Comments on: Bandsaw: hand tool with a motor

By: J Nelson

J Nelson — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:06:48 +0000

I’m more comfortable with a bandsaw than a tablesaw.

I think resawing is one of the best advertisements for bandsaws. Rather than wasting expensive wood by running a board through a planer you can cut off thin slices of wood and save them for verneer. A tuned bandsaw is capable of making very fine cuts. Because bandsaw blades are thinner you tend to waste less wood on any kind of cut.

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:49:28 +0000

Thanks for the comments.

Here’s what works for me: I like Timberwolf blades from Suffolk Machinery. http://www.suffolkmachinery.com

For cutting legs out of 8/4 or 12/4 stock, and for general curved work in 3/4 stock, I like a 3/8″ width, .025″ thick, 6 tpi “PC” blade. PC is Positive Claw is their name for hook teeth in a skip tooth pattern. About $25. I use gradual, sweeping curves in my work so the 3/8″ blade turns those just fine, and has more body than a 1/4″, though I guess the latter is more versatile for most woodworkers.

For resawing, I like a 3/4″ width, .025″ thick, 2-3 tpi “VPC” blade. VPC is Variable Positive Claw which is a hook tooth with a variable pitch to reduce vibration. About $35. A carbide tipped blade has been on my wish list for a while but this blade does a good job.

Rob

By: Jeff Kirby

Jeff Kirby — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:49:11 +0000

My bandsaw is easily the most used powertool in my shop, but I never thought of it as a “motorized hand tool.” I have to admit that it’s a very good description, though. What are the two main blades that you spoke of using? I seem to have either a 1/2″ 3 TPI or a 1/4″ 4 TPI on my saw, but I’ve wondered what I could do with a very narrow (1/8″? 3/16″?) blade.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:05:09 +0000

I think this is why the bandsaw is often referred to as the neanderthal’s apprentice. Although I have slid down the slope into galootdom, and my table saw sits sadly in a corner as a glorified assembly table, I continually go back to my bandsaw for all manner of tasks. It has to be one of the most valuable tools in my shop.

By: Black

Black — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:50:59 +0000

Well said Bob!
I’ve been meaning to write something along these very lines myself,you’ve saved me the the hassle.I love my bandsaw & do indeed consider it a hand tool & even although it is only a small beastie,Scheppachs Basato 3,I have managed some quite meaty jobs,namely sawing up some 75mm thick aluminium stock!
Cheers mate,
Black

By: Tico vogt

Tico vogt — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:39:55 +0000

Hi Rob,

Agree about the points you’ve made here. It’s a wonderful tool. I remember seeing a nice photo in one of James Krenov’s book of him cutting out shelf support pegs. Also, in Sam Maloof’s book where he was shaping a chair arm. The versatile tasks it performs!

When my son was little the bandsaw in my shop became the sword fabricator par excellence. “Dad, can you make Avi a sword” Buzz, buzz, “Here you go.” “How about one for Sean?” “Okay…” buzz, buzz…

I envy the time you’ve spent researching all those variables. I grabbed a (badly) reconditioned 1940s Delta 20 ” when I was starting out and it has never been really right, so many problems. One of these days I’ll get a new one and really live a little!

Tico