WoodCentral Forums

Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge

Band saw is vertically challenged

Posts

Re: Band saw is vertically challenged

#26

It'll take big wood...

david weaver

..since you're not claiming the entire blade length, I think I am going to try putting 3 feet of it in a light frame. It's an interesting dilemma, because it's too thin and short to survive in a large frame saw where it will twist and wobble, except in the case where the frame is very light (that'll lead to bending).

My mock up of a frame saw (I call it that, because I intended to build a nicer frame, but have never seen the reason so far) is offcuts from my bench (ash) and mostly just screwed together, but pressure only goes on it one way and not on the joints. This blade wouldn't survive in it (at 4 feet) even with two users.

BUT, what I think might be interesting is if I can find that in big wood, a lighter shorter saw with so few teeth turns out to do as well. My frame saw does well, certainly is easy to use and far easier than using a hand saw (and faster), but part of the price to pay for all of the alignment and stiffness of the saw plate is friction from it.

It's worth experimenting. I've found segments of carbon steel bandsaw blades to work well in turning saws that I have dedicated to cutting thick stock (where a smaller tooth count and less set often leads to very hot blades and a very hot saw user).

Wax helps, of course. It'll take boards probably 6 or 8 inches wide at least to be able to even start a saw blade with 1 tooth per inch. Not purpleheart, either.

Re: Band saw is vertically challenged

#27

Re: It'll take big wood...

William Duffield

No purpleheart? :( That was going to be my first test of it.

My frame (see link in my previous post above) is also pretty light, but I think even more important is a small goof I made when making its M&T joints. I got them a little loose, and when the blade is tensioned, the frame wants to twist. (I built it before I got my domino joiners.) That makes it a little more difficult to steer accurately, and makes it more difficult to power through when there are insufficient teeth engaged in the cut.

Re: Band saw is vertically challenged

#28

Re: Band saw is vertically challenged

Buckaroo

oh, if that old tree could talk, the tails it could,,,...

👍 This page answered my questions

Your vote helps other woodworkers quickly find the answers and techniques that actually work in the shop.