Poka-Yoke for Bandsaw

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I don't usually release the tension on my bandsaw because I use it every day. But, we were discussing it at our guild meeting and I went home and flipped the lever to release the tension. A couple days ago I was cutting a 12" high piece in the bandsaw and the blade jumped back along side the back bearing and it had never done that before. It did that because I forgot to flip up the tension lever. I cut some thin stock the day before and it cut a little funky but I never gave it any more thought. 
So I made these little Poka-Yoke ( mistake proofing) discs to remind me to tension the blade. They are 3/8" plywood and have a rare earth magnet in the back. I'll stick it on the lever after doing the tensioning. I made an extra one for Bruce who has the  same model Grizzly bandsaw. Besides it gave me another reason to get on the laser today!!
Cheers, Jim

Cheers, Jim ........................ Variety is the spice of life...............Learn something new every day

12 Comments

From failure comes enlightenment!

Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".

good idea jim. but im the same, i never release the tension ! ive never had a problem not doing it !

working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

I knew a guy who always de-tensioned, and he also made his own throat plates. When new he would use a sharpie to write TENSION on each of them so he was looking down at it when he was setting up his cuts. Seemed to work for him. I have tension arms on both of mine, but never use them. If I could swap them I'd have brakes on mine.

I'd never seen, or heard the term Poka-Yoke. I searched it, and evidently I've lived a sheltered life. :-) Looking further I see it's, Poka-yoke (poh-kah yoh-keh) is a tool used in Lean and Six Sigma tooling. manufacturing term. 
I just recently bought a Harvey BS and never had a saw with a tensioner. I took a piece of cloth (about the size of a washcloth and covered the power switch and held it there with a magnet. I needed to move the cloth to the side to hit the switch. That was my way of remembering to set the tension. Then I realized I've owned a bandsaw for over 25 years and never detensioned it. The only time I touch it is to change the blade. Now the rag reminds me to turn on the dust collection. 🤪

.................. John D....................

loving that laser GR8 JOB 😍😎👍

*TONY ** Reinholds* ALWAYS REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN

Thanks Ryan and Larry!!
Hi George. I don't know how many time I'll let the tension down, but now I have a warning sign to use before using it that way. I was in Quality Assurance and set up a lot of Poka-yoke methods to prevent mistakes. People just naturally forget- especially us old folks.

Hi John...did you get the Harvey  Alpha. That looks like a great saw !!

Hi Tony. I am loving the laser. I got my first paying job for it last night. I'm just waiting for the wording they want!.
Cheers, Jim

Cheers, Jim ........................ Variety is the spice of life...............Learn something new every day

 For the reminder sign to work for me, I would have to attach it to the blade for it to do any good.   I typically do not release the tension either but when I do, I also unplug the saw and drape the cord over the tension arm as a reminder.    

--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.

I DT the large BS with the carbide blade, but never the 14". 
Never have made the mistake of starting up without tension, but do feel guilty finding I forgot to DT the large saw between weekends.😔

Cool reminder pucks Jim, may save a blade or even some fingers some day!
Thanks, Bruce,
Hi Lazyman. I think sticking it on the blade would be the ultimate warning location!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers, Jim ........................ Variety is the spice of life...............Learn something new every day

Hi Jim,
Great Safety feature and better for the blade to be de tensioned after use.
Regards......Cliff.
Thanks, Cliff. I use it all the time now. Just put on a new blade today for some tall resawing!

Cheers, Jim ........................ Variety is the spice of life...............Learn something new every day

Those will be helpful.  

daveg, SW Washington & AZ