A band saw is a widely respected piece of woodworking machine. However, it is still a risky woodworking tool that, if exploited, can result in serious harm.
But, there is no need to worry about the risk of using a band saw because here, you will learn the proper use of a band saw with a complete guide.
Besides, if you look in the market, there are many types, and shapes of bands saw in stores and markets.
Therefore, it is difficult to decide what kind of shapes we need to pick for our purpose and how to use a band saw safely without any hand injury.
This guide will solve all your questions and present you complete information about size, types, shapes, the purpose of use, and much other information.
What Is A Band Saw?
The bandsaw is also known as (band saw), one of the most reliable and standard woodworking devices.
It can cut curves in thick lumber, crosscut short cuts, and rip lumber pieces. On the other hand, the band saw is most ordinarily used to cut unique shapes.
To re-sawing or tearing lumber into thinner pieces is the second most common form.
Furthermore, it also produces the smoothest cuts and can be utilized to cut materials other than wood, such as metal, with the best blade.
If you’re a woodworker, you’ll have to use it fairly soon in your life if you haven’t already.
We’re confident you’ll enjoy using it because of its uniqueness. However, you can be used for a variety of purposes in woodworking.
What Is A Band Saw Used For?
A band saw can cut material using a long and sharp blade made up of a continuous band of toothed metal spread within a pair or more wheels.
They’re essentially used in woodworking, metalworking, and lumbering, yet they can also cut through various materials.
Including both advantages, it can cut irregular or curved shapes like a jigsaw and a uniform cutting action due to its equally divided tooth load and blades.
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Band Saw Uses
You can use a band saw for multiple types of cuts as well as various types of work. Some are explained below;
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Woodworking
The most effective and simple task for the band saw is Woodworking. It comes with an angle, table, and much more.
They’re essential for completing crosscuts to straight cuts and any other freehand reductions of woodworking projects.
Also, it enables you to use the saw in a variety of ways on the same piece. Even though your project involves a large piece of wood, you can complete it with the saw.
Yet, it helps you cut a straight wood material for the initial time with the accurate size you need. Moreover, you can use it to determine the work piece’s expected shape and size.
You can make an optimum cut from a larger to a smaller piece because of the blade size.
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Circle Cutting
Another advantage of using a band saw is that you can cut a circle with the help of a band saw. Now! There is no need to looking at the other machine for cutting the circle shape.
You need to adjust the correct height of the band saw, which will allow you to cut the wood in a circle shape.
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Metalworking
The bandsaw’s sharp, long blade is perfect for cutting the metal pieces affectively, highly, and accurately.
Most of the time, cutting the metal pieces is a tricky challenge with other machines, but you can easily cut the metal pieces with the band saw.
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Multiple Pieces Of Work
You’ll be surprised to learn that you can also use a band to cut different pieces. It allows you to cut a large amount of wood at once.
However, it is not difficult yet; you can complete it in a short time. You need to stack the wood together and secure it with tape.
Set the blade to the ideal height and feed the wood around the edge. When both the blade and the wood are adjusted, you can cut them as if they were a single piece of wood.
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Lumber Cutting
Since its invention in the 1800s, the band saw has become identified with ripping lumber. What exactly is ripping?
Generally, ripping refers to the process of chopping down large pieces of wood along the grain. It is the most reliable way to make a long piece by cutting it down into several working sections orderly.
You can also cut the large pieces of lumber using the band saw. The effectively and effortlessly band saw come with a big table size with a wide capacity for cutting the wood in any shape.
Types of Bandsaw
A band saw is the best tool to use when making accurate shapes and curves out of wood.
But it can do so much more, and many woodworkers would agree that it is one of the most flexible power saws available.
In this case, there are many band saws that we should consider before purchasing a band saw.
Remember what types of band saws you need for your purpose and what shape it will have. Some of the band saws are mentioned below;
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By Purpose of Bandsaw
Firstly, consider your purpose for what type of purchase you want to buy a band saw. Some are the most highlighted purpose are given below;
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Metal Bandsaw
Typically, metal band saw are built to cut the tough metal but, their appearance is similar to that of wood band saws.
Like any other metal-cutting tool, it is the most distinguishing feature.
Aside from cutting at lower speeds to allow cutting into metal, the blade has many small teeth per inch rather than the few large ones found on a wood band saw blade.
Metal band saws, on the whole, have a few different characteristics that you won’t find in lumber band saws.
The coolant that keeps the saw cool and lubricated is one of them. Furthermore, Metal band saw are classified into two different types.
That is vertical bandsaw and horizontal band saws.
