An editor’s favorite, we used this jig in the WOOD magazine shop to resaw spalted maple into beautiful jewelry box stock. Get started harvesting logs right in your own backyard or local forest, using Brian Hahn’s favorite jig and technique for converting firewood into valuable stock. Download the Resawing Bandsaw Jig and Technique article, including step-by-step instructions, detailed illustrations, and a complete materials list.
1) Every log sled relied on the miter slot to make straight cuts. This puts the weight of the log out near the end of the table on an already top heavy band saw. When using my log stabilizer / log sled / log jig, I make my first cut, then flip the log, so the flat side rests on the table.
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.
20) Bandsaw log sled and resaw fence for any bandsaw.
Bandsaw sled for milling small logs At a wood show, I saw somebody selling a neat metal jig for cutting lumber off small logs on the bandsaw. The picture at left shows the sled having just been used to cut the side off a piece of crabapple lumber that I cut off one of the trees in my yard when I pruned it. So after cutting one side off, rotate the log 90 degrees, make another cut, and then make the rest of the cuts with a regular fence.
bandsaw resaw sled design Related Question:
What size bandsaw do you need for resawing?
To get started with resawing, I recommend a band saw of sufficient power and with a large depth of cut. Any motor smaller than 1hp and depth of cut less than 10″ will limit your effectiveness. (Some 14″ band saws have about a 6″ maximum cutso you’d be limited to a 12″ wide book-matched panel or less.)
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.
Can any bandsaw resaw?
Just about any bandsaw will do acceptable resawing. For example, all the cuts made in this story were done on an inexpensive, 14-in. bandsaw with a 3/4-hp motor. All we did to the saw was add a riser block to increase its capacity.
How do you cross cut a log?
The basic technique is to start with a meeting cut through one third of the log from the side that is exposed to compressive stress – that is the side where you expect the guide bar to pinch. Then continue to cut a meeting cut on the opposite side until the log is cut through.
Why is it called resawing?
The reason for the different terms is that ripping cuts are all cuts along the grain but not all rip cuts are resawing. Resawing, as the term is used today, refers only to cutting a board across its thickness, i.e. sawing a thick board into two (or more) thinner boards.
Can you resaw on a table saw?
When it’s time to resaw lumber for thin stock, a bandsaw usually comes to mind. But in many situations, such as preparing 1⁄ 4 “-thick stock for a project, you can do it on your tablesaw. Most 10″ tablesaws easily resaw boards up to 5 1⁄ 2 ” wide.
What is the purpose of a resaw?
A resaw is a large band saw optimized for cutting timber along the grain to reduce larger sections into smaller sections or veneers. Resawing veneers requires a wide blade – commonly 2 to 3 inches (52–78 mm) – with a small kerf to minimize waste.
How does a resaw guide work?
Resaw guides provide a higher level of control when adjusting for band saw blade drift. Curved face of the guide helps steer board into the cut. Easily attaches to the face of the band saw fence. This 7″ Resaw Guide is designed for larger capacity band saws.
How thick of wood 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.
Why does my bandsaw burn the wood?
A majority of issues with wood burning is because of a dull saw blade. These blades may not be sharp enough to efficiently cut the wood, and thus create enough friction to heat and burn the wood. What is this? Dull blades make it more challenging to cut, which causes friction as you pass the wood through.