Category: band saw

Bandsaw Blues continued .. but this time with some awesome advice.

Wow!  Thanks all for the great comments (see previous post Bandsaw Blues).  I wanted to say a bit more about yee old bandsaw before I respond to all the comments I got.

So my bandsaw is a Grizzly G0555 14″ and its pretty new.  I bought used from a guy who used it once and decided he need a different saw to do metal work.  The saw has a 1 hp motor.

I removed the guides and replace them with Carter Bandsaw guides.  I also upgraded to a Kreg Bandsaw fence.  However, upon reading the latest Fine Woodworking Tools & Shops magazine that just arrive at the house I’m wondering if I should have gotten the Grizzly resaw fence.

I did all this upgrading over a about a year.  The last upgrade I made was to add a riser block to the saw to increase my capacity. 

Prior to this I had the thing set up to make really nice cuts.  I adjusted the fence using the send a board through and teak it method shown in this video by none other than Micheal Fortune and this one at the Wood Whisperer.  Also by adjusting for the drift angle.

Oh, and I installed a Wood Slicer® 1/2″ Resaw Bandsaw Blade.  So, with all this, it should be cutting like a champ, right?

My bet is that I messed up the tensioner when I added the riser block.  I dislike the tensioner on this tool because it’s really hard to adjust.  

Sooo …. now I’m reading the article “5 tips for better band sawing” in Fine Woodworking Dec 2004 (#173)” and headed out to the garage to see if I can fix my tensioner.

Ramped shooting board?

I don’t need no stinkin’ badge ramp!

Ok, not really.  I still want to build one, but I saw this clever trick in Wood Magazine this month.  Putting a small piece of scrap under the edge of the piece you’re shooting creates a ramp and moves the area of blade wear. (see arrow in picture)

This is a great excuse to continue to postpone building the ramped version.  ;o)

Then I made a walnut sandwich.  Ok, not really that either.  I trimmed up the cabinet dividers on the band saw.  Then I cleaned them up with a rasp and a little sandpaper.

The curves will allow a little bit easier access to the cubbies.

Saw Till Glue up

I cut the sides of my saw till to look like .. well, a saw.  At least that's what it looked like to me.  I cut this using the band saw and then used my new Veritas® Low-Angle Spokeshave. Umm .. I've used a spokeshave before and I found it to be a difficult endeavor.  I love my new spokeshave.  Wow! , it was so easy to use and left a beautiful surface.  I'm hooked!

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