Getting the most life from your blade guide rollers

[Beavertooth]

This roller has exactly 1/16" of flange left on it from an original of just a little over 3/16" with only a 1/32" of taper worn on the roller from back to front. Just wanted to post this to show that you can get a lot of life from your rollers if you keep the bearings changed and keep the tilt on them adjusted right so that they will not wear into a cone shape prematurely. I have no idea how many hours this roller has on it. 

 

[barbender]

I'm just wondering how your blades do if they're hitting the flange  that much?

[Beavertooth]

I keep them adjusted at Woodmizer recommendation 1/16 off of blade on drive side and 1/8 on idle side whenever I make adjustments but don't necessarily keep them that close as they wear. I have a LT70 with 62 turbo engine and I do push them hard as can and still saw straight. I sharpen my own blades and get several sharpenings out of them before they brake. 

[Southside]

I keep mine closer to 1/4" off the flange on my Super 70 and have no issues with sawing fast and flat.  

[Walnut Beast]

I'm just wondering how your blades do if they're hitting the flange  that much?

I would think you would break more blades

[JoshNZ]

I keep mine about 1/8" off the flange and I reckon my band rides the flange all day long in anything more than a 16" cut. I get 10+ sharpenings out of most bands, usually I hit something and that's when I give up on it, have snapped hardly any.

I don't have a debarker and I swap out at the first hint of dulling, so my hands prob do a bit less revolutions in their run than most.

[Peter Drouin]

Good job. I run mine down like too.

[Beavertooth]

Peter I may could get another 1/32 wore off of it before it starts caving over backwards. 

[Peter Drouin]

 :D :D :D :D :D :D :D ;)  
I have 4 new ones coming. That will give me 6.