Woodworking Tools - Machine Tools (Tablesaw, Planer, Jointer, etc)

Now that we have dicussed bandsaw wheels in a previous article, we can go on to discuss the tires that mount on the wheels. The bandsaw tire is made from plastic or rubber. It is there to cushion the blade and to give it some traction.

There are three ways in which the tire can be mounted to the wheel:

1) glued to the wheel
2) stretched on to the wheel
3) snap and lock mechanism

Glued tires are the least expensive, as they cannot be replaced (at least not easily). Once the tire is worn out, good luck. Tires that are stretched over the wheel can at least be replaced. Although it is a hassle to get them in place, you are good for a while once it's there. The snap type is the easiest to replace as it locks into a groove in the wheel's perimeter.

The tire is also important in blade tracking. Most bandsaw tires will be crowned, meaning that they are slightly higher in the center of the tire than on the edges. The blade will have an easier time of staying on center with a crowned tire.

Not all bandsaw tires are crowned, some are flat. If you are looking for replacment tires try to find ones that are crowned. Larger bandsaws will have flat tires. Because the blades on these bandsaws will be larger they need more support that the crowned tire has less of. But this is only a concern for blades larger 3/4 inch.

So, although the bandsaw tires are not the most important aspect. There are still a few aspects to take into consideration. However, if your bandsaw has vibration problems, the first place to check would be to make sure the tires are clean.