TT

"Toller"

26/04/2006 12:07 AM

sawing lumber on my bandsaw, right...

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.


This topic has 23 replies

hw

"hylourgos"

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

25/04/2006 9:32 PM

Any possibility that you forgot to tension the blade properly?

H

Aq

"Anonymous" <[email protected]>

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

25/04/2006 10:13 PM


It's the blade guides - I used to have the exact same problems until I
switched to roller guides and a 3/4" blade on my resaw and now have no
problems at all with any wood, thickness or feed rate.

Woody

Aq

"Anonymous" <[email protected]>

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

26/04/2006 11:46 AM



It's a Delta's 18" bandsaw, 2 hp..... I think it's model 28-682.

Toller wrote:
> What size saw do you have? Everything I have read says 3/4" won't work on a
> 14" saw, but that doesn't make it necessarily true.

EP

"Edwin Pawlowski"

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

26/04/2006 3:04 AM


"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> 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.

Is this the same saw you bragged that had no problem right from the factory?
Take it back and get a Jet.

aa

antoine

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

26/04/2006 4:17 PM

On Wed, 26 Apr 2006 03:04:29 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
>"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>
>> 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.
>
>Is this the same saw you bragged that had no problem right from the factory?
>Take it back and get a Jet.
>
Edwin takes no prisoners.

ER

Enoch Root

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

26/04/2006 6:42 PM

Toller wrote:
> "Anonymous" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>It's the blade guides - I used to have the exact same problems until I
>>switched to roller guides and a 3/4" blade on my resaw and now have no
>>problems at all with any wood, thickness or feed rate.
>>
>
> What size saw do you have? Everything I have read says 3/4" won't work on a
> 14" saw, but that doesn't make it necessarily true.

Hmm. I have one, and I've used it, and it works. But I have the riser
block, as well.

er
--
email not valid

TT

"Toller"

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

26/04/2006 3:43 AM


"Enoch Root" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Toller wrote:
>> 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.
>
> Hard to say, from here. Are you using a sled? What have you tried?
>
No, I have not tried a sled.
The bottom and the side I have against the fence are pretty flat, so I
didn't think I needed one; I have just been running it though the saw (well,
trying to run it though the saw) against the fence. It worked for the black
locust.
I can make a sled up easily enough and see if it helps.

TT

"Toller"

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

26/04/2006 12:26 PM


"Enoch Root" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Anonymous wrote:
>> It's the blade guides - I used to have the exact same problems until I
>> switched to roller guides and a 3/4" blade on my resaw and now have no
>> problems at all with any wood, thickness or feed rate.
>
> With a 1/2" blade it has to be jumping out of the guides to get a 30
> degree drift, it's true.
>
> Toller, your guides... they're snug up against the blade?

Not real tight, I am a little scared of too much metal-metal contact.
I have a set of cool block that I haven't installed. Would they be okay for
this? I intended to use them with a thinner blade.
Or should I just set the steel blocks tigher?
>
> er
> --
> email not valid

ER

Enoch Root

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

25/04/2006 10:48 PM

Anonymous wrote:
> It's the blade guides - I used to have the exact same problems until I
> switched to roller guides and a 3/4" blade on my resaw and now have no
> problems at all with any wood, thickness or feed rate.

With a 1/2" blade it has to be jumping out of the guides to get a 30
degree drift, it's true.

Toller, your guides... they're snug up against the blade?

er
--
email not valid

ER

Enoch Root

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

25/04/2006 10:42 PM

Toller wrote:
> "Enoch Root" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Toller wrote:
>>
>>>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.
>>
>>Hard to say, from here. Are you using a sled? What have you tried?
>>
>
> No, I have not tried a sled.
> The bottom and the side I have against the fence are pretty flat, so I
> didn't think I needed one; I have just been running it though the saw (well,
> trying to run it though the saw) against the fence. It worked for the black
> locust.
> I can make a sled up easily enough and see if it helps.

That isn't the blade the saw came with, is it? You might also consider
one with lower tpi for resawing big boards like that.

Everyone raves about the woodslicer blades, and I'm happy with the
suffolk blades I have.

Or wax the wood and send it to me. :)

er
--
email not valid

ER

Enoch Root

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

25/04/2006 6:31 PM

Toller wrote:
> 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.

