: 3. Contrary to some folks, I bring my guides up to and touch the blade on
: both sides, just behind the set in the teeth. ( With the saw Unplugged ) I
: adjust the guides to the point where touch the blade on both sides ( NOT
: moving the blade either way )and then rotate the wheel by hand to see that
: there IS contact but no binding. It turns free, but squeaks a little bit.

I do this with Cool Blocks, but doing so with steel blocks can overheat the blade if you're not careful. I've found that Cool Blocks work pretty well and they won't damage the blade teeth if you screw up the adjustment.

: 8. About buying blades: I never buy store bought blades. I always take the
: measurement from my blades and go to the tool/saw sharpening shop and if
: it's a good/big shop, they have rolls of bandsaw blade stock and will cut
: and weld you a new blade right there. I have ALWAYS found these blades to
: be of better quality than the store bought variety. And Cheaper!!

Hmmm, I guess I'll have to see if my local sharpening shop makes blades. FWIW, I've had decent luck with Olson blades. Sears blades are junk, in my experience. Timberwolf blades are supposed to be superbe, but I haven't tried one yet.