LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Another x2 bandsaw thread

1K views 7 replies 7 participants last post by  swayze 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I was reading the other bandsaw post and have some questions and didn't want to take over his thread. I am thinking of getting the grizz 555 bandsaw this summer and was going to put off the incra TS fence and router combo till next year but now I am wondering how much I need the bandsaw. So here are the questions;

1- resaw, resaw, resaw, what the heck are guys resawing all the time? Do you have a source of thick wood that is cheap or what??? What am I missing?

2- how much do you use it? I can see using it to cut curves, and maybe tenons but what else? 10 years ago I made 6 oak dining chairs and cut all the back curved legs with a jigsaw. Would have loved a bandsaw then.

3- anything else you can add lets hear it.

Maybe I just shouldn't have watched all of Incra videos - again. LOL
 
#2 ·
from what I have looked at, you can do bunches with a bandsaw and jigs… crosscut, ripcut, resaw, resaw, did I mention resaw.. also curved cuts.. I would guess most tools can do what other tools can do, just done differently, +/- accuracy and speed.
 
#3 ·
This is another one of those "it depends on what you want to do" situations.

I use my bandsaw quite a bit and, yes, I resaw quite a bit. I often work with exotic woods (bubinga, padauk, wenge, etc.) and most of that wood is normally sold in boards that are 4/4 or thicker. If I am building a box I usually want sides and tops that are around 1/2" think. Planing them down to the desired thickness would waste a lot of valuable wood.

I also turn bowls and usually I start with a square blank. A minute on the bandsaw and I can convert a square blank to a round blank and have some wood from the corners that could be used for small accent pieces.

Final example - I took down a tree on my property recently. On stock up to 12" in diameter I used the bandsaw to "mill" the lumber into boards.

There are many more uses for a bandsaw - but these are some that I use quite a bit.
 
#4 ·
I am always ripping with mine. I'll rip thin strips and sand or plane them smooth. I'll split stock in half, I'll rip wane off the edge of a piece, quick and handy like that in prep work of rough pieces, in that it's a lot more forgiving when working with uneven rough stock, to rip a piece on the TS it needs to be flat and square to prevent burnning and binding.
 
#5 ·
swayze-for me it is a story of progression. I have never owned a bandsaw, but as my woodworking skills have progressed I continually see the need for one in my shop.

Up to now I am either finding other more time-consuming,wood-wasting, or even more dangerous ways to accomplish tasks that I could easily complete with a BS, or I am paying someone else to cut the stock on their saw.

Like Rich said above, I would like to limit the waste of some of the more exotic/expensive woods, make book matched panels, cut my own lumber from logs, and even begin making my own veneers.

Add to that the miriad of jigs you can create that wintersedge aluded too and my affliction with tool envy…..and I just gotta have one…hehe
 
#6 ·
  • resaw, resaw, resaw, what the heck are guys resawing all the time?**

I bought my bandsaw for some curves and because it was a great deal. As soon as I had it I ended up resawing after never having too in the past.

Having the capacity creates an ability to do things you couldn't in the past so you are now free to come up with ideas that require that capacity.

I default to leaving the resaw blade on the saw I use it so much now.
 
#8 ·
Well I have gotten by without one till now but it would have made a few projects much easier. But I think I will get the Incra set-up first. I am sick of fighting with my MLCS router stand. The slide attachement is great for some things but getting at the bit for changes is a nightmare. Plus the incra will give me more cutting capacity on the tablesaw. Thanks for all the responses.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top