will command a tension setting of up to 30,000 psi. If you are using a large industrial bandsaw it will most likely have blade tension scales built-in. Unfortunately, these are often faulty and will regularly show tension readings that are much higher than the blade is calibrated to. To compensate for this inaccuracy, set the tension for the blade you are using to the recommended settings of the next widest blade. When adjusting the tension it is important to work slowly and avoid over-tightening. If a blade snaps during sawing it can have disastrous consequences and could result in injury to yourself and expensive damage to your bandsaw
John Ireland is a retired high school woodshop teacher who still enjoys educating others. His informative articles appear mainly on DIY and home improvement sites. To learn more about Bandsaw Blades King, just visit this web page.
Most Recent Articles
- Nov 17, 2020 Top Tips When Restoring, Rebuilding, or Repairing Wood Furniture by Nick Marr
- Jul 17, 2020 5 Tips on Repairing Wood Furniture by Nick Marr
- Dec 5, 2019 What are the Popular Kinds of Wood used for Woodworking Projects? by Guest
- Nov 27, 2019 What Is a Laser Cutter Used for in Home Improvement Project by Sally Smith
- Nov 12, 2019 The Essential List of Different Power Tools Every Homeowner Should Have by Boris Dzhingarov
Articles Archive
Featured Articles
What Type of Licensed Contractor Should You Hire?
on Feb 28, 2017
Hire Contractors / Estimates

Looking for a specialty project? There are many types of contractors available for your home improvement needs. Finding the right type of...
Sponsored Articles
Essential Checklist for When You Want to Buy a Condo in Vancouver
on Feb 20, 2020
General Household
Buying a condo has its pros and cons, but it is a completely different experience from buying a single unit, a family home, or a detached...
The Most Common Repairs of Tiny House Living
on Jul 11, 2019
Cleaning / Maintenance

Tiny house living isn’t always as relaxing and stress-free as it is made out to be. There will undoubtedly be things that break,...
Random Articles
Buying a Property at Auction – Why and How
Whatever you may have seen or heard of property auctions, don’t be put off by thinking they’re only for professionals with insider...
Remodeling Your Home to Go Green
Creating a home that is friendly to the environment is very important, especially when those ideas save money and energy. Projects like this pay...
4 Things You Should Know When Installing an Under Mount Sink
An under mount sink has been described as the preferred way to make you kitchen compact, flawless and include the latest trends and designs. This...
Simple Ways to Make your Home More Comfortable
For most people making your house your home is a nontopic but there are many “little things” that can be done to enhance your space...
Tankless or Instantaneous Water Heaters
On-demand water heaters regardless if they are tankless or instantaneous provide hot water as it is needed. They do not have energy losses like...