How to Change Band Saw Blades

By Chris Baylor, About.com Guide

With the blade properly tensioned and tracking on the center of the tires, the next step is to re-position the guide blocks and rollers.

Begin by rotating the under-table blade guard back into place, and tightening the screw that secures the guard. Next, adjust the lower blocks so that they are just shy of touching each side of the blade. Tighten the set screws to hold the blocks in place.

Then, adjust the forward position of the blocks so that the blocks are riding just behind the teeth, on the flat part of the blade. You may need to re-adjust the position of either block after this adjustment.

Next, adjust the position of the rear roller, so that it is riding just behind the blade. Tighten all of the set screws to lock the guides in place, then rotate the wheel and watch how the band saw blade tracks through the blocks and rollers. If the blocks and rollers guide but do not touch the blade, you've positioned them correctly.

Re-install the spacer in the hole in the center of the table, before moving on to the top guide blocks. Lower the blade guard about half-way toward the table, and repeat the block and roller adjustment steps that you used for the guides under the table.

Also, now would be a good time to re-install the rear blade guard you removed in step 5.