Much More From Your Bandsaw
The versatility of the bandsaw basically comes down to its anatomy. With most woodworking machines an element of rotational or lateral vectors are applied at the intersection of the blade and the stock. On a tablesaw this can contribute to kickback and it’s also why we need to always mill stock on the jointer from the right to the left.
On a bandsaw the vectors applied at the cut are lineal, and the direction of force applied is downward onto the table, rather than laterally across. This makes the bandsaw a far friendlier machine to use and that’s why I do most of my ripping on it.
Damage control
1. Setting a zero-clearance base in place.
With a downwards cut the teeth exit stock at the base, so this is where any chipping or tear-out will occur. On finer cuts, or to minimise damage, add a zero-clearance base to the saw table. Simply take a small sheet of masonite, set the saw fence to the desired setting and run the masonite partially through at that setting (photo 1). Stop the saw and clamp the masonite in position to give a clean and slick surface and protect against tear-out.
Get the best tooling
Remember it’s not the machine that makes the cut – it merely drives the blade. To get
