Like with many items, especially those under constant strain, bandsaw tires wear and decrease in efficiency over time. Worn and old bandsaw tires hinder your saw's performance, causing issues such as inaccurate cuttings and difficulty moving items through the blade. Replacing your tires ensures your saw operates optimally. Here are a few tips for properly replacing bandsaw tires.
Urethane vs. Rubber Tires
Before replacing or installing bandsaw tires, choosing the right type of tire band for your equipment is important. The type of tire you choose affects the frequency of future replacements, the ease of installation, and other general performance differences. Urethane and rubber are the two main types of bandsaw tires. Rubber tires require more effort than urethane during different steps of the tire installation and replacements processes, from adding and removing adhesive to pulling the band over the wheel. Meanwhile, urethane bandsaw tires offer plenty of elasticity—making them easier to stretch around the wheel—and do not require any adhesives due to their natural grip.
Helpful Tools and Gear
Working around any heavy-duty equipment requires certain safety protocols. When replacing bandsaw tires, industrial gloves protect your hands from getting pinched or caught in equipment, and if you're using adhesives, they further protect you from the chemicals. Most people also wear protective eyewear and closed-toed shoes as added safety precautions. Aside from general safety gear, other helpful tools to keep on hand during tire replacements include clamps, rubbing alcohol, a small dowel or pipe, a flathead screwdriver, and a bucket of warm water.
Remove and Clean the Wheel
Removing tires is a lot easier than installing them due to their worn structure, making them easy to slip off. No matter the type of band used previously, give your wheel a good clean down before installation. Wiping down your wheels minimizes any debris getting stuck under the tires and other potential hazards that'll affect the efficiency of your new tires. When installing and replacing bandsaw tires, separating the wheel from the saw gives you full access to the rim, creates a safer installation method, and makes the entire process more manageable.
Secure the Tire Edges
New tire bands hold more tension than used ones, providing more resistance as you try to stretch the band over the wheel's rim. Clamps help hold the tires in place, allowing you to use both hands and maximum strength to place the tire around the wheel. On one side of the wheel, mount a section of the band onto the rim and then secure it into place. Then, mount and clamp the other end of the tire along the other end of the wheel's diameter. Once the band is clamped, you can begin to secure the rest of the tire in place.
Place the Tire Around the Rim
There are numerous ways to mount a bandsaw tire around the wheel's rim, from simply using your hands to pull and stretch the rest of the band in place, to using a dowel or small pipe to guide the band around the rim. Although urethane tires offer an elastic structure, making them easy to pull around a wheel, soaking the band in warm water before installation further increases its elasticity.
With the right tools, equipment, and tricks in your back pocket, replacing bandsaw tires can be a breeze. Taking care during installation and properly replacing your bandsaw tires ensure that your equipment will work optimally with minimal to no mishaps.