Learn How To Set Up Your Bandsaw For Perfect Results
Every woodturner really needs a bandsaw, probably 14″ and above. If you are going to be doing resaw work or making large bowl blanks than think more like 16″ or 18″….always get the biggest you can get. But the fact is if you are a woodturner a good bandsaw is a must!
Its been a while since I posted this video How to Setup Your Bandsaw for woodturning, but I post it because we have new members every month….if we aren’t 15,000 strong we are getting close. So this video will help you understand your bandsaw a little better. You really only need to know some very basics, the guy doing the demonstration is from Carter Products, they have a whole line of bandsaw blades and accessories you should check out their products on Carter Bandsaw Products on Amazon https://amzn.to/2lBtNUq their magnetic fence is really cool and its on my list of things to get of course they have their famous roller guides and a lot more besides just blades that some call the best you can get.
A good group of people to deal with. Family owned company and well knowledged and versed in bandsaws.
The video is a demonstration of some of the very basics that I found I was doing all wrong…..and I’ve had a bandsaw for 20+ years, I adapted his techniques and was able to increase my productiveity and blade life.
Center the Blade on the Wheel?
For instance. Everyone tells you to center the blade on the wheel. He says no, center the deepest part of the gullet in the center. If you do this you will never have to adjust the position of the side bearings. He shows you how to adjust your side rollers if you have them, explains the theory behind what and why he does everything.
Difference between bandsaw blades
He will show you the difference between setting up a narrow blade and a resaw blade, usually on 2 seperate machines for box work and scroll work ….you almost need two machines. and you’ll be able to find out if your table is running true with a simple piece of 2×4.
He makes a lidded box from a piece of green lumber in a bout 1 minute 30 seconds.
How to unfold a bandsaw blade
Of course in the very beginning he goes over how to unfold a bandsaw blade and how to take one off and turn it into a small basket ball size circle for easy stowage …..so simple you will forget it so you better do some screenshots or write it down 🙂
Bandsaw Blades I use to Process My Woodturning Blanks
As a bowl turner I like to do most of my bowl preparation with some jigs I made for my bandsaw that will take a 2′ or 3′ log and I can use it to cut it down the center of the pith or cut it on each side of the pith so there is no pith in my bowl blanks, I usually will put on an 1″ or 1-1/4″ bandsaw blade and spend the day ripping my logs in half. I will then either seal the ends and put them in storage/drying until I can cut some circular blanks using smaller bandsaw blades.
Cutting Wood Bowl Blanks with 3/8″ and 1/2″ Bandsaw Blades
I experimented with 3/8″, 1/2″ 5/8″ bandsaw blades for cutting bowl blanks and I found the 3/8″ blade would have been perfect but I end up with too much drift on big blanks, the 1/2″ works good down to about a 4″ blank and the 5/8″ blade will work on almost anything I through at it. These blades were from www.sawblade.com. They were given to me to do a review on from www.sawblade.com, the order was broke in 2. The first box of blades were the correct length and the second box of blades were 25″ longer …..I was never able to get the correct blades. The first blade I put on, the 5/8 worked like a demon. It cut just about anything I threw at it, but finally it broke.
I tried a 1″ resaw bandsaw blade from www.sawblade.com and it was so dull it couldn’t cut a 2×4 without whining.
I did try another blade, I have to look at my notes, again it seemed like it was either used or made of poor metal because it snapped …..I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHICH ONE IT WAS.
As I said, the 3/8 inch blade, some woodturners swear by this blade would not allow me to cut perfect circles on my bowl blanks that were maybe 6″ thick and green wood. I tried to readjust and reset to no avail. Not sure if I got a bad blade but I was disappointed.
Review of www.Sawblade.com
I wanted to give sawblade.com a good review for their bandsaw blades but number one the whole order did not arriver, half of the blades were backordered. I called, no body knew anything about the order. It finally can and all the blades were 25″ longer than I needed them. To this day, I have not resolved the problems.
(Edit on sawblade.com review) They did contact me after a year but I have been very ill and have not been able to send back blades or pictures. I do think they will help set things right but I was surprised they sent the wrong size out to start with. I would recommend them to others since their service reps were kind and compasionate and seemed anxious to satisfy me.
I have to say that the salesman I talked to that set me up with the order was a cool guy and anxious to help me. He wanted me to try the blades and I was supposed to get a discount code to offer to readers of my blog and facebook group. He went missing in action and so did any customer support.
I think www.sawblade.com has some good products, but they must be working on their customer support since I really did not get any, except for some new guy who calls me every couple months asking me for an order!
I only share the sawblade.com story with you because I really wanted to find the best bandsaw blades for woodturners. And if I could find some good bandsaw blades I wanted to negotiate a discounted price for anyone who might need one or two from both our facebook group, Wood Turning Basics https://www.facebook.com/groups/woodturningbasics and of course to anyone who might visit my blog.
Guess I’ll have to look around and see if I might be able to find another supplier.
Watch the Carter Rep run through some bandsaw basics, you will be amazed https://amzn.to/2lBvmlg and check out some of the Carter accessories for bandsaws that I know you will find helpful!