I took my band mill to a logging site to cut cross ties but due to the mud on the logs I started pressure washing them. But after I started to wash the the saw dust started sticking to the band blade then it was running under my guides causing me to cut out of square. Is there a way to keep the dust from building up and sticking to the blade? :embarassed:
Yep, so called "blade lube" ain't really for lubricating the blade, main purpose is to keep the blade clean. I use water with dish soap. In extreeme cases, may be necessary to use a small amount of diesel. I don't see how blade buildup can cause "out of square". Waves, yes..
Is it building up more on one roller guide than the other? I can see that causing you to be out of square.
I guess what is happining is when the blade makes a revolution it's real thick when it goes under the first roller guide then it's smashing it as it rolls over it. I had to stop alot yesterday and take my knife and scrap the whole blade and a cut or so later it would be built up again. I've heard dish soap or pinesol works just wanted input. But I wasn't running the blade lube after I changed the blade and I was cutting hickory and maple no soft wood.
Any of it will build up, including hardwood. I use my liquid Cascade/water mix with everything.
I have never used anything bit water. But I'm gonna try to use the things recommended here. I have never had this problem before. It started after I pressure washed the logs I figured it was getting to much water.
X2 on what everybody else said, and I keep a squirt bottle of diesel there to spray it if it gets too bad. I also use the cascade powder, cheaper, and no need to skimp. The more potent, the less of it I have to run, or so it seems to me.
I've never actually used diesel fuel, but I do on occasion use WD-40, PB Blaster, Liquid Wrench, etc. to get rid of any heavy build-up, like when I run into a pitch-pocket.
Takes a couple of revolutions of the band, but it does work.
I wouldn't think that the diesel fuel would take quite so long.
If I had a lot of trouble with pitch build-up, I would think about installing a wiper with diesel.