The width of a bandsaw blade can limit the radius it can cut, the number of teeth will have an effect on the smoothness of the cut as well as speed of feed. If you are making 100, the bandsaw is a one cut machine and the blade should easily last. Making incremental cuts is fairly easy with a plunge router but more difficult with a standard router in a circle jig.
A bit of a newbie, but I’d like to start building my own electric guitar bodies. The way I see it done most often is making a close but rough cut with the band saw, then clean it up using a flush trim bit on the table router with the template as a guide. I’m guessing the issue is the thickness of the body blank.
A router fitted to a trammel and using a straight or spiral bit helps you cut circles with baby-smooth edges. “Outfitted with a 16″-square jig made from 3⁄4 ” plywood, the bandsaw makes it easy to quickly cut circles. The jig should work on nearly every bandsaw table and accommodates circles up to about 25″ in diameter.
A spindle sander and belt sander help in this regard, but if you had to, you could just use sanding blocks. Template routing yields good results, however if you have good skills with other general woodworking tools, the results can still be as good, and sometimes better, as there is no tear out from sanding. If you have access to a stationary belt sander and spindle sander or a Ridgid Oscillating Spindle sander or similar, you are all set.
A table saw is better for cutting through thicker materials, while a router table is better for thinner materials. A table saw is better for more complex projects, while a router table is better for simple projects. The router tool and stationary table are combined in a router table.
band saw vs router Related Question:
What is a band saw good for?
A band saw can be used to cut curves, even in thick lumber, such as in creating cabriole legs, to rip lumber and to crosscut short pieces. The most common use for the band saw, however, is in cutting irregular shapes. The second most common use is in resawing or ripping lumber into thinner slabs.
Can a router replace a jig saw?
You can use a router to cut wood, but it’s not typically used the same way a jigsaw is. A jigsaw is often used freehand. A router is always used with a jig or pattern, except when doing edge work where the router bit will have a guide bearing, or you’ll use a fence.
Is jigsaw or router better?
Routers Are Better for Curves The next difference between jigsaws and routers is that while jigsaws are ideal for straight cuts, and while they can be used for curves, due to the rounded shape of router bits, it is much easier to cut curves with them. If you need to cut curves, a router is often the better way to go.
How thick can a band saw 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.
What materials can a bandsaw cut?
Most bandsaws have two wheels rotating in the same plane, one of which is powered. The blade itself can come in a variety of sizes and tooth pitch (teeth per inch, or TPI) which enables the machine to be highly versatile and able to cut a wide variety of materials including wood, metal and plastic.
Whats a wood jointer do?
Woodworking jointers are used to make one face of a board, and one adjacent edge, perfectly flat and square to each other. Jointers are also great for flattening out cupped boards, removing twist, and preparing board edges to be glued together.
Can I put a drill bit in a router?
A great use for drill bits is to use them to set the depth of router bits! All you need is 2 drill bits that are the same size (I used 6mm bits) and a flat surface. First, place the 2 drill bits on the flat surface slightly spaced apart. Then loosen the base of the router so you can raise and lower the bit.
Can you use a router on a 2×4?
Cutting a 2×4 with a router and 1/2″ bit would require between 6 and twelve passes, depending on the shank size of the bit, with associated depth adjustments between each pass.
Can I use a router on plywood?
Yes, you can use a router on plywood, but ok depends entirely on your definition of “ok”. If there are no voids in the plywood, then it may not be terrible, but in my opinion as a woodworker, I’d rather see it edge banded with some type of hardwood. You can use a router on that and it will turn out quite nicely.
What tool is better than a jigsaw?
The reciprocating saw is a much larger tool than the jigsaw. It is designed to be used with two hands. One grips the rear handle which incorporates the trigger and the other hand supports the body closer to the blade.
How deep can a router cut?
Plunge is the change in height which the router body will descend to the base plate, on some machines this actually projects the collet below the base-plate – useful in some cases. Plunge depths vary between models, it can range from 2 to 3.5 inches.
How much HP does a bandsaw need?
A 3/4 or 1 HP bandsaw is pefectly adequate for re-sawing stock at home….
Can a band saw cut curves?
Whether it’s a tight curve or a closed opening, you can cut it on your band saw with a couple of easy tricks. Cutting on the band saw can be the same thing. The narrower the blade, the tighter the spots you can cut; in fact, some band saw blades rival a scroll saw for cutting tight curves.
How thick can a 9 inch 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.
Can a bandsaw cut through metal?
Band saws are not suitable for cutting very thin sheet metal; a rule of thumb suggests the metal to be cut should be thicker than the depth of 3 band saw blade teeth, however they are excellent for cutting thin walled profiles such as box and angle.