| Project by BeachedBones | posted 292 days ago | 1644 views | 11 times favorited | 10 comments |  |
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I’ve got a big cheesy grin from this project. I picked up my first bandsaw a couple months ago. So it wasn’t long before the “thrifty” side of me decided that yeah, picking up old wood and pallets was fine… but you know… there’s an awful lot of free wood in the form or trees hanging around. And sooner or later a windstorm will bring some of it down. Usually it gets nicely chopped up and given away to anyone who can use firewood. So….. obviously I needed a Lumber Jig to cut some of that wood up into manageable project pieces! Am I right? I don’t know but it’s fun anyways.
I started off with an L shape piece of plywood, added some tracks to follow the miter slots on my band saw, and a 2X2 to keep the deck from flexing. Added some supports on both ends of the log cradle. The one on the outfeed side slides in a groove and is held down by a small clamp. Both ends are pinched over the log with a long bar clamp. There is also a stop under the jig that grabs the bandsaw table just as the back support kisses the blade. That keeps the jig from rocking foreward under the weight of the log. The back support also acts as a shield to keep anything from flying back at me in case a blade breaks or anything. I made the two handles to help me get a better grip on the jig because it can be tricky to control the jig and a heavy log. I cut a spare piece of post to support the jig as I load up and position a log. That just gets pushed aside when I’m ready to cut.
I’ve had fun cutting up some birch, cedar, ash and oak logs so far, the biggest being a 8”X10”X28” piece of oak. The jig can only cut up to 8” thick and about 3 feet long.
-- You know.... I think that old wood needs to be furniture.
10 comments so far
aldente
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122 posts in 313 days
posted 292 days ago
great idea! Thanks.
-- Rodd, Texas grandpa
SCOTSMAN
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2244 posts in 484 days
posted 292 days ago
yes that’s the safe way to do it Alistair
-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease
PirateOfCatan
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53 posts in 298 days
posted 292 days ago
If our property had more trees then this would be a great way to talk The Wife into buying a bandsaw.
The handles are a nice touch. If you start to find the logs rotating or slipping, then shooting some 1” screws through your clamp blocks should give a little more grip. Great way to get some cheap lumber.
-- P.O.C.
BeachedBones
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187 posts in 301 days
posted 292 days ago
I don’t even have so much as a shrub on my property… You just have to keep an eye out.
The handles were traced off an old handsaw that is very comfortable in my hands. Then cut out on the band saw. See how useful they are? I’m pulling for ya. With the large plywood surfaces I get a firm grip on the log as long as the ends of the log are close to square. I’ve been squaring them up by placing the log sideways in the jig first and niping the ends off. But as you say, it’s always nice to have the option of screwing it in.
-- You know.... I think that old wood needs to be furniture.
woodyoda
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121 posts in 356 days
posted 292 days ago
Nice slide, kinda bulky though…..how about a quick grip attached to the slide slot on your band saw….think that could work?.............yoda
Scott Bryan
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20784 posts in 721 days
posted 292 days ago
This is a nice project. I have one of these on my to do list. I like the idea of using a handsaw as a template.
Good idea.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
TopamaxSurvivor
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3072 posts in 575 days
posted 292 days ago
Great idea!! Thanks for posting it.
-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.
dustygirl
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767 posts in 627 days
posted 291 days ago
I’ve been wondering the best way to do this.Thanks so much for the posting.
-- Dustygirl..Hastings,Ontario.. How much wood can 1 gal chuck if 1 gal can't cut wood?
BlueStingrayBoots
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465 posts in 901 days
posted 282 days ago
Be careful! I been there done that. No accidents, I’m glad to say.
ahock
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72 posts in 223 days
posted 187 days ago
Ok, now off to find a bandsaw…
-- Finding satisfaction in creation