Techniques for getting The Most From Your Band Saw
by:SUMWIC Machinery
2020-07-05
Any band saw can resaw. The question is: 'How well and how thick?' The first thing you need to decide is if resawing on this band saw is an action in which you'll engage repeatedly, sometimes or not at all. For folks who don't know, resawing is the ability to mow thin slices or veneers out of a board standing on its advantage on the band saw table, while being guided along a high fence. Where this becomes profitable happens you are trying to obtain maximum use out of especially fine, beautiful, expensive hardwood board.
For example, I once made a lot of jewelry boxes with 3/8' thick sides. Bearing in mind that I had to sand all of the sides flat and smooth, I discovered that I could barely get 2 slices regarding a 1' thick board or 3 slices out of a 1 1/2' board or 4 slices involving a 2' thick game board. You need to allow 1/16' kerf waste for most band saw blades plus more if your blade wanders, which all blades do to a specialized extent. Then all unevenness has to be sanded away in a drum sander or wide belt sander. In the final analysis, you can't realistically expect to get two finished 3/8' box sides out of a board that is only 3/8'+3/8' +1/6' = 13/16' sound. You will need not much less than a full 1' thickness within your original board. Since most hardwood lumber is sold milled down to 7/8' for a so-called 1' board, you are along with only getting one, 3/8' slice, not two. On the other hand hand, most 2' lumber comes milled down one 7/8', which allows you to get three 3/8' pieces out, saving you riches.
The more your band saw blade deviates from one straight line, the more thickness you will desire. The important thing is to diminish this wandering and there are five ways to do this: (1) blade tension (maximum recommended to prevent the blade from flexing), (2) blade width (the wider, the better for rigidity), (3) blade type (designed specifically for resawing), (4) motor power (to push the blade through the wood without slowing down) and (5) blade guides (the more blade control, the better).
If you plan on doing a lot of resawing, look at the specifications of band saws you are considering for purchase, in light of what has been said preceding. If resawing doesn't seem like it plays a large part with your future, then you are usually more interested in cutting curves in thinner content. In this case, the throat depth of the band saw becomes another thing because, on a little band saw, you will be constantly bumping into the rear of the throat and you may not be able to finish the curved cut lines you have marked online.
Any 14-inch band saw will severely limit the width of cuts you may make to the left from the blade, so think about if this will present a problem for you can. If you are planning on just removing tiny parts, fine. Alternatively, if you want in order to larger parts for furniture, then a tiny band saw just won't do. Of course, there is no restriction on the right of the blade, on the 14' (or any other) band saw, except that you may have to furnish auxiliary support for your work piece if it extends very far off the fringe of the table. Throat depth is not so much of an obstacle when you might be using the band saw for resawing, although, for resawing, you will need to ponder the maximum distance between the table top and the upper blade guide. That distance determines how wide a board you can resaw in the band saw.
When buying a band saw, realize that an 18' band saw will enable a full 18' between the blade and the back of the throat. Band saws are dimensioned from the outside diameter of their wheels. These wheels are mounted inside the cabinet, one above the table and the other, below. Actually, there is a top cabinet which includes a bottom cabinet connected by 'column'. The blade travels upwards from the bottom (powered) wheel through and inside the column to the top level (idler) wheel before reversing direction and going downwards through the top blade guide, then the table, then the bottom blade guide before returning into the bottom wheel.
Because the column uses up a certain amount of room, an 18' band saw will not have had a full 18' neck of. It will be something less than that, perhaps 17 1/2' (if you are lucky) and 17'. So, if you need a full 18' of clearance, you will need to have a 20' band saw. Prices increase with throat depth simply because as throat depth gets larger, the wheels and the cabinets must grow accordingly. In short, the whole machine gets larger.
Small band saws with small wheels may not necessarily high enough to lay on the floor like bigger ones. With small band saws, you must either attach them to a bench top or buy or construct a stand. Usually the stand is part of the price tag on the smaller saws. Conversely, when working on truly large, industrial band saw, realize that the tale top will be superb off the floor to match the lower wheel and its cabinet.
