Band Saw: Why won't my band saw cut straight?

When the band saw cuts crooked, a dull blade, improper feeding, loose blade tension or not using a work piece guide could be the cause. Use the rip fence or miter gauge to guide the work piece uniformly through the cutting blade to make straight cuts.

Using too much force when feeding the work piece through the cutting area can cause the band saw blade to twist and cut the piece crookedly. Use light pressure when feeding the work piece through the cutting area to achieve a straight cut.

A dull blade will twist when cutting the work piece and cut the piece crookedly. You'll also need to push the work piece harder to move it through the cutting area when the blade is dull. If the blade twists and the work piece is harder to push through the cutting area, replace the blade.

Loose blade tension can also cause the blade to twist and veer off course when cutting the work piece. Check blade tension by pressing in on the side of the blade using a gloved finger. Tighten blade tension if you can easily push the blade in more than a 1/4-inch.