Cut just off the line and sand to the line

The same way a pianist gets to Carnegie Hall.

Practice, practice, practice.

Only Shroeder plays the piano on the floor.

Lee

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

Jim – lots of tricks. The first is making sure your band saw is properly tuned up, the blade tracks correctly, it’s tensioned correctly etc. It also helps if it is a new blade and good a sharp. Also speed of feed is important – let the saw do the work and don’t push it. The blade may drift a bit from the line – a pivot point fence will help with that. A properly tuned saw should not drift much at all. (Some say a properly tuned saw won’t drift at all – but I’m not there yet.)

You say you are cutting “intricate” cuts. I’m assuming you have then a small blade on the saw. A 1/2” blade does not do intricate cuts.

Hope that helps a little

-- You can't get a hug from Facebook.

I don’t focus on the line, I focus on the 1/16” gap between the line and the blade, when I see the gap changing size I can make a correction before cutting into the line.

As said above, it helps when all the settings are correct that way your not chasing your blade around.

Parctice as been stated before. and no fast cuts make the curves smooth

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

I have not tried this but one of the tricks ive heard about out there is to draw two lines and keep the blade between them. Why that should matter is a mystery – but I guess it fools the brain enough to stay out of trouble…Might give it a try, not going to cost ya anything

Cheers

-- Its never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

Getting it to a comfortable position is probably half the trick :-))

-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.

Jim, All the above. Get your saw to a comfortable height for you. Make sure you have the right size blade for the type cutting you are trying to achieve and that it’s sharp. (A band saw blade doesn’t last as long as we think.) Make sure your bandsaw is clean and tuned. Your guide blocks (top and bottom) need to be square and adjusted properly and the tension on the blade is important. Your stop bearings need to be adjusted properly and running smoothly. Another thing that is seldom done, but will have an affect of the way your saw performs is making sure the rubber is in good condition and “clean” on both your top and bottom wheel…....and one of the hardest things is to “relax” when cutting. Feed rate is important. too fast and you’re pushing the saw and that can force the blade to wander and too slow you will end up with rough cut lines, both causing a lot of sanding. I love making bandsaw boxes, so I’m always cutting curves, following lines and working with thick wood ( 3 to 6” thick) using a 3/16” blade. I have to keep my bandsaw tuned or it will ruin a piece in a heart beat. Hope this will give you some ideas and last but not least…..pratice, pratice and pratice.

-- John @ Myrtle Beach

First, tune up bandsaw, check blade—width, type and sharpness.

Next—Relax. Have you ever tried to carry a full cup of something hot while focusing on the cup. You’ll spill it almost every time. Now, relax and walk normal without worrying about the cup.. You rarely lose any. Or try driving down the road working at staying in the middle of a lane. You’ll be all over your lane and then some. I’m not saying don’t look at your work, just don’t force it. You will have a tendancy to over-correct, and then have no control. Youll probably wonder all around the line.

-- Kent Shepherd * The goal is-----More Tools!

I can only tune up this old Craftsman 12” to a point, I just thought I would see if anyone else out there was like me, guess not so I just cut a little further out and than sand on the oscillator till the line is almost gone then finish by hand. One thing I am not making and that is a watch. .
Cheers
Jim

-- Jim - Cushing, WI