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Bandsaw buddy

L

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I came across this on Axminster site, I am always looking for ideas for things that I can make myself.

I read Axminster descriptions of why it would be useful in setting up the blade alignment against a rip fence.
Don’t think that I have ever checked for this in twenty years bandsaw use.
But a loose rare earth magnet and a cheapo steel rule would do the same thing,
Using it as a thickness gauge is stretching credibility.
You can use it for drawing circles, but a scrap of wood with holes for a pencil and a nail does the same, assuming you don’t possess trammels
Currently there’s a tenner off so if you haven’t got a straight edge but £15 to spare(waste) it’s possibly an elegant solution.
 
I looked at this a while back. I cant see any indent to allow for the set of the teeth, so I am sceptical about parallel. But I havent actually handled one to be sure.

And the finest way to check straight is to cut a piece of scrap softwood. That will show how good your alignment is. :eusa-dance:
 
It was on sale back when I bought my bandsaw so I added it on to the purchase as it wasn't much extra proportionally. It does make fence alignment a lot easier and quicker; while cutting a scrap is the best way to check for parallel, getting to parallel in the first place takes a fair bit of trial and error if that's your only method. Having the bandsaw buddy on there lets you see how close you are while you're adjusting, which speeds things up a lot. And yes, there's an indent just in front of the magnets to account for tooth set.

I can't say I've used any of its other supposed features, though.
 
Same as spb, I got one because I constantly get moaned at about being difficult to buy for at birthdays etc, so I tend to make a list of a few reasonably priced bits and pieces for the kids to buy with their pocket money.

There is an indent for the teeth. It works well for initial fence alignment. Yes you could easily make one with a scrap of wood and a magnet. I've not used the other features as yet.
 
sunnybob":1vzj0g74 said:
I looked at this a while back. I cant see any indent to allow for the set of the teeth, so I am sceptical about parallel. But I havent actually handled one to be sure.
Click to expand...
There is an indent for the saw set and yes, you definitely need to handle one

spb":1vzj0g74 said:
It was on sale back when I bought my bandsaw so I added it on to the purchase as it wasn't much extra proportionally. It does make fence alignment a lot easier and quicker; while cutting a scrap is the best way to check for parallel, getting to parallel in the first place takes a fair bit of trial and error if that's your only method. Having the bandsaw buddy on there lets you see how close you are while you're adjusting, which speeds things up a lot. And yes, there's an indent just in front of the magnets to account for tooth set.

I can't say I've used any of its other supposed features, though.
Click to expand...

It makes the whole set up process far, far easier and quicker

TrimTheKing":1vzj0g74 said:
Same as spb, I got one because I constantly get moaned at about being difficult to buy for at birthdays etc, so I tend to make a list of a few reasonably priced bits and pieces for the kids to buy with their pocket money.

There is an indent for the teeth. It works well for initial fence alignment. Yes you could easily make one with a scrap of wood and a magnet. I've not used the other features as yet.
Click to expand...

Slap the BB onto the blade, joggle the fence til it's dead parallel, tighten the fence bolts and once you've checked that the fence and blade are at 90deg to the table, you're almost set to go. I use mine all the time, especially if I've got a new Ax blade (are there any others? :eusa-whistle: ) or if I've got some critical cuts to make - Rob
 
Good to know theres the indent.
not much use to me though. I've had the same bandsaw and blade combination for about 7 years now (if it aint broke dont fix it).
Never have to adjust anything. :eusa-dance: :eusa-dance:
 
sunnybob":2d5h1elf said:
Good to know theres the indent.
not much use to me though. I've had the same bandsaw and blade combination for about 7 years now (if it aint broke dont fix it).
Never have to adjust anything. :eusa-dance: :eusa-dance:
Click to expand...
If you needed to deep saw a 250mm wide veneer (as I sometimes do) SB you'd be barking not to ensure that your bandsaw set up was absolutely spot on...but I suspect that you've never needed to. The BB goes a very long way to ensure that it is - Rob
 
My 350 bandsaw will only cut 18 cm, unless I remove the top guides and then I can get 20cm.
I dont cut sub 1 mm veneers, but I can cut 2 mm x 20 cm along a plank of Bubinga if the need arises 8-)
 
A small thin magnet and a steel rule also does the job.

IMG-6546.jpg
 
Woodster":v0s0vpnl said:
A small thin magnet and a steel rule also does the job.

IMG-6546.jpg
Click to expand...
Yeah I never saw the point of the Axminster one when it's so easy to replicate
 
I handled one in the local Axi shop when they first came out, well made but seemed a bit gimmicky at the time to me. I'm sure it saves a few minutes setting up but that's something less important when you're retired. :)
I looked on line afterwards and noticed there was an American version which was even more expensive surprisingly. I can't remember what brand it was.
 
Craig Salisbury":8t0r5q39 said:
Lurker":8t0r5q39 said:
Usually due to a damaged blade in my experience.
Click to expand...
I do need to give tuffsaws a bell for replacements, I never know when to replace them or how long they last.
Click to expand...
You know it's time to replace it when it snaps :lol:. Ax blades are equally as good as TS blades...strange but true! - Rob
 
Craig Salisbury":yz8eqydg said:
Lurker":yz8eqydg said:
Usually due to a damaged blade in my experience.
Click to expand...
I do need to give tuffsaws a bell for replacements, I never know when to replace them or how long they last.
Click to expand...

The problem is that the bluntness creeps up on you.
You fit a new one and that’s when you know that the old one was bu££reed.
Always catches me out.
 
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