I am in the process of building a 12"X8"X 5" rectangular box. I want the
finished box to have a hinged lid that is the same size as the rest of the
box. I am aware of the technique of building the top attached to the top at
the time the box is glued together and then using the table saw to saw the
lid apart form the rest of the box. My question is can a bandsaw be used to
saw the top off of the box. What is the advantages of the table saw over
the bandsaw in doing this. What are the disadvantages in using the bandsaw
to perform this operation. It appears to me that the bandsaw would be safer
than the table saw.
--
Joe Nation Assistant Superintendent - Retired
Ballinger, Texas 76821
The tablesaw method allows you to cut _almost_ deep enough, so you finish
the job with a blade, and the fence/blade combination produces a more
accurate cut than the bandsaw, which always seems to have some big coarse
blade on it at my house.
"Joe Nation" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am in the process of building a 12"X8"X 5" rectangular box. I want the
> finished box to have a hinged lid that is the same size as the rest of the
> box. I am aware of the technique of building the top attached to the top
at
> the time the box is glued together and then using the table saw to saw the
> lid apart form the rest of the box. My question is can a bandsaw be used
to
> saw the top off of the box. What is the advantages of the table saw over
> the bandsaw in doing this. What are the disadvantages in using the bandsaw
> to perform this operation. It appears to me that the bandsaw would be
safer
> than the table saw.
"Joe Nation" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I am in the process of building a 12"X8"X 5" rectangular box. I want the
> finished box to have a hinged lid that is the same size as the rest of the
> box. I am aware of the technique of building the top attached to the top at
> the time the box is glued together and then using the table saw to saw the
> lid apart form the rest of the box. My question is can a bandsaw be used to
> saw the top off of the box. What is the advantages of the table saw over
> the bandsaw in doing this. What are the disadvantages in using the bandsaw
> to perform this operation. It appears to me that the bandsaw would be safer
> than the table saw.
Just watch out for bandsaw blade drift. The table saw will be more
likely to give you a perfectly straight cut.
woodstrapper
"Joe Nation" <[email protected]> wrote in news:[email protected]:
> I am in the process of building a 12"X8"X 5" rectangular box. I want
> the finished box to have a hinged lid that is the same size as the
> rest of the box. I am aware of the technique of building the top
> attached to the top at the time the box is glued together and then
> using the table saw to saw the lid apart form the rest of the box. My
> question is can a bandsaw be used to saw the top off of the box. What
> is the advantages of the table saw over the bandsaw in doing this.
> What are the disadvantages in using the bandsaw to perform this
> operation. It appears to me that the bandsaw would be safer than the
> table saw.
>
The last issue of American Woodworker covered this box construction
technique. They used the table saw to open the box. I think they had a good
solution.
Set the table saw to cut deep enough to cut through the thickness of the
side of the box and cut through the opposite sides of the box. Then add
some 1/8" thick spacer wood to the openings just cut and tape them in
place. Then cut the two remaining sides. The box stays fairly solid during
the entire operation.
DMP
"Joe Nation" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am in the process of building a 12"X8"X 5" rectangular box. I want the
> finished box to have a hinged lid that is the same size as the rest of the
> box. I am aware of the technique of building the top attached to the top
at
> the time the box is glued together and then using the table saw to saw the
> lid apart form the rest of the box. My question is can a bandsaw be used
to
> saw the top off of the box. What is the advantages of the table saw over
> the bandsaw in doing this. What are the disadvantages in using the bandsaw
> to perform this operation. It appears to me that the bandsaw would be
safer
> than the table saw.
>
> --
> Joe Nation Assistant Superintendent - Retired
> Ballinger, Texas 76821
>
>
The bandsaw will be fine. I use it because it cuts a smaller kerf, which
makes for better matching between the top & bottom. After you cut the first
third stop and tape little wedges in place to hold the kerf open, and the
cut portion together. You do not want to cut portion to move around at all.
It is dangerous, and can damaged the finished box.
Good luck - Bob McBreen
Joe,
I make quite a few boxes, jewelry, etc. I use the table saw and set the
blade 1/16" shy of going through the sides. Then I use a small handsaw
(Dozuki) to finish the cut. A slight a amount of sanding on the cut and you
have a perfect fit. Not my idea, I learned it from Doug Stowe who has some
pretty darn good books on making boxes.
Good luck,
Al in rainy Longview, WA