The first step is giving your bandsaw a good tune-up to set the table perpendicular to the blade, get peak performance from the guides, and ensure the blade tracks true. “With your saw well-tuned, turn to the blade. Resawing wide boards requires a blade that cuts evenly throughout the stock’s thickness while evacuating large amounts of sawdust. The wider the blade, the straighter the cut, so use the widest blade your bandsaw can handle. Most saws accept at least a 1⁄2”-wide blade, and many even wider. Typically, a wide 3-tooth-per-inch blade provides the perfect blend of aggressive yet smooth cut and sawdust evacuation that resawing requires.
I’m not a band saw guru by any means, but the general rule of thumb, it seems, is to buy the largest, most powerful band saw that you can afford. “I like the larger saws because in general they have larger, lower tables which is great for handling large items. Stiffness of the saw frame is important, motor power is overated as 2 HP is plenty for a bandsaw unless you like dull blades.”Personally I have an inexpensive General International 17” saw that does resaw very well. At lower tension you can’t saw as fast as at higher tension, but you can saw straight.
I’ve had perfectly acceptable results resawing with bimetal blades and great results resawing with silicone-carbide, low-tension blades. Drift varies from blade to blade, so follow this simple setup procedure every time you change blades. Because bearings can be used in contact with the blade, they can help the blade run straighter, resulting in less drift.
The required number of TPI fluctuates with the thickness of material in use and can vary from 1 to 32 TPI. You must choose your blade for resawing basing on TPI. For cutting large wood planks or resawing, the TPI must consist of 2 to 3 with a coarse tooth blade. The blade must be of very high quality, and able to move at a very fast pace to cut through the thick wood plank efficiently for resawing. To obtain such a straight cut for your resawing, you need the widest blade compatible with your bandsaw.
A bandsaw is best for resawing because you can easily adjust the height and width while you are working. In this article, we will showcase the 10 best bandsaws for resawing so that you can find what best suits your needs. These are the 10 best bandsaws for resawing that we found on the market today.
The standard 14″ bandsaws resaw 6″, or 12″ with a riser. You can resaw with a blade as narrow as 1/4″ but I wouldn’t go above 5 or 6″ inches doing that. “If you plan on doing much resawing a 14” saw is what you need as a minimum.
what size bandsaw for resawing Related Question:
Can you resaw on a small bandsaw?
The technique that makes this possible is resawing. Although it just plain baffles some woodworkers, once you get the hang of it, you’ll be surprised at what you can do, even on a small bandsaw. Here’s what you need to make it all happen: blade selection, shop-made jigs, setup and cutting tips.
How thick can a bandsaw cut?
Band saws are the undisputed champ when it comes to cutting curves and slicing through thick material. Many small band saws can slice though lumber a full four inches thick, and bigger saws handle six-inch cuts.
Can the Ryobi bandsaw resaw?
You’ll do small pieces on this saw. Resaw capacity is limited, but if you’re doing that kind of work, likely you need a bigger saw anyway.
Do I need a 14-inch bandsaw?
For the small shop furniture maker, go with 14″ as the minimum for a bandsaw, though 16″ is better. Those doing larger work might even want 18″ or 20″ machines. Just make sure you have a minimum resaw height of 12″ for versatility.
What does a 14-inch bandsaw mean?
Rob Johnstone: Band saw sizes are derived from the diameter of the wheels in the saw. So a 14-inch band saw will have wheels that are 14-inches in diameter. There is another measure that indicates how wide a board you can resaw.
How thick of wood can a 9 bandsaw cut?
There are several $99, 9 inch band saws on the market in my area (Ryobi, Skill). The are able to cut a thickness of 2 ½ inches.
What size bandsaw is best?
For a hobbyist, a 12″-14″ bandsaw is the ideal size. This size saw will provide plenty of power and a good deal of resawing capability. A professional will be better served with an 18″ bandsaw for a larger resawing capability. Choosing a 14″ band saw would provide plenty of power in a smaller footprint.
How thick can a 12 band saw cut?
A twelve-inch band saw is adequate for most home workshop jobs, typically cutting up to a six-inch capacity. (Cabinetmakers would do well to opt for a larger one, perhaps one with a sixteen- or twenty-inch throat.)
What type of bandsaw blade is best for resawing?
Resawing involves making rip cuts in the face of a wide board. So just like you would on the table saw, you’ll want to select a blade with fewer teeth per inch (TPI) than the blades you use for crosscutting or cutting curves. For most 14″ band saws, a 1 ⁄ 2 “-wide blade with 2-3 TPI is a good choice.
What hand saw for resawing?
Generally a typical handsaw with a 26-in. -long blade works well (more on big frame saws later). For most resawing I use a 5½ ppi (points per inch*) ripsaw. For really aggressive jobs like cutting up backboards, I might go with something coarser (3½ to 4 ppi).
Why does bandsaw not cut straight?
Band Saw: Why won’t my band saw cut straight? When the band saw cuts crooked, a dull blade, improper feeding, loose blade tension or not using a work piece guide could be the cause. Use the rip fence or miter gauge to guide the work piece uniformly through the cutting blade to make straight cuts.
Can I put a wider blade on my bandsaw?
An 18-inch diameter wheel can use a 0.032-inch thick blade that is 3/4 inch wide. In general, thicker and wider blades will be the choice when sawing dense wood and woods with hard knots. Such wood needs the extra strength of a thicker, wide blade to avoid breaking. Thicker blades also deflect less when resawing.