Woodworking 411

Last night I was resawing some spanish cedar for a small cigar case I’m planning to make, using my new bandsaw. In case you’ve never done a woodworking project with spanish cedar, it’s a very aromatic wood that is used for making humidors and other things. It’s smelly, and I’d had no idea how smelly until the fine dust from the bandsaw found the back of my throat. Yuk!

I have a dust collection system, but I’ve used it more for chip collection with my jointer and planer than for dust, per se. I mean, it was the chips that I was noticing the most.

So while I was gagging from the cedar I pulled the dust collection hose off the jointer and connected it to the bandsaw. Perfecto! What a huge difference!

I was planning to hook up the bandsaw to the main dust collection system at some point, but now it will be a much higher priority.

With Father’s day came the chance to finally get a tool I’ve wanted for a long time - a bandsaw. I ended up with the lower-level Delta model 28-276, which has the open base and 3/4 horsepower motor. I just couldn’t see paying more than $200 for an extra 1/4 horsepower and a closed base.

So far the sucker cuts like a dream. I bought a 1/2″ Timber Wolf blade for it that is much nicer for resaw than the 1/4″ blade that came with the saw. Not bad for $30. I’ve also looked into roller guides, but what I’m reading suggests the improvement in performance is pretty small. I think I’ll stick with the steel guides, and take care in adjusting them.

The next purchase will likely be a Kreg fence.

Woodcraft University has a new course - Bandsaw 101. I think bandsaws are far more complicated to tune than to use, but still it’s nice to learn new techniques. Also, if you’re contemplating whether to get a new tool or not, or are trying to decide between, say, a lathe and a bandsaw, these kinds of intro courses can give you a better idea of how much use it’s really likely to get in your own shop.