homemade bandsaw

[revid]

planing on making a homemade bandsaw and wondering what are mininum wheel diameters for different blade widths? I got two aluminum 13" wheels I was hoping to use but didn't know if I could use with ie:1 1/4 blades?

[york]

Hi there,for the 1 1/4 in. Band`s you need at least an 19in. Band wheel....
Always look at what the industry does.....

[bandmiller2]

Revid, you could use 13" wheels but you would loose band life and it would limit your clearance between the cut and the top  band, think slab cut a branch nubs. As Bert said I wouldn't go under 19" probably half the band mills in use are 19". Bigger is better if you have the power and a ridged frame. The band wheels are the most important part of the mill, they are no place to skimp. Frank C.