Hard to say, from here. Are you using a sled? What have you tried?

er
--
email not valid

TT

"Toller"

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

26/04/2006 12:24 PM


"Fly-by-Night CC" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> "Toller" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> 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.
>
> I'm thinking the walnut is still very green - the 4t/inch is filling
> with sawdust, friction is heating up things inside the cut and swelling
> the moisture-laden wood so that the blade just gets to a point where it
> can't move. When the teeth fill and we push harder and the wood starts
> to bind the blade, it'll wander toward the neighbor's place.
>

Yeh, it was cut down yesterday!

> Try a 3/8" 3 tooth blade - preferably with a generous set to the teeth
> so that it cuts a wide kerf to help keep things open. Timberwolf sells
> such a blade just for cutting wet woods - I think Highland Hardware has
> one as well, but I'm not familiar with any wide set to the teeth on that
> one.

Would it help to let it dry out a few weeks? I am in no hurry; just want to
get it done more or less right.
> --
> Owen Lowe
> The Fly-by-Night Copper Company
> __________
>
> "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
> Corporate States of America and to the
> Republicans for which it stands, one nation,
> under debt, easily divisible, with liberty
> and justice for oil."
> - Wiley Miller, Non Sequitur, 1/24/05

TT

"Toller"

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

26/04/2006 12:36 PM


"Anonymous" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> It's the blade guides - I used to have the exact same problems until I
> switched to roller guides and a 3/4" blade on my resaw and now have no
> problems at all with any wood, thickness or feed rate.
>
What size saw do you have? Everything I have read says 3/4" won't work on a
14" saw, but that doesn't make it necessarily true.

MM

Mike M

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

26/04/2006 6:56 PM

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

On Wed, 26 Apr 2006 12:36:34 GMT, "Toller" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"Anonymous" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>
>> It's the blade guides - I used to have the exact same problems until I
>> switched to roller guides and a 3/4" blade on my resaw and now have no
>> problems at all with any wood, thickness or feed rate.
>>
>What size saw do you have? Everything I have read says 3/4" won't work on a
>14" saw, but that doesn't make it necessarily true.
>

TT

"Toller"

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

26/04/2006 4:03 AM


"Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>
>> 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.
>
> Is this the same saw you bragged that had no problem right from the
> factory? Take it back and get a Jet.
If you bothered to read my post, I said I was doing something wrong. I am
certainly not blaming it on the saw.
But thanks for your moronic advice.

BB

Bruce Barnett

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

27/04/2006 1:57 AM

"Toller" <[email protected]> writes:

>> Try a 3/8" 3 tooth blade - preferably with a generous set to the teeth
>> so that it cuts a wide kerf to help keep things open. Timberwolf sells
>> such a blade just for cutting wet woods - I think Highland Hardware has
>> one as well, but I'm not familiar with any wide set to the teeth on that
>> one.
>
> Would it help to let it dry out a few weeks? I am in no hurry; just want to
> get it done more or less right.

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.

http://www.tools-for-woodworking.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=6944


--
Sending unsolicited commercial e-mail to this account incurs a fee of
$500 per message, and acknowledges the legality of this contract.

WS

Wes Stewart

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

26/04/2006 6:11 AM

On Wed, 26 Apr 2006 00:07:15 GMT, "Toller" <[email protected]> wrote:

>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.

As someone else said, I think it's too wet for the TPI.

I've used a 3/4" 3 TPI to cut mesquite firewood into (short) boards
and did the first cuts freehand without issue. But it was Arizona
bone dry.

FC

Fly-by-Night CC

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

26/04/2006 12:14 AM

In article <[email protected]>,
"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote:

> 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.

I'm thinking the walnut is still very green - the 4t/inch is filling
with sawdust, friction is heating up things inside the cut and swelling
the moisture-laden wood so that the blade just gets to a point where it
can't move. When the teeth fill and we push harder and the wood starts
to bind the blade, it'll wander toward the neighbor's place.

Try a 3/8" 3 tooth blade - preferably with a generous set to the teeth
so that it cuts a wide kerf to help keep things open. Timberwolf sells
such a blade just for cutting wet woods - I think Highland Hardware has
one as well, but I'm not familiar with any wide set to the teeth on that
one.
--
Owen Lowe
The Fly-by-Night Copper Company
__________

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
Corporate States of America and to the
Republicans for which it stands, one nation,
under debt, easily divisible, with liberty
and justice for oil."
- Wiley Miller, Non Sequitur, 1/24/05

FC

Fly-by-Night CC

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

26/04/2006 11:35 AM

In article <[email protected]>,
"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote:

