Tension Up to 3/4" Bandsaw Blades Perfectly!

A bandsaw is a great tool to have, but getting the blade tension set simply and accurately was a chore - until now!
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#bandsawblade #bandsaw
We love having a bandsaw in our shop. It’s several years old but still serves us well. It has the old-style blade tensioner turn knob (newer styles have instant release/tensioner levers). Whether your machine is old or new, getting the blade tension set correctly is important to get accurate cuts.
There are various methods to do this, but due to a recent tool review in Fine Woodworking magazine, we’ve added a simple and effective tool that allows us to quickly set tensions for various width blades. It is called the EZTension Gauge, and at $40, it’s a bargain.
We learned about this great tool from a review in Fine Woodworking magazine, #281-Mar/Apr 2020 issue. The EZTension® is made in the U.S.A, by Mark Juliana. Mark is the Facilities Manager (as well as one of the Instructors) at the Center For Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, ME. It’s been said that “necessity is the mother of invention,” and the EZTension® story supports that notion.
With 6 bandsaws of varying age, condition, and accuracy of tension setting, it was a daunting task to keep all six saws set properly. After several prototypes and tests, the EZTension® gauge was put on the market. You can purchase one at EZTension.com.
The gauge works using a fulcrum. A magnet is situated at each end of the tool, along with an adjustable post in the middle that acts as a fulcrum. The post is set to different heights depending on what the width of the blade is, and there are gauges included to accomplish this. The tool is affixed to your pre-tensioned blade using the two magnets. The blade is then tensioned to right at 15,000 psi. When one of the magnets releases the blade, the tension is correct. Easy-peasy!
If you are using the increasingly popular Timberwolf Blades, they need to be tensioned a bit differently, but that’s easy to do. Simply use the next size down on the setup gauge that comes with the tool. So, if you are going to tension a ½” TimberWolf® blade, use the setting for ⅜” and you’ll have it just right.
Bimetal blades can’t be tensioned properly with this device as the magnets won’t grip with the same tenacity as carbon steel blades. Mark has created a workaround to that. He simply uses the same sized regular carbon blade, tensions it correctly, The EZTension® comes in both a mini and regular version. To use the regular version, you need about 6” (15 cm) of blade exposure for it to work. If you have a benchtop or small band saw, the mini is for you. To use the mini, you’ll need 4” (10 cm) of exposed blade. The mini will correctly set blade tension for ¼” through ⅜” blades, while the regular/original version will set blades from ¼” to ¾”.
To see Roland Johnson’s review in Fine Woodworking, visit
www.finewoodwo...
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[@paulhodgson7221]

Thanks Jay I just ordered this, and have been looking for something like this for a while.

[@rikityrik]

That’s something else. I hope he is successful with it. And I appreciate it being a budget tool. 👍

[@mns6983]

Many thanks Jay! I own a Grizzly and have never had any luck with it--quality machine, not so much the user. Just ordered this tool and hope this band saw becomes one of my favorite tools in the wood shop.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks for watching and commenting MnS. Please let me know how you like the tool when you receive it. Best to you, DFJ

[@wilsonguitars156]

a guitar tuner attached to the blade and tuned a nominal pitch works for me!....nice work !!

[@jeffmontgomery7885]

Thanks Jay!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

You're welcome, Jeff. Thanks for watching and writing. Be sure to subscribe if you haven't already. Best Regards, DFJ

[@ericawalling2716]

This is exactly what I’m looking for! Thank you 😃. I can’t wait until I get mine 🤗

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Hope you like it! Make sure to follow up with us and let us know how well it works for you. You can correspond directly with us at [e-mail]. Thanks for watching and writing! Best, DFJ

[@marshallborder9089]

Thanks I just go by the gauge on my Delta 14" band saw and have wondered about how acute it was. plan on checking this out ....

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Marshall, thanks for watching and writing. We used this on my brother's big resaw bandsaw on a 3/4" blade, and was able to verify the on-board gauge was accurate. Let's hope you have the same experience! Best Regards, DFJ

[@michelboucher8180]

Merci , pour le extension je viens de commander le mien. Continuez avec vos bon conseil.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Merci. J'espère que vous apprécierez l'outil autant que moi. Meilleur, Dirt Farmer Jay

[@WasimBarri]

Brilliant video, thank you! I just ordered one. BTW ignore the comment about this being spam. Its a useful product that you obviously believe in and recommend, otherwise you wouldn't have made the video. I have 3/16" blades on my bandsaw for small radii. Do the little orange gauges have a 3/16" notch and if not how do I use the jig to tension 3/16"?