When you order blades for your band saw, accomplish in quantity. There are only a few sure things in life and blade breakage is one associated with these. Always have additional band blades on hand an individual don't risk breaking your only blade right in the biggest market of a job. Anyone do order blades, you can usually find the lowest prices online a person will need to allow for delivery time and freight costs. You can purchase blades directly through saw maker however it's usually more reasonable to purchase them from a vendor who specializes in band saw saw blades. If you can't find the precise size your band saw needs, can easily ordinarily have your blades custom-welded for any length you choose.
There are times when you want a given band saw blade for a certain use like resawing. Here, the challenge is to obtain a moderately smooth cut but not to own so many teeth that it causes an excessive associated with friction, heat and wandering. In a case like that, it is advisable to buy directly of this maker of your band saw. Band saw blades in order to cut tight curves are as narrow as 1/8'. For most curves, I discovered 1/4' blades with regard to satisfactorily narrow. The narrower the blade, the more likely it will be to break quickly but it can track tighter curves than wider razors. For really tight curves, a scroll saw may thought to be better tool compared to a band saw. Resaw blades should be as wide when your band saw can fit.
There are two basic kinds of blade guides on band saws: 'blocks' and 'ball bearing guides'. Blocks can be accomplished out of smooth metal, non-metallic composite or ceramic fabric. Ball bearing guides are more costly but are in an easier way on blades given that there is negligible friction and, therefore, less heat. Are usually side guides in any band saw cease the blade from moving left or right and a single block or bearing behind the band saw blade to prevent it from moving backward when pressure is applied to the front of the blade by the project piece. After-market ball bearing guides with full installation instructions can be ordered from manufacturers like Carter. The more costly band saws come already equipped with ball bearing guides.
Like other stationary power tools, industrial-sized band saws usually have three-phase motors. You ought not to consider purchasing such an example unless you have three-phase power available at the location the will be locating the saw. Three-phase power is usually only obtainable from the power company in manufacturing or commercial areas and cannot be discovered in residential towns. The only way to have three-phase power in non commercial woodworking shop has been a phase converter that is sufficient for the power requirement of your largest three-phase engine's motor. If you plan on running more than one three-phase motor attending the time, you require a correspondingly larger phase converter. There are two types of phase converters: Rotary (looks like a big electric motor) and electronic. Rotary is better if you locate it. Search for phase converters the internet.
A two-speed band saw is advantageous if you are preparing to cutting metal or very dense hard woods. Running the band saw on the slow setting means that while it will take longer to make cuts, it will reduce heat from friction and extend blade life. Metal cutting band blades are widely eligible cutting mild steel and non-ferrous mining harvests. Never use a metal cutting band saw blade to wood. Never make use of a wood-cutting band saw blade to cut metal.
Some band saw wheels are bare metal. If you want to use narrow blades, your band saw wheels should have rubber 'tires' tend to be glued onto or inserted into grooves in the metal band saw engine's wheels. These tires are usually crowned. By adjusting the blade tracking device, you will get the blade to be one position around the tires or metal wheels.
Another adjustment moves the upper band saw wheel vertically to increase or decrease blade hassle. You will need to remove this tension to change band saw blades and, on the newer band saws, you can usually find a lever that does this for you. If not, you may need to loosen the tension control enough to a new blade on the auto tires. Then re-apply the tension, using the blade tension scale, appropriate to the blade width you're using. Wide blades will need more tension than narrow blades. Narrow blades can break if too much tension is applied. Large band saw blades can wander out of the band saw wheels if less than sufficient tension is utilised. Always refer to the tension scale on your band saw. Don't estimate.
After the band saw blade is tensioned properly, stop running power to the motor and turn the top wheel by hand to verify that the band saw blade is tracking properly. If not, make slow tilt adjustments on the upper wheel up until the band saw blade stays in because of bulimia is center of both wheels. A hand wheel or knob is provided on any band saw for this intent. If the wheels are slightly regarding alignment with respect to each other, you can still track a band saw blade. In this case, the band saw blade will be more to the back of one wheel while being more to the front of the other wheel. This discrepancy should eventually be adjusted or 'tuned' out of your band saw, but, for now, it's OK as long as the band saw blade stays on the wheels while cutting. Turn out to be the band saw blade tracking properly, reconnect the power and start cutting down.
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