laguna MBAND14BX110-175 Manual page 35

Using the bandsaw.
Although the bandsaw is usually associated with cutting curves, a variety of straight cuts are
easily made with the saw. In fact, it is often used to rip wood because it is much safer than a
radial arm saw and also has a smaller saw cut, so it wastes less wood. This becomes very
important when using expensive wood where waste must be kept to a minimum. The cut is
safer because the force of the cut is straight down on the table; the work cannot be pulled
back or kicked back, which sometimes happens with table or radial arm saws.
can also cut very thick stock, which the radial arm, or table saw cannot do. The disadvantage
of cutting with the bandsaw is that the surface finish of the cut is not as good as with the table
or radial arm saw. This can be overcome to a great degree by using the Resaw king blade
from Laguna. The blade has many of advantages such as superior surface finish to the cut,
thin kerf (low wood waste), it can be re-sharpened, will cut hard woods and has a long life.
Ripping.
Ripping is a cut made with the grain of the wood. The four most common cuts made with the
grain of the wood are rip, bevel, taper and resaw cuts. There are two frequently used
techniques for making straight bandsaw cuts. One technique is to use a single point to guide
the work. The rationale for using a single point is that the saw may tend to cut at a slight
angle. This is called drift or lead. The single point allows the operator to compensate for the
drift and cut the wood straight. With a little practice, you will obtain satisfactory results using
this method. However, you now own a real bandsaw, so this method is not recommended.
Another method is to use the rip fence as a guide. Once set up, this takes the guesswork out
of cutting, reduces the stress on the operator and is a must for volume work. Once you have
mastered the setup procedure, you will tend to use the single point method less and less.
Adjusting the fence for drift.
Method 1.
1. Make a straight pencil line on the edge of a
board.
2. Feed the wood into the blade cutting next
to the pencil mark. If the blade is drifting, you
will have to compensate by angling the wood
to keep the cut straight.
3. Stop the cut in the middle of the wood and
mark (with pencil) the angle on the table. This
The bandsaw
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