Ripping & Crosscutting - Shopsmith 11” Manual

SHOPSMITH 11" BANDSAW
Backtracking
In order to break up intricate patterns into
simple cuts, you may have to cut in to a point,
then back the blade out and cut from another
angle, as illustrated in Fig. B-6. This is a safe
technique if done carefully, but there is al-
ways a danger that you may bind the blade,
pull it out of the guides and off the wheels.
Sawdust can also pile up behind the blade,
preventing you from backing it out. To back-
track from a cut longer than 1", turn off the
machine and let it come to a complete stop
before backtracking. If you can, avoid back-
tracking in long cuts altogether.
Drilling Relief Openings
A few well-places holes will give you a lot of
turning room to cut tight, internal curves, as
seen in Fig. B-7. Making relief holes is one of
the handiest techniques for cutting intricate
scrollwork. Drill these holes slightly inside
the pattern line in the waste stock.
Fig. B-7
Making Relief Cuts
Radial or tangential relief cuts make it pos-
sible for you to cut a curve smaller than the
blade can normally turn.
Make radial cuts toward the pattern line and
backtrack out, as shown in Fig. B-8. Then cut
the desired curve. As the blade meets each
radial cut, a little piece of waste stock will fall
away. This provides more room for the blade
to turn.
Or make tangential cuts by cutting on the
pattern line until the blade starts to bind
slightly, then run off at a tangent to the curve.
Cut completely through to the waste stock to
the edge of the workpiece, removing a small
amount of stock. Start cutting the pattern line
again where you ran off at a tangent. Repeat
this process until you've cut the desired curve,
as seen in Fig. B-9.
Radial cuts are useful when cutting both
internal and external curves. Tangential cuts
can only be used on external curves.
"Nibbling"
There are times when you'll need to cut a
detail in a pattern that's too small to use any
of the techniques described previously. For
these extra-fine jobs, feed the stock very lightly
against the blade and let the teeth "nibble" it
away. This is handy when you need to cut
tiny corners and curves.
Fig. B-8
Ripping and Crosscutting
As mentioned earlier, the miter gauge slot
allows you to use your Shopsmith miter gauge
for many Bandsaw operations. You can make
crosscuts and miter cuts similar to cuts on a
table saw, as seen in Fig. B-10. Your cutoff
capacity is limited to 10-1/2". Longer stock
will strike the Bandsaw frame.
NOTE
Fig. B-9
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