I have a taiwanese copy of a 'brand' bandsaw and am fairly happy with it but felt the guide system on it needed updating as it used the wear block system. i felt these were not accurate enough for me when ripping lams etc., so invested $ 100 in a roller guide system. The first cut told me I went the right way . However doubt has now raised its ugly head as a fellow bow maker told me he was considering going back to wear blocks as the roller system on his was forever chewing out the bearings due to fine dust specially bamboo dust, infiltrating the rollers.After spending that money I did, I sure hope there is a better way of getting around this. any ideas especially from guys using the roller guides[ and that must be a lot]
I have found that the bottom roller are more prone to getting buggered up but I am going on 5 yers with my current set. You can always replace them with sealed bearings if and when you have a problem.
Proper set up and tune will also help keep them going strong.
Good luck with them, they are worth it in my opinion.
CTT
Dang Bob my roller upgrade set cost $180.00. I bought mine from Carter, I get an upper roller and lower roller assembly and they come with sealed bearings.
GOOD NEWS!
I plunked down about $5 a bearing from Grizzly every time I needed to change my sawdust filled roller guide bearings. Then I found out that these are same size as a standard roller blade bearing and could be had for about 50 cents each off the auction site. The larger thrust bearings can be bought cheaply as well.
Yupper Eric, those bearing have a number stamped on them and any place selling bearings can match up a set for ya. At a huge savings too.
I've been replacing my Grizzly guide bearings with NAPA bearings. Way too expensive.
I need to do some searching.
"Dang Bob my roller upgrade set cost $180" :dunno: Mine came from a company over here called Carbatec who have a rep. for selling quality stuff, so here's hoping . I don't know at this point that they are sealed, but going on others answers replacement shouldn't be either expensive or a big pain in the proverbial.Two tracks . I did hear that the lower set gives the most problems but if I was to get 5 years from them then my smile would be wider than a country mile.
Mine should be here tomorrow, I'm excited to get them on.
Hope you gonna put them on the band saw Roy and not wear them!!!! :biglaugh:
I've found if you set the guide rollers too tight, it shortens life of em a lot! A dollar bill is what I use to set space...
Right on Kenny.
Ya mean a dollar bill space between each roller and the blade I assume?
Yep, Roy , you can use a $100 bill if'n you want tho, they usually get ya more clearance on stuff....
I use $1 cause thats what I got mostly... :laughing:
Ok Kenny, I just printed out a new batch of 100's so I'll use one of them. They otta be a tad thicker, but I gotta wait till the ink dries:)
I'm pissed, no rollers yet and they said 3 to 4 days. 4 days was Wednesday. Maybe they are coming from Missouri.
Hope not, most of us have a fingre er 2 misin , may not be abl to count that mush....
I hain't missen any fingers, but got one I almost lost that looks a little weird.
Saw the photos of your set Roy and you got some extra bits that I never, like the upper collar with the blade guard attached. Don't know if they add up to extra $80 though!
I bought some roller blocks 1/2 X 1/2" that replaces the original blocks and they seem to work good, not much bucks $27 delivered. Will see how they hold up.
Just thinking out loud,...but if you have an air compressor, you may be able to hook up a fine air jet to blow the dust away from both you, and the bearings and toward a vaccuum hose. It sounds like the dust is pretty fine and probably not the best for you anyways eh!