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TRIAL RUN: Before I cut wood,
I made sure the small blade tracked
in the center of the tires with the
guide retracted so nothing touches
the blade. Now, run the saw to see
if the blade tracks correctly. Next,
advance the Stabilizer so that it
touches the blade and the blade is
centered in the groove. Advance the
Stabilizer forward about 1/8" so that it
pushes the blade forward.
 Finally, check that the blade
still tracks in the middle of the top
wheel. You may need to angle the
top wheel back slightly. The pressure
further stabilizes the blade and also
prevents it from coming forward if
you back out of a cut.
I used the stabilizer to cut 3/4"
stock for patterned box back and
experienced no blade deflection or
angled cuts. On 11/2" pine I went
slower with the same good result.
BEST APPLICATIONS: The Stabilizer
cannot be used for
pierced scrollsawing, but it does come
in handy when cutting out patterned
pieces that have a lot of tight turns.
TESTER’S TAKE: There is
no perfect guide system for every
situation. This product helps you
cut tight curves with narrow blades.
For straight cuts and joinery (for
example, tenons and dovetails),
you’ll want to stick with a wider
blade. |
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While my bandsaw is regularly used
for ripping and resawing, having
the ability to use smaller blades
would certainly increase the tool’s
versatility. I prefer the bandsaw
over a scrollsaw because it’s faster,
capable of sawing thicker stock, and
doesn’t pick up the wood and cause
it to chatter in mid-cut. However,
the problem with using narrow
width blades on the bandsaw is that
the blade’s teeth can get damaged
the second you start the saw, if the
metal guides are not set perfectly
or mid way into a cut, should the
blade deflect into the steel blocks.
The Carter Stabilizer solves both
problems.
Carter’s Stabilizer bandsaw guide
provides stability when cutting
with blades 1/4" or less in width. The
design consists of a bracket that
supports a roller on a bearing with a
groove in the middle where the blade
rides. The bottom guide (below
the table) is retracted, allowing the
Stabilizer to control the blade from
the top guide position. |
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THE SETUP: On the standard
14" bandsaw, simply loosen one
screw to remove the top guide holder
and slip the Stabilizer in the slot as
shown above. Setup takes a minute.
If you own or are purchasing a
Carter full guide kit then it’s as easy
as sliding out the upper guide and
sliding in the Stabilizer, and at this
point you’re ready to cut.
Setup for bandsaws larger than
the standard 14" models is more
involved because the large bearing
guides are hard to adjust for small
blades. (Contact Carter at
[888] 622-7837 or carterproducts.com
for information.) |
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