Resawing green ash with my 18 BX Part 1

Leave the quick tension lever in the up or tensioned position.

Turn the tension hand wheel so it lowers the upper wheel to its lowest position.  (I even suggest at this time to make sure the wheel assembly is traveling up and down. Apparently on the odd one, the two bolts were a little tight preventing the assembly from moving.  It can’t be free or loose, but should move under some force.)

I suggest to remove the tension gauge as it is magnetic. You can reapply it once you do the rest of the blade tensioning and tracking...but first the tracking. 

Depending on the blade material, different blades can stretch at different rates so it’s best to set the blade tension and THEN set the gauge, so it lines up with the tension indicator on the machine...yes the reverse process.

If you source out a new blade supplier you should reset the gauge.

Install the blade as the video shows, it will be loose on the wheels, since earlier you lowered the upper wheel when you turned the tension hand wheel.

Remember: the quick tension lever is in the up or tensioned position.

Turn the tension hand wheel so that the blade becomes snug… not tight. It should be sitting on both wheels, so that you can now set the tracking.

If there is too much blade tension, the tracking will be difficult to adjust. The tracking knob adjustment ‘tips’ the upper wheel up or down...if you turn the tracking knob clockwise, you will be tipping the wheel up… up will add more tension to the blade, therefore making it difficult to turn if the blade already has tension on it.

Once you establish the tracking, set the tension.  If it is too hard to turn the tension wheel, then you went too far. If you want that much tension then pull the quick tension lever down (to release the tension) and turn the hand wheel not more that 180 degrees. Too much tension breaks blades and wears out bearings!!!

I like what Jay shows in the video where you reach in and push the blade so that it should require a bit of pressure and should just touch the chassis.  Additional adjustments can be made as you get used to the saw and how it is cutting...even play with the same cut under different tension setting to see how it effects the saw’s performance. It’s the only way to really learn!!

Re-install the magnetic gauge so it lines up with the width of the blade you are using.