Strike up the Bandsaw

“America’s leading woodworking authority”™ Strike Up the Bandsaw

• Step by Step construction instruction. • A complete bill of materials. • Exploded view and elevation drawings. • How-to photos with instructive captions.

• Tips to help you complete the project and become a better woodworker.

To download these plans, you will need Adobe Reader installed on your computer. If you want to get a free copy, you can get it at: Adobe Reader.

Having trouble downloading the plans? • If you're using Microsoft Internet Explorer, right click on the download link and select "Save Target As" to download to your local drive.

• If you're using Netscape, right click on the download link and select "Save Link As" to download to your local drive.

Published in Woodworker’s Journal “The Complete Woodworker: Time-Tested Projects and Professional Techniques for Your Shop and Home” WJ128 A bandsaw is a tremendously versatile and useful tool—but only if it’s running well. Properly set up, it allows you to create poetry out of wood. Out of adjustment it can cause Blade vocabulary usage that would impress the Thrust guard most seasoned boatswain’s mate. bearing adjustment Tuning up your bandsaw is not a huge undertaking. A couple of quick steps to better align and control your blade will have you cutting smoothly in just a few minutes. Most modern bandsaws have a system of Thrust bearing thrust bearings (those little metal wheels that Guide block the blade’s back edge bumps into) and guide Guide block set screws adjustment blocks that hold the blade in proper alignment. Start by unplugging the saw, then loosen the Guide blocks set screws that hold the guide blocks; back them out so they no longer touch the blade. Next, turn your attention to the thrust bearings, backing them off the saw blade a 1/4" or so. Center your saw blade on the drive and idle wheels by rotating the top wheel by hand. While you turn the wheel, use the tracking control to shift the blade to the crown (top of the arch) of whichever wheel adjusts the tracking. Then adjust the thrust bearings for- ward so they just barely touch the back edge of the blade. Ideally, when the saw is running, your blade will just tick the thrust bearings until you start to cut; the pressure of that Strike Up action will drive the blade back to press against the bearings fully. the Bandsaw Blocking Is the Key While adjusted thrust bearings keep andsaws are wonderfully quiet to operate and the blade from moving front to back, guide blocks control blade twisting and limit side- Bdon’t pose the same kickback threat as table- to-side movement. If your guide blocks are saws. They’re ideal for making straight or curved showing wear, replace them. Worn blocks ruin good saw blades. The best replacements cuts, and the saw kerf creates much less airborne are Cool Blocks™, which are phenolic resin guides imbedded with graphite. They are dust. But if your bandsaw isn’t tuned properly, you’ll superior to metal or wooden guide blocks in be the one singing the blues. Here’s how to get your preventing wear and overheating. The most important thing to remember in adjusting the saw adjusted and back on track. guide blocks is that their position changes with the size of the saw blade you are using. The blocks must be set so they capture the

22 SHOP PROJECTS MAKE A BANDSAW BOX CRITTER

sides of the saw blade, but they should not engage the saw teeth even when the blade is under cutting pressure. You also need a sharp blade of correct width to match the job at hand. For resaw- ing or long straight cutting opera- tions, a wider blade is exactly what you need. Tight curves call for narrow 1/8" or 1/4" blades. Blade Figure 1: Glue the pattern (see the Pinup Figure 2: Reset the saw for the depth of the tension is also important; start by Shop Drawings) onto stock that is thick next cut. Carefully slice 1/4"-thick pieces off enough to create a box section in the animal. of each side of the center box section. Hold adjusting the tension to the blade Plan your cuts first so you don’t “cut yourself these cuts as straight and true as possible manufacturer’s specifications. into a corner”. After cutting the outline of the as these pieces will become the sides of the piece, cut out the center box section. sliding box. Increase tension further if the blade deflects excessively. Just these few steps will make a huge difference in how well your bandsaw cuts. Attention to detail will provide for easier cutting and a milder vocabulary.

Go Wild with Boxes! Try out your newly tuned up bandsaw on these three bandsaw boxes. They are great gifts and fun to make. Set up your bandsaw Figure 3: Put the side pieces away for now Figure 4: Glue the sides back onto the cen- with an 1/8" blade and use the full- and again reset the saw to the next depth ter section. Sand the project smooth and size patterns on the Pinup Shop of cut. Draw lines to guide your cut as you use a marker or 1/8" dowel of contrasting remove the waste from the box. Make the color to make the eyes. Apply an oil or clear Drawings. Follow the steps shown opening as large as possible to allow for the finish. Flock the inside of the box section for in the photos at right and enjoy greatest access to the box after you glue a finishing touch. the sides back on . your new smooth-cutting bandsaw.

Tune up your bandsaw and then test drive it on these northwoods critter boxes.

STRIKE UP THE BANDSAW 23 Pinup Shop Drawings

Make the eyes with a permanent marker or a 1/4"-diameter hard- wood dowel of a complementary color.

Sliding Box: Line the inside Bandsaw Box Critters with fabric or spray flocking.

Squirrel (Side View) Pinup Shop Drawings d e l l i r " d 6 e l e 1 / o r p h 5 t e e s r h h i t e t d f

r h i r t o e o h t

b u h t g

n e t i o t

u u e

y e e o o h k

t r r d a

p i n h l e e n t t o i s m

. i b

n t p y

o n d e c r . d c e S - t n

u o h . t e u a s o t b t

c e e

R l

r x x t

e o e . o o u s d h h d 3 b b t c u

n j n

d a u

u e

l t d l o i u r n y

d u f C r

e o . r r e k a p 1 t u , t o x

k e e e c n r h

t a o

e f B h . d

e . f i . s r l s i b s i r

e n a i x e k k t f

o b c i e f o b w a t

a b t e t e

s h e h

e o t t t g

f r t g h

p t o o t n f

i u

g t e y t ’ C n d a h n i

r o . s l g o i p n a r 2 s i D s r e t t i r C

) x w e o n i V o

B o e

d L i S ( w a s d n a B Pinup Shop Drawings

e lu t- g ri r c t o r c ou le y k e r ic e S fo h te id s : k t a s r te c is re in e. o to t c g e N s a o om a t p th t o or u s h r st t r g nt r i te ou e o r n ci f e ffi x C u bo s e ox th B aw ds e n n a i ) p w B u ie rc V o e P id (S