That's a good idea too. You already have the sled for the bandsaw I'm sure you can figure out a way to use it to establish a straight edge, That would be a better choice than the table saw anyway.
That looks really good! Nice band saw. I have a craftsman 12inch one and was interested in doing what you are just on a smaller scale so I can get some wood to make spoons and carve and just tinker around. What blade are you using and tpi do you recommend for this kind of stuff?
Your Craftsman is likely limited to a 1/2" wide blade at max. If it is a 3 wheeled version you are further limited to a maximum of .020 thick material for the blade ( and then maybe only a 3/8 wide blade at max). because of the small diameter of the band wheels. If it is a 2 wheel version what is the length of blade that it uses? What horsepower is the motor? 1/2" blades are available from apx 3 tpi on up.They can be had in .025 or .032 material thickness in either carbon steel or Bi-metal and there are carbide tipped versions as well ( if you are particularly well heeled) Generally the more teeth the smoother the cut at the expense of speed over the length of the cut and also require a little less hp. Note: saw blades are my business only offering up information and my background here. That looks to be a skip tooth blade as well nice big gullets for the waste to be carried out of the cut. you didn't state the thickness of the blade .032 or thicker? The thicker material blades are less prone to bowing in the cut, might require less tension but by the same token may require more hp. to maintain the same cut speed.
Thanks! I'd refer to Chris's recommendations on blade selection for your machine. Generally speaking, you probably want the widest blade with the fewest teeth that your machine can handle. I didn't know what the thickness was - looks like it's a .024" backing, and .041" kerf. And the TPI was actually 2-3, variable spacing.
I picked up a high output oiler for my 660 this week; and finished making the walnut cant that I brought home over Memorial Day weekend, as a test run. Milled that into seven 5/4 boards this morning on the band saw.
Here's my deluxe lumber making sled. Used some 3/4 sanded oak ply - I made the cut in the band saw rather than wrestle it over to the TS. The outside edge doesn't need to be perfectly straight anyway. I made the new runner from a 10' remnant of a pine board that my grandfather had stored in the garage. I let the runner into the sled instead of just screwing it to the bottom. And here it is. I still need to make up the mounts for my pipe clamps.
Shawn, Very nice. That is got to be the best looking sled made out of oak plywood? Also, I like the nice looking "vintage" DeWalt Radial Arm Saw. Much maligned but a great tool.
Here's the pipe clamp mounted, and some results. 4/4 soft maple. The radial arm was my grandfathers - it was his Christmas present from my grandmother "to a very deserving husband" Christmas 1958.
No - I cut the dado for the runner so there would be about a 1/16" gap between the sled and the blade. I made a smaller one before where I trimmed the sled to the blade, but I found that it created a lot of "harmonic" chatter in the cut.
okay, I can see where it might do that. Have you tried it out for establishing a straight edge on your boards yet?
Not yet - I might just dry them all rough and wait to fix the edges. I think it's going to work great though. Theres all kinds of cool stuff i can do. I want to get some more of those hold down clamps now. I wrestled the pine down to the basement and sawed some of that up tonight. I'm excited about this stuff too - you don't see rings like this too much these days.
Wow. Cool Shawn! I have missed so much stuff on FHC. I just don't have enough time to look at it and read it all. LOL
Arrived from your link in my thread, man, the pipe clamp idea is awesome!! Why didn't I think of that! Love that walnut, I have yet to ever get any - its at the top of my list. Like the idea of utilizing a sled too to get the first 2 square faces. What type of clamp are you using to grab the bar of your pipe clamp? Is that something I'd find in the plumbing isle? Garage organization isle? I know I've seen something similar to that somewhere but can't remember.
Those are "pipe clamp saddles", Jorgensen brand I think. I think I found them at HD in the same display where they have the pipe clamp fixtures and other bar clamps. I just checked their website though and I couldn't find them. Looks like they can be ordered directly from pony tools though.
Hmm good excuse for me to putz around Lowes or HD and browse. Man I wish there was a Rockler type store nearby.
Wow, real pretty Shawn. As I mentioned on other threads, I live vicariously through yours and others mill-sawing I remember when my son was your son's age. You're probably superman to him and he is your ever-present sidekick