> > I'm thinking the walnut is still very green - the 4t/inch is filling
> > with sawdust, friction is heating up things inside the cut and swelling
> > the moisture-laden wood so that the blade just gets to a point where it
> > can't move. When the teeth fill and we push harder and the wood starts
> > to bind the blade, it'll wander toward the neighbor's place.
> >
>
> Yeh, it was cut down yesterday!
>
> > Try a 3/8" 3 tooth blade - preferably with a generous set to the teeth
> > so that it cuts a wide kerf to help keep things open. Timberwolf sells
> > such a blade just for cutting wet woods - I think Highland Hardware has
> > one as well, but I'm not familiar with any wide set to the teeth on that
> > one.
>
> Would it help to let it dry out a few weeks? I am in no hurry; just want to
> get it done more or less right.

What you're running into is a common problem for turners as many of us
get our wood from local sources and is usually very green. Some dripping
wet fruiting cherry I recently cut into bowl blanks was a breeze -
intermixed was some Big Leaf Maple which would bind and do what your
Black Walnut is doing. I don't think waiting a couple weeks will make
any difference because not enough moisture will be removed from the
interior to help matters. You might try posting your question over on
rec.crafts.woodturning to get their take on it.
--
Owen Lowe
The Fly-by-Night Copper Company
__________

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
Corporate States of America and to the
Republicans for which it stands, one nation,
under debt, easily divisible, with liberty
and justice for oil."
- Wiley Miller, Non Sequitur, 1/24/05

md

mac davis

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

27/04/2006 8:53 AM

On Wed, 26 Apr 2006 08:57:18 -0700, Enoch Root <[email protected]> wrote:

>>>
>> Not real tight, I am a little scared of too much metal-metal contact.
>> I have a set of cool block that I haven't installed. Would they be okay for
>> this? I intended to use them with a thinner blade.
>> Or should I just set the steel blocks tigher?
>
>I have roller bearings on mine, and set them so there is very little
>sideways play for the blade. A little more for the rear bearings (a
>bill folded twice.)
>
>Cool blocks will also work, but you shouldn't require them for a 1/2"
>blade. You can bury the blade in the cool blocks I think (don't have
>them myself) and let the blade make its own clearance.
>
>er

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

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

md

mac davis

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

26/04/2006 8:29 AM

On Wed, 26 Apr 2006 12:36:34 GMT, "Toller" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"Anonymous" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>
>> It's the blade guides - I used to have the exact same problems until I
>> switched to roller guides and a 3/4" blade on my resaw and now have no
>> problems at all with any wood, thickness or feed rate.
>>
>What size saw do you have? Everything I have read says 3/4" won't work on a
>14" saw, but that doesn't make it necessarily true.
>
They work on my 14" 3/4 horse ridgid and are "recommended" for resawing on the
inner door panel, but I think they suck.. I do much better with a 3/8" 3 tpi
blade..

I've found that the things that give me the most trouble on the band saw are
things that can rock.. even a little bit... they constantly change the blades
attack angle or whatever and make it bind..

I use a method now that I think I remember getting from Charlie B's site? which
is simply setting the wood on a flat piece of scrap and running a few screws
into it (away from where you're gonna cut) and running it through the saw "flat
stock side down"..
Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

EP

"Edwin Pawlowski"

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

27/04/2006 3:12 AM


"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> If you bothered to read my post, I said I was doing something wrong. I am
> certainly not blaming it on the saw.
> But thanks for your moronic advice.

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

ER

Enoch Root

in reply to "Toller" on 26/04/2006 12:07 AM

26/04/2006 8:57 AM

Toller wrote:
> "Enoch Root" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Anonymous wrote:
>>
>>>It's the blade guides - I used to have the exact same problems until I
>>>switched to roller guides and a 3/4" blade on my resaw and now have no
>>>problems at all with any wood, thickness or feed rate.
>>
>>With a 1/2" blade it has to be jumping out of the guides to get a 30
>>degree drift, it's true.
>>
>>Toller, your guides... they're snug up against the blade?
>
>
> Not real tight, I am a little scared of too much metal-metal contact.
> I have a set of cool block that I haven't installed. Would they be okay for
> this? I intended to use them with a thinner blade.
> Or should I just set the steel blocks tigher?

I have roller bearings on mine, and set them so there is very little
sideways play for the blade. A little more for the rear bearings (a
bill folded twice.)

Cool blocks will also work, but you shouldn't require them for a 1/2"
blade. You can bury the blade in the cool blocks I think (don't have
them myself) and let the blade make its own clearance.

er
--
email not valid


You’ve reached the end of replies