Based on eight years of hobby use of my Jet bandsaw, here’s my opinion on some of the commonly promoted bandsaw upgrades.
New Manual – Get one!
The operating manual that comes with the Jet and Delta bandsaws leave out many things you need to know. I recommend The Bandsaw Book by Lonnie Bird.
New Tension Crank – Get one!
If you buy a Delta, Jet, or similar saw, the first thing you should do (after replacing the stock blade) is improve the tension crank handle. You don’t need an exensive quick release mechanism. Highland Woodworking sells a handle that replaces your standard tension knob. It’s the best $35 I ever spent. You can also make your own by fashioning a wooden handle around the existing knob. Either way, just do it. You’ll be glad you did.
Riser Block
A riser block increases the distance between the two wheels, “rising” the top wheel. This means that you can resaw boards up to 12" thick. In other words, there can be as much as 12" of clearance between the top of the table and the bottom of the blade guide. Should you buy a riser block? I don’t know. Here are some things to consider:
- Adding a riser block changes the length of blades you need. So when you add it, any blades you had purchased previously will no longer fit. This usually means that you need to make the riser block decision when you purchase the saw, which makes the decision that much more difficult.
- Resawing usually involves flatting one face and then jointing one edge, square to the face. If you have a 6" jointer, then it’s difficult to resaw anything taller than 6 inches, anyway. (Of course you can always flatten the board by hand.)
- The riser block makes the tension knob higher, so if you are short, it may be difficult to reach the knob.
- At least on the Jet, the riser block reduces the throat capacity of the saw. I run into this limitation much more than the limitation in resaw capacity. I have actually considered removing my riser block for this very reason, but see #1 above!
Wheel Brush
I added a brush to keep the bottom tire clean. It keeps saw dust from getting caked on the tire. Works great. You do not need one for the top wheel. You can buy a similar brush from Woodcraft, Lee Valley, or Highland Woodworking.
Cool Blocks
Cool Blocks replace the guides that go on either side of the blade. The Jet saw comes with blocks similar to these, but they wear quickly. If you have a Jet, then use the factory blocks until they get too worn out, then buy the Cool Blocks. If your saw has metal blocks, then I would replace them right away, especially if you are a beginner. The Cool Blocks are much more forgiving. If the blade teeth hit the metal guide blocks, then the blade will be ruined. You can also make your own blocks from hardwood scraps.
Tension Spring
You do not need to replace the stock tension spring unless it gets damaged. Mine got damaged because I compressed it completely, which ruins the spring. I replaced it with one from Iturra Design. Note that there is a different spring for Jet versus Delta saws. The spring includes a sheet with the approximate PSI for the standard tension marks on the saw, which is nice. I think the spring is a little better than the factory spring, but I wouldn’t replace your factory spring unless it is ruined.
Link Belt
I replaced the factory belt on my bandsaw with a Link Belt. You don’t need to do that. I can’t notice any difference in how the saw performs.
Urethane Tires
At least for a Jet bandsaw, urethane tires are a waste of money. The factory tires work fine. They do not need to be replaced.
