Band Saw Tires: Rubber Or Polyurethane?
Posted on: 17 November 2015
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When it comes to your bandsaw, you want to ensure that it will run continuously and without jerky motions. Part of how well your saw runs depends on maintenance while the other part relies on quality replacement parts. Regardless of whether you own and operate a vertical band saw or a horizontal one, you will need band saw "tires" and "wheels" to make it operate as it should. The question here that always trips wood shop owners up is: rubber tires or polyurethane? Here are the facts on both types so that you can decide for yourself the next time you are about to purchase replacement band saw tires.
Rubber
Rubber band saw tires are cheap, compared to polyurethane. They are easy to find, and most hardware stores carry them. Depending on the size and thickness that you need, rubber band saw tires run anywhere from just a few dollars to just under a hundred dollars. They have just the right amount of give and are easily stretched over a band saw wheel. When you pick one up, it will probably remind you of the rubber vacuum belts used to keep the vacuum brushes spinnning while the vacuum's motor sucks up dirt. The vacuum belts and rubber saw tires are essentially made of the same thing, which also means that they have many of the same properties and qualities.
Polyurethane
While polyurethane band saw tires are more expensive than their rubber counterparts, they also last much longer. Rubber has a tendency to overheat during use, which causes the rubber tires to expand, come loose and/or snap. Polyurethane, on the other hand, can withstand the friction and heat for much longer because it does not melt, whereas rubber can melt when too hot and/or overworked.
Additionally, polyurethane does not crack, dry out, peel, shred or harden like rubber can under different shop circumstances. It remains constant in its material qualities. That also makes polyurethane band saw tires very reliable and predictable as far as maintenance and replacement are concerned.
One of the only drawbacks to using polyurethane over rubber may be the fact that it does not stretch as easily as rubber, but once you have mounted the polyurethane band saw tire on its wheel, it stays put until you change it. (One of the other drawbacks is that you may have to order polyurethane tires online or special order them through a hardware store, especially if you are looking for less common sizes.)