The 18CX machine can be configured for resawing lumber. Resawing is an operation to reduce the thickness of a piece while leaving the length and width the same.
The diagrams are drawn on the 14BX, but they apply to both machines.
Click to see a labled diagram of the front of the band saw.
Members are not supposed to use the cabinet latches or blade tension knob. They are labled to distinguish them from all of the other knobs and hand-wheels.
The table tilt adjustment handle and gauge are also on this side but due to the angle of the picture it is not visible. The handle and gauge are under the table, behind the fence guide, and somewhat aligned with the auxiliary fence slot. There's a matching handle on the other side, indicated in the diagram of the back.
One of the differences between the 14BX and 18CX is that on the 18CX the table tilt adjustment is only on the back of the table instead of both sides.
Click to see a labled diagram of the back of the band saw.
Members are not supposed to use the cabinet latches or blade tension knob. They are labled to distinguish them from all of the other knobs and hand-wheels.
Open Works allows but does not encourage the use of reclaimed wood. Any reclaimed wood must be inspected by the member with a metal detector (provided) and reviewed by a Community Technician before processing.
The following materials are NOT permitted in the Wood Shop: Reclaimed wood containing metal Materials containing or coated with lead or lead-based paint Any pre-finished woods (for example: finished flooring, old bar tops, etc.) Pressure treated wood Foam Metal Glass PVC and vinyl
Safety Check: Sturdy, close-toed shoesmust be worn at all times. Long hair, jewelry, and loose clothingmust be tied back. Safety glassesmust be worn while machines are running. A dust mask or a NIOSH certified respirator and earmuffsare recommended. For more information on shop safety visit Wood Shop under "Safety."
Bandsaws do not have kickback in the way that rotating blade saws do. However they are prone to blade binding during tightly curved cuts.
Check your lumber for warping using the table test. Lay your board face down on a guaranteed flat surface. Press your weight down into the workpiece and check for rocking. The face that rocks back and forth the least is the one that goes against the machine's table.
If your material is warped in any way, consider processing it with the jointer and planer before using the bandsaw. Material with at least one good flat face and smooth, perpendicular edges will produce a cleaner cut and be safer to work with.
Loosen the blade guard height lock on the back of the machine. It is located directly to the right of the handwheel that's on the narrow side of the machine.
Turn the handwheel on the narrow side of the machine to raise or lower the blade guard.
Raise the guard enough to easily clear the material and let you see the cut as you work but leave as little of the blade exposed as possible.
Tighten the blade guard height lock on the back of the machine. If lock isn't tightened, the guard could come down while the machine is in operation.
Click to see an example of an appropriate blade guard height.
Tight enough curves will cause the bandsaw blade to bind in the material. To avoid binding the blade, make relief cuts. The intent of a relief cut is to give the blade more room to work as the pieces fall out.
Make relief cuts by cutting slots towards where your final cut will be. If there's room, make them perpendicular to the final cut. Do not overshoot the line of your final cut.
Then make your final cut and the pieces should fall out easily.
Resawing is an operation to reduce the thickness of a piece while leaving the length and width the same.
Know how thick the final piece should be. Make sure to add extra thickness if the piece will also go through the jointer or planer.
Set the fence the distance you found in step 1 away from the blade.
2.1 Set an additional fence that will keep the material steady
2.2 You may wish to start the cut on the table saw to make the bandsaw's job easier and the cut more accurate
With the face you wish to keep against the fence, make the cut.
The resaw can also be used for splitting logs, rounds, or other irregular pieces of wood. In order to make a good cut, the piece needs to be made stable and have a straight edge. To do this, you will need to create a jig to hold the wood for you.
The jig should move smoothly against the table and the fence. The piece to be cut should be fully supported by the jig. The piece to be cut should be attached to the jig using screws, and the screw heads should be on the fence side of the jig. The path of the cut must not intersect with the screws.