sawing lumber on my bandsaw, right...

Toller · 2006-04-26T00:07:15+00:00

I have cut some lumber out of black locust firewood. When just fine, cuts it like butter.A friend had a black walnut tree taken down. I got the tree guy to leave me a 4' piece of the 4' diameter trunk. Well, actually he sold it to me, cut in half, for $30.I split it up into manageable pieces and then tried cutting it. My band saw just won't do it. Even at a really slow feed rate it goes to a 30 degree drift (on the black locust it was dead straight) and then it just binds up. I am only trying to cut a 5" thick piece.Obviously I am doing something really wrong, but what? Okay, it is not the right blade (1/2" 4tpi) but it worked fine on the black locust.Any help would be appreciated, or it becomes expensive firewood.

Apr 26, 2006 23 Replies

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Mike M 20 years ago

Before I got my Rikon I was using a 14" saw which I still have. I was told if you got a good bi-metal blade you could go to 3/4". I bought a lenox saw blade I think its 2 or 3 TPI. I was able to use my fastrac fense with no adjustment for drift. The biggest problem was just only having 3/4 HP for power. I still keep the saw but just run smaller blades on it and that lets me leave a fat blade on the Rikon. Mine is rated for a 5/8 blade which I have but never took out of the box. Oh well never hurts to have extra blades.

Miked M

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Bruce Barnett 20 years ago

I just got the new Highland Hardware catalog, and they mention a blade designed for green wood. I guess the set of the teeth are wider, and prevent binding.

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Edwin Pawlowski 20 years ago

I read you post. Moronic is a poor choice of words. Sarcastic is more fitting. How about annoyingly sarcastic?

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mac davis 20 years ago

yep.. I've been running the same set of cool blocks for a year or so, and rotate them during blade changes... (translation: when the old blade doesn't cut anymore)

I set them flush with the blade sides, loose enough to turn the upper wheel by hand... they work really well for me... Mac

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