Laguna Tools Dake VDL-18, Instructional Manual

 Dake Corporation 

1809 Industrial Park Dr 

Grand Haven, MI 49414 

www.dakecorp.com 

Part# VDL-18 

11 

 REV#082020 

Adjustments 

General Instructions: 

Below are some basic instruction to properly operate the VDL-18 bandsaw machine. 

1.  Make sure the blade is properly adjusted for tension and tracking. 

2.  Adjust blade guide assembly so that the guide guides are just above the workpiece (about 

3/16”) allowing minimum exposure to the blade.  

3.  If using the fence, move it into position and lock it to the guide rail. If you are using the miter 

gauge for a crosscut, the fence should be moved safely out of the way. 

4.  Turn the machine on and wait a few seconds for the machine to fully get up to speed. 

5.  Place the straightest edge of the workpiece against the fence and push the workpiece slowly 

into the blade. Do not force the workpiece into the blade. Let the blade do the work.  

NOTE: 

(

DO NOT

 over feed that bandsaw blade. This will reduce blade life and have a greater 

chance of breaking the blade). 

6.  When cutting long stock, the operator should use roller stands, support tables, or an assistant 

to help stabilize the workpiece. 

7.  When cutting at an angle with a tilted table, provide a guide against which the material being 

cut can rest. Freehand cutting at an angle can result in injury, and maintaining an accurate cut 

is difficult. 

Blade Installation Steps: 

 Disconnect the machine from the power source before making any adjustments. 

1.  Open the top door to the machine. Located on the back side of tensioner wheel is 13mm bolt 

and a ½” nut. Loosen to be finger loose. You 

DO NOT

 need to take the screw all the way out. 

This will save you a headache in the future.  

2.  Lower the tension lever handle down to the minimum position. This will allow the blade to lose 

its tension. 

3.  Loosen the blue blade guides located the adjustable blade guide height also below the 

worktable.  

NOTE

: (Sometimes, the upper wheel might stick in place over time after the tension handle is 

compressed. Spray WD-40 or PB-Blaster in the tensioning slot is located occasionally to 

prevent this from happening. If the wheel is still stuck, pull downward on the wheel to be 

released) 

4.  On the top section door, open the red or yellow magnetic blade guard to expose the blade 

cavity. Finally open the bottom cabinet door to expose the drive pulley of the saw. 

5.  With the bottom door open, locate the plastic blade guide slider that slide between the 

bandsaw blade and remove. 

6.  Remove the throating plate that is surrounding the blade on the worktable. 

7.  Carefully unravel the blade, and slide he blade into the slot leading to the worktable throat 

plate area with the blade teeth facing you. Finally slide the blade into the left-hand side grove 

located on the main frame of the bandsaw.