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks for weighing in. We do indeed find this to be useful so we are pleased to tell our viewer family about it. There is a 3/16" setting on the gauge, so you will find it ready to go for your saw. Thanks for watching and writing! Best, DFJ

[@WasimBarri]

@@DirtFarmerJay Actually Jay there are two versions of this, the mini which covers 3/16" and the original which starts at 1/4". As I use 3/16" to 5/8" I've actually got to buy both and I only ordered the original. So yes I am disappointed. I'm sure I'm not the only one that uses 3/16" blades for tight curves eg bandsaw boxes and larger blades for resawing on a standard 14" bandsaw. I guess I can put a 1/16" stick at the end of the 1/4" notch and turn it into 3/16"

[@RJN31428]

I ordered one. How to I tension a 1/8" blade on my 12" bandsaw?

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Ray, there are two models EZTension has. One is the original, and the other is the mini. These are mentioned in the video, and if I understand you correctly, you are saying that you have a 12", likely a bench model saw? If so, you will likely need the mini. The original requires 6" of blade exposed to use, whereas the mini requires only 4". Once you have the gauge, you will simply need to unplug the saw, raise the guide/guard, and affix the EZTension to the untensioned blade using the two magnets, and the fulcrum screw set to 1/8" (using the included setting gauge). Then tighten the blade tension knob slowly until one of the magnets releases. Your blade is then tensioned properly. To make your saw and compression spring last longer, you should untension the blade when the saw is going to be idled for anything longer than a day. I hope this helps! Thanks for watching and writing! Best, DFJ

[@mikes.8278]

I owe Mark, the owner of EZTension, a sincere apology. I had originally posted a comment here out of frustration of not receiving a response from Mark when I purchased EZTension and it was missing one of the gauges. As it turns out, Mark did respond immediately and repeatedly, however, my email system blocked his responses every time (I did check my junk folder on my computer which had no emails at all in my junk folder. It was not until Mark posted a response here did I check the junk folder on my phone email system, and sure enough, his email was in my phone junk folder). Not only did Mark respond timely, his customer service actually exceeded my expectations in how he did respond by not just sending the missing part, but sending a brand new jig. Rookie mistake on my part. My apologies, Mark! I look forward to receiving the jig and trying it out on my bandsaw.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Mike, sorry to hear of your poor experience with this. We are very pleased with the products, so let me check in tomorrow and see if I can get some action on this for you. Thanks for taking time to write and sharing your experience with your fellow viewers.

[@mjsworkshop]

Hi Mike. I responded to your email the day after receiving it. Sorry we didn’t include the 5/8” 3/4” setter. I sent another gauge on Monday evening (so out with Tuesday’s mail). I’ve responded 5 times now so I suspect my emails are going into your spam folder. Please check your spam folder!

[@gaylenpetsche9833]

Do you have to have the tension lever engaged while using this gauge or is this adjusted with the tension lever relaxed?

[@billstortz5046]

Engaged.

[@alidjillali7450]

Bonjour 🇩🇿🌹🇩🇿 Salutations

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Salutations back to you Ali Djillali. Best, DFJ

[@jsaurman]

Wow, turned a thirty second video into an 11:41 long video. You win the Verbose Champion award for today.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Why, thank you, Jim!

[@legend6591]

I have been trying to contact the maker via their website "contact us". No replies yet. Are they still in business?

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Carl, indeed they are in business. I'll reach out to the company and have them check for your inquiry. Is your inquiry under the same screen name you've used here?

[@legend6591]

@@DirtFarmerJay I used their site to contact them, it asked for my email but no screen name, thanks.

[@tiredofit1429]

Dude. I'll just tension the blade like I'm used to doing. It's quicker than watching you rambling on.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks for stopping by. Best, DirtFarmer "Dude" Jay

[@bradhansen3503]

This video is nothing but spam

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Brad, thanks for expressing your opinion, even if I can't agree with you. We readily share tools, solutions, methods and products that we find helpful. For someone that needs a quick, economical and dependable method to adjust the tension on a bandsaw, this is a great approach. I define spam as something that has no worth, but this little device has been very helpful for us and it's our pleasure to pass it on. Best Regards, DFJ

[@WasimBarri]

Does Jay make money out of this video? Where does he have a link to buy it? Its ridiculous comments like this that stops people like Jay making great and informative videos. I'd suggest you stop watching

[@bradhansen3503]

I stand corrected. I just watched it again. My initial assessment was too pessimistic. Sorry for the negativity. I owe you an apology.