Tension or not?

[Jim McDonald]

Steve Good brought up a somewhat interesting topic a day or so back:

When you are not using your saw, do you release the blade tension?

[LarryEA]

Sometimes I do but mostly 'no'. 

I see no advantage or disadvantage to leaving the tension on.

[kmmcrafts]

Don't remember which brand new saw I purchased that stated in the manual to never leave tension on the blade when not in use or you could damage the saw... What struck me as funny... the saw was shipped with a tensioned blade in it..

[trackman]

Anytime something has pull on it either mechanical or gravity something has to give at some point.  May not break but will weaken to the point that the pull, pressure, is released. 

[Rockytime]

I release it ONLY when I change blades or move to a new hole.

[Roberta Moreton]

I release it when not using it. 

[lawson56]

I release it going from hole to hole as well.

[woodduck]

I usually release it unless I forget.

[dgman]

1 hour ago, woodduck said:

I usually release it unless I forget.

Ditto

 

[Fedido]

I release mine just because it is a habit to do things like this. Just try to take care of the equipment.

[crupiea]

Even if I look away or get up to do something i always release the tension.  Real anal about it. 

 

[jollyred]

I release the tension and raise the upper arm on my DW788 every time,  This leaves it ready for the next project which usually have an inside hole to cut.

Tom

[Woodrush]

I always release it. 

[Denny Knappen]

I will ditto woodduck

[danny]

I feel like certain others.  Keeping the tension on will weaken the Blade in the long run. 

I have a Hegner and think I learned about Blade Tension when I started Scrolling way

back in 2007 and first began on Steve Goods Forum.  Lots of To Each His Own here.  Danny  :+}

[jerry1939]

For all you nice people that believe that tension should be releases to protect saw bearings and/or not shorten blade life;

1. When driving over a bridge, keep in mind that before the beams are poured, a lot of cables are tensioned in the form first & the concrete poured next.  It is the cables that provide the tensile strength to support the load of the bridge & the traffic.  Those cables have been under tension since the beams were poured.

2. Bearings.  The bearings in your vehicle wheels & axles  have had the weight of the vehicle on them since it left the factory.

IF it makes YOU feel good to release the tension, by all means continue to do so, but there is absolutely no advantage to it.

jerry

[kmmcrafts]

50 minutes ago, jerry1939 said:

 

2. Bearings.  The bearings in your vehicle wheels & axles  have had the weight of the vehicle on them since it left the factory.

 

jerry

Not on my car!! I fill the tires with helium so there is less weight... gotta watch the speeds on those small bridges so we don't come off the ground..  

[trackman]

Let a car sit without driving for several years and see how long bearings an seals last. Bridges have the tension figured in at construction and the concrete stables it. Until winter an traffic works on it. 

[jerry1939]

6 hours ago, trackman said:

Let a car sit without driving for several years and see how long bearings an seals last. Bridges have the tension figured in at construction and the concrete stables it. Until winter an traffic works on it. 

Not really apples to apples. Letting something set "for several years" will cause the grease to set up and harden.
I spent a bunch of time in the concrete business. All the tensioned cables are coated with plastic, because as you said, without it, brine on the road would rust the cables. Bridges are always the lowest spot in a road, therefore, brine accumulates there. Concrete is porous. If you fill a concrete vessel with water, it will slowly seep out.  There are a host of older, smaller bridges that have re-rods in them. They are rusting out, but the politicians would rather spend money on parks & bike trails.  You get more votes that way.

jerry

[Rolf]

I prefer to release the tension. I am more comfortable removing the pre-load from the bearings especially when I won't be scrolling for a while.

[OCtoolguy]

I agree with everything that has been said here. I hate to take sides. LOL.

 

[trackman]

Me too LOL  

[Puzzleguy]

every single time Im done with the saw for the day -

the tension comes off - think its smart and helps the longevity

of the saw- have done this since day 1 

[oldhudson]

I release the tension on the scroll saw, band saw, belt sander and my Shopsmith which has variable speed belt drive. I wish releasing MY tension were that simple.

[don watson]

Always take the tension off (when I remember).