30
Jan 10

What are Band Saw Tires?

Band Saw Tires: Carter – a Premier Brand

If you want to avoid using the messy epoxies that are used with rubber tires, then your best bet is to purchase the urethane variety. Urethane band saw tires often last longer than rubber tires and they don’t require the glue that rubber tires do for installation.

Keep Your Saw in Working Order

Generally, tires that are worn will be crumbly and inelastic. Look for cracks and grooves as well. It’s important to replace the tires to keep the saw in optimum working order. If your saw vibrates too much or does not run with smooth precision, then replacing the tires will often cure the problem.

Carter Tires

Should you find you need to replace your saw’s tires, you’ll need to measure the wheels. Once you’ve obtained a measurement, you can go from there. In order to obtain a good fit, the tires you choose should be a couple inches smaller than the wheel, which is approximately 20% shorter than the circumference of the wheel.  If you opt for urethane tires, then a good brand to pick would be Carter band saw tires as they offer many sizes of tires made from urethane. Choose from 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20-inch tires for your band saw.

Tire Removal – What You’ll Need

You can remove the tires yourself by using:

  • Lacquer thinner
  • A razor knife
  • A screwdriver
  • Wedge of wood

The Removal Process

In most instances, you’ll need to remove tires that have been glued into place. Therefore, you’ll need a tool, such as a razor knife, to pull the tire apart from the metal wheel. Once you pull a portion of the tire away with the knife, pour some lacquer thinner into the opening. Wait a half a minute and then proceed to pull the tire away from the wheel with a screwdriver. Use a wedge of wood to widen the gap and pour more thinner into the opening. Continue in this way until you’ve removed the tire from the wheel completely.

Clean the Tire

Once you’ve removed the tire, you’ll need to thoroughly clean the epoxy off the wheel’s rim. Use a stiff wire brush for this purpose. Make sure you eliminate all the debris so your new urethane tire will fit flawlessly. Before installing the new tire, place it in some hot, soapy water to make it more pliable and easier stretch over the wheel.  The wheels that need tires should be removed from the band saw and, as stated, clean, without residue or debris.

Look Online

You can find a number of tires advertised over the Internet. As indicated, if you want to purchase urethane tires, then you can’t go wrong by choosing Carter tires for your band saw. They are quality tires that will help keep your band saw working for you at maximum efficiency.


30
Jan 10

How to Replace Band Saw Tires

Band Saw Tires: Rubber Tires versus Urethane

If your band saw is not running smoothly and operating at precision efficiency, it could be that your band saw tires are worn. Therefore, checking the tires is usually a good first step in eradicating any difficulties along these lines.

The Choice for Urethane

Worn tires are often brittle and show a number of grooves or cracks. If you’ve determined that this is a problem with your machine, then you’ll need to take the wheel measurement for your blade. The tire your purchase should be 2 inches smaller than the size of the wheel so it will fit correctly. Once you have the measurement, you’ll need to decide on the type of tire you want to buy. If you have a larger, higher-speed machine, it’s probably best to pick urethane tires versus rubber band saw tires. Even if your machine is smaller, urethane tires may still be better in the long run than rubber tires.

A Durable, More Reliable Choice

Rubber tires require epoxy or glue for installation while urethane tires do not need any type of glue in order to be installed. Urethane tires are often recommended over rubber tires too as they generally last longer. Although, on average, urethane tires are more expensive, you probably will be saving more over time as the tires are proven to be, as stated, more durable.

A Safe Color

Tires come in a number of styles for use on various band saws. For instance, 3 wheel band saw tires fit Inca 710 band saws or you can find urethane tires that fit the 14” wheels of band saw blades. One thing that’s nice about urethane tires is that they do not become brittle like rubber tires. In addition, installation is much easier as it only takes a few minutes as you don’t need, as mentioned, any kind of glue. If you want to achieve better tracking and a smoother running machine, then choosing a band saw tire made of urethane is a preferred way to go. Pick the orange tires for safety and to aid you whenever you inspect the blades.

The Urethane Advantage

Of course, another advantage about a urethane tire is that when it does need replacement, it won’t be as hard to remove as a tire made of rubber. It can be a long, laborious process taking off an old rubber tire versus one made from urethane. You have to make sure that all the glue and residue is removed so the new tire fits well. Therefore, removing an old rubber tire involves a lot of scraping and brushing of debris. In addition, water and cleaning solvents aren’t recommended as they can damage the machine. Consequently, choosing to buy a urethane tire is a suggested choice if you want to save yourself future hassles and you want your machine to perform with maximum efficiency.

Take a look at the Internet. They offer a variety of tires, one of which is sure to fit your particular machine.