Resaw Bandsaw Blade Setup: Cool Blocks and GuidePRO Tips
By Infinity Cutting Tools | Premium Woodworking Tools ... | Published: 2026-11-01
Category: How-to Guides
Set up a resaw bandsaw blade in the right order: tension, guide blocks, featherboard pressure, then a test cut. Includes Cool Blocks and GuidePRO placement tips.
Quick answer
Tension the blade first, then set the upper and lower guides, then place the featherboard, and only then make a test cut. Changing the order usually means redoing guide adjustment after the blade moves under tension.
Why guide blocks come after tension, not before
A resaw blade stretches and shifts slightly when you bring it up to tension. If you set the guide blocks first, that movement throws off the clearance you just dialed in. Tension first, then guides, keeps the setup stable.
Cool Blocks are made from a graphite-impregnated phenolic laminate with synthetic dry lubricants. The point is to reduce the heat and friction of metal-to-metal contact without leaving the blade oily, which matters on long resaw cuts where the blade runs hot.
Where the featherboard earns its keep
A resaw featherboard holds the stock against the fence and applies pressure along the leading edge. That is what reduces vibration and keeps the infeed smooth, especially on tall, narrow workpieces where your hands cannot apply steady side pressure.
Place it so it presses the stock into the fence before the blade, not past it. Pressure after the blade does nothing useful and can pinch the kerf.
When to skip the featherboard
Short or irregular pieces may not have enough straight edge for a featherboard to grip safely. In that case, use a push block and keep your hands out of the blade line instead of forcing the featherboard to work.
Resaw setup steps in order
- Tension the blade for resawing: Raise the upper guide to clear the stock height, then bring the blade up to resaw tension per your saw's indicator. Common mistake: tensioning with the guides already set, which shifts the blade after adjustment. Recheck tension after the first cut; new blades can settle.
- Adjust the upper and lower guide blocks: Set Cool Blocks or your guide blocks so they clear the blade teeth and support the blade body just behind the gullets. Spin the wheels by hand to confirm no contact through a full revolution. Common mistake: setting blocks against the teeth instead of the blade body. If the blade rubs at one point in the rotation, the blade or wheel may be out of true.
- Set the thrust bearing clearance: Position the rear thrust bearing so it sits just behind the blade with a small gap, then confirm it only contacts the blade under cutting load. Common mistake: leaving the bearing touching the blade at rest, which adds heat.
- Place the resaw featherboard: Mount the GuidePRO or your featherboard so it presses the stock into the fence just before the blade, with fingers angled slightly toward the infeed. Common mistake: positioning it past the blade, where it cannot guide the cut. Test the pressure by sliding a scrap piece; it should move smoothly without binding.
- Make a test cut on scrap: Resaw a piece of scrap the same height as your workpiece and check the kerf for drift. If the blade wanders, revisit tension and guide clearance before cutting good stock. Common mistake: skipping the test cut and discovering drift mid-piece. Keep the test offcut as a reference for the next setup.
Setup parts that change the result
- Infinity Tools Resaw Bandsaw Blades: Infinity Tools Resaw Bandsaw Blades are available in multiple blade lengths and widths. Match the length to your saw and pick a width suited to the resaw height you plan, since both affect how the blade tensions and tracks.
Infinity Tools Resaw Bandsaw Blades - Cool Blocks For Bandsaw: Cool Blocks are made from graphite-impregnated phenolic laminate containing synthetic dry lubricants. They lubricate the blade without leaving it oily, which helps on long resaw cuts where metal guide blocks would add heat and friction.
Cool Blocks For Bandsaw - BOW Products GuidePRO Resaw Featherboard for Bandsaws: The BOW Products GuidePRO Resaw Featherboard is an easy-to-install guide that applies consistent pressure along the leading edge. Consistent infeed pressure reduces vibration and helps deliver a smoother resaw cut with less hand fatigue.
