High speed blade guides

[petefrom bearswamp]

After adjusting these rascals for the different thickness blades .042,045,055.
I took them off at the suggestion of my neighbor  Tim Roberson who is on his 5th mill  now having started portable milling in the early 80s.
He got tired of wrasslin with them.
I notice no difference in the quality of my lumber without the guides nor does he, as long as we mind our Ps and Qs namely sharp blades and not overspeeding the carriage.
Any thoughts and experiences pro and con with them out there??
See a bunch of you at the pig roast.

[Magicman]

I look forward to meeting you at the Pig Roast, but no way do I agree with removing the blade guides.

[redbeard]

I've read where its possible to cut wide with sharp blades but Iam Leary of trying it. I suppose it would work but its risky of blade damage coming off the wheels. There's to many better reasons to leave them on.  Imo

[Nomad]

     I don't think Pete's talking about the blade roller guides, but the "high Performance" blade guides.  Am I correct?

[drobertson]

Yes I have heard of not having them on, with no issues, but of two, after seeing the lumber stacks not quite sold on the idea.  Switching blade thicknesses is kind of a pain, I don't do that either, but adjusting the clearance is not that bad.  When doing mast and chain lube I give the blade guide bolts a quick shot of oil. The conditions around the 1/4-28 adjuster bolt can get tight when left alone.

[Chuck White]

If you're talking about "High Performance Blade-Guide rollers", I'm not sold on them, I removed them from my mill.

They interfere with clearance!

Now, if you're talking about sawing without any blade-guide rollers, I don't see how it could be done safely, you need that flange behind the blade!

And, if you're talking about "High Speed blade guides", that's a whole nother ball game and I don't even know what they look like!

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I think he's talking about the HP blade guide blocks, not the rollers.
I have the them and would never take them off. Several people I know have taken them off their mills for more width when sawing slabs.
Personally my market calls for more lumber than anything. The HP guides give my blade more stability and I would truly miss them if they were gone.

[Magicman]

   My Dad had an (old saying).  "It's good to know, but it is better to understand."  Thanks for clarifying my misunderstanding.   ;D

[dustyhat]

Just curios what these blade guides are made from, are they sandwich type, i have used carbide and bronze for a bottom blade guide before . local guy that saws production swears by them. just wondering.

[drobertson]

just for a side note, anyone that knows about or has a resaw knows the need for the blade guides on a blade, both the rollers on top and the fixed bottom on the bottom.  It should also be known and said that these guides in no way shape or form will correct an improperly aligned blade.  They are guides and just that, they minimize blade deflection, but do not carry a band straight if the alignment is off.

[stavebuyer]

We removed the ones from our diesel LT70. (the "high performance wear pads"; not the rollers themselves...). Only difference noticed was a lot more sawdust went through the sawdust chute instead of being deflected by the wear pads.

[petefrom bearswamp]

stavebuyer, I noticed the sawdust thing too.
Another thing with the wear blocks, I had to have them machined flat after about 200 hrs.
IMO the use or not to use thing is probably similar to the old Chevy Ford Ram and now Toyota preference for a PU

[YoungStump]

I cranked mine back away from the band as far as I could, and have not noticed any difference in cut quality.