Anyone make their own bandsaw guides from wood?

[Rick Potter]

I have been using wood guides in my Delta/Rockwell 14" saw for at least 15 years. Started right after ruining a new blade with the original steel blocks. Cool blocks had come out recently, and I was going to get some, but needed the saw, so I made some out of some oily tropical wood. Can't remember what, but I made several sets, which I have not used up yet.

On smaller blades, up to 1/4" or so, I just bury the blade in the guide, and don't worry about it. Every once in a while I remove them and square them up again with a sander, rotate them 1/4 turn to avoid the set screw marks and put them back in. The set screws make dents I the wood, so they are difficult to adjust after shortening them a bit.

Rick P

[Myk Rian]

I've used hardwood soaked in mineral oil. Works great.
The advantage of this is you can bury the blade in them. Very helpful when re-sawing.

[Thomas Hotchkin]

Thomas, how wide is that blade, and did you use your bandsaw to make the groove?

Jim
This is Sam Blasco designed, I only fallowed the post, works very well with small blades. Have not used it during re-sawing wide panels.

[Jack Gaskins]

Jim
This is Sam Blasco designed, I only fallowed the post, works very well with small blades. Have not used it during re-sawing wide panels.

Thanks for the link, I will make one for small blades. I think I can use a fostner bit to make a recess to fit a block of wood over on the existing guide and the clamping action should hold them on the guide.

[Curt Harms]

I have been using wood guides in my Delta/Rockwell 14" saw for at least 15 years. Started right after ruining a new blade with the original steel blocks. Cool blocks had come out recently, and I was going to get some, but needed the saw, so I made some out of some oily tropical wood. Can't remember what, but I made several sets, which I have not used up yet.

On smaller blades, up to 1/4" or so, I just bury the blade in the guide, and don't worry about it. Every once in a while I remove them and square them up again with a sander, rotate them 1/4 turn to avoid the set screw marks and put them back in. The set screws make dents I the wood, so they are difficult to adjust after shortening them a bit.

Rick P

If you want to avoid the set screw marks, you could make 'em a bit smaller and slip a bit of hard metal between the wooden guide and the set screw. Something like a worn hacksaw blade with the teeth ground off?

[Phil Thien]

If you want to avoid the set screw marks, you could make 'em a bit smaller and slip a bit of hard metal between the wooden guide and the set screw. Something like a worn hacksaw blade with the teeth ground off?

I find a steel washer where the I.D. is smaller than the point of the set screw and the O.D. is small enough to fit into the holder. Works great.

[Rick Potter]

Great ideas.

Rick P

[ken seale]

I used to make these guide holders for the original USA MiniMax Distributors. I probably have about a dozen left. They will fit any euro guide band saw. I made them for using small blades. When setting them you can run them close to the blade tips without worrying about dulling the blade. The actual guide can be anything 1/2" dia. McMaster-carr sells all kinds of 1/2" dia. stock or you can use wood. 12mm cool blocks work fine too.

Drop me a PM for more info.

[Johnny Rowland]

Louis Iturra,Who has a vast knowledge of all things band saw speaks of Lignum vitae,Its used for making ship bearings very hard and oily.Easily purchased..