Once I was a scholar at Rosewood Studio, one of many first revelations I had was studying the right way to correctly resaw lumber on the bandsaw. Earlier than that, if I wanted a thinner board, I’d simply ship half the board’s thickness up the mud collector pipe and name it a day. Not precisely essentially the most environment friendly—or respectful—use of fabric.
For the uninitiated, resawing is the method of slicing a board into thinner items, basically turning thick inventory into usable veneers or smaller boards. It’s a deceptively easy operation that truly entails a ton of variables: blade sort, tpi (enamel per inch), motor dimension, blade sharpness, noticed setup, and—maybe the trickiest of all—feed price. Every of those must be dialed in if you’d like straight, clean, and constant outcomes.
For many 14-in. bandsaws, I’ve discovered {that a} ½-in.-wide, 3-tpi blade is a superb go-to. It’s aggressive sufficient to clear waste effectively with out bogging down. However even with the proper blade and a correctly tuned noticed, when you feed too quick, you’re asking for hassle. The gullets replenish, warmth builds, and also you get what’s generally known as a “barrel minimize”—a convex form throughout the thickness of the board. That’s nice when you’re making a wine cask, however ineffective (and irritating) when you’re constructing advantageous furnishings. Then again, feed too slowly and also you danger burning the wooden or losing your afternoon gazing sawdust. So how do you discover that candy spot? That’s the place my favourite trick is available in: the one-finger feed.
This easy method was taught to me again at Rosewood, and I nonetheless use it right this moment. When resawing, I apply stress to the board with only one finger on the again, gently pushing it via the minimize. With just one finger, you’re bodily restricted in how arduous you may push earlier than discomfort kicks in. It’s a built-in governor, and I’ve discovered that this degree of stress typically ends in the best feed price—regular sufficient to stop burning, however gradual sufficient to keep away from clogging the blade.
Is it scientific? Not precisely. However it is efficient. It additionally encourages you to hearken to the noticed. A clear resaw minimize has a selected sound—assured and clean. If you happen to hear the noticed struggling, or if the blade begins to wander, your finger will normally really feel it earlier than your eyes do.
Positive, someday I’d like to have an even bigger store with a bandsaw devoted to resawing and an influence feeder doing the grunt work. However till then, my Peter Pointer does simply advantageous. Actually, I’d argue that utilizing one finger helps construct a greater understanding of the software and the fabric; it forces you to decelerate, really feel the suggestions, and tune in to what the machine is telling you.
So subsequent time you’re resawing, give it a strive. One finger would possibly simply be all you want.
Join eletters right this moment and get the newest methods and how-to from Fantastic Woodworking, plus particular affords.