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Vertical Bandsaw
One of the other types of metal saws is a vertical bandsaw.
They are built for more complex tasks, and many contractors and artisans keep them in their workshops for polishing, filing, and contour cutting.
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Horizontal Band Saw
Generally, horizontal band saw are the several popular models among the two band saws.
It is often used to reduce the size of metal pieces in the bottom position to something more acceptable.
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Wood Bandsaw
Another one of the best bandsaws is the Wood band saw. This type of bandsaw is prevalent in people’s minds when they thought about the band saw.
Besides, peoples would love this bandsaw because of its versatility as it can cut various sizes of cuts and shapes. Therefore, it is a popular tool for both amateur and professional woodworkers.
And if you had to rank the most common and popular power saws, it would probably come in second to the table saw.
It can work with the large-diameter limber and is smack kerf lead, making it very popular in the flexible tool.
Hence, Wood band saws determine the work in the same way as other sorts, with the blade riding on a constant loop of metal teeth to make specific woodcuts.
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Meat Band Saw
Meat bandsaw is the favorite power tool of professional butchers because it simplifies and speeds up the process. It is designed for specific cutting meat, as the name implies.
These band saws are typically made of stainless steel and are designed to be effortless to maintain and clean. This is due to the highly delicate nature of the material they are supposed to cut.
Although meat band saws are commonly associated with expert skinners, they are also used by many passionate meat lovers and farmers to create perfect cuts of steak and lamb.
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Tube Bandsaw
Tube Bandsaw is also known as “Cut of Saw.” It is ideal for cutting a variety of pipes and tubes, and it has dual column sawing systems that offer complete automation for complex and accurate pipe and tubing cuts.
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By Shape of Bandsaw
Furthermore, consider before purchasing the band saw is what shape of bandsaw you need to buy. There are some shapes available in the bandsaw, which are;
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Vertical Bandsaws
Vertical band saws have a vertical cutting position that is powered by an electric motor through the use of the best transmission.
These power saws are incredibly versatile, allowing you to create highly intricate cuts and complicated shapes that would be difficult to achieve with most other types of band saws.
As compared to other bandsaws, vertical bandsaws can cut quickly with the help of these sharp teeth of the blade.
Moreover, Vertical band saws can make accurate straight line cuts in addition to making complex and complicated cuts, making them an excellent all-around power saw.
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Horizontal Bandsaw
Horizontal band saws are those with the cutting blade positioned horizontally and designed to cut down into the stock.
The trimmed material will be placed on a vice grip connected to the saw’s bed to use this saw.
This type of band saw is one of the favorites for both professional workers and amateur woodworkers.
Because they have handy of long cutting materials which are adjustable size, yet it can do the right cuts of angles.
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Portable Band Saw
The portable band saw is ideal for those who need to use a saw on the go. It is one of the lightest and smallest bandsaw in all the types of bandsaws to making them effortless transport.
You can easily carry it for transportation because of its lightweight. Despite their small size of these bands, saws are versatile, as they can cut straight lines, curved lines, and irregular shapes.
So because of these versatile functions and portable, they’re popular among woodworkers.
Steps To Follow – How To Use A Band saw safely
Band saws are widely considered to be one of the safest pieces of woodworking equipment. It does not, however, ensure that it is risk-free.
As a result, you must keep in mind that improper use of the tool can cause havoc at work. Therefore, some are the essential steps that you should consider when you go through working with a band saw;
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Step One: Cleaning
First of all, clean the dust that is leftover wood on the band saw. It may be a huge difference when you go through to making woodcuts.
Obviously! It is always a perfect first step to start with a fresh and cleaning saw. After clean it, please check the user manual at least once and understand its guideline properly.
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Step Two: Choose the Right Blade
The majority of people use the same blade all of the time, which is usually a 1/2 inch blade.
Although it runs smoothly for some positions, you may want something a little sharper or a little rougher at some other times.
If your band saw has different blade sizes, it’s a good idea to check if the blade you’re using is the right one for the work before starting a cut.
Related Article
Best Bandsaw Blades For Woodworking In The Market
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Step Three: Blade Sharpness
When the saw is not in use, the blade friction should be marked down. However, when it’s time to use the band saw, make sure it’s set to the proper height.
Although the band saw I’m using has a nice window that makes it simple to raise or lower the blade friction to the proper blade size, not all band saws are as user-friendly.
Making sure you have the suitable blade friction set, on the other hand, can make a massive difference in the quality of your cut.
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Step Four: Blade Guidelines
Blade guidelines are small holders that keep the blade level and in its proper position.
One set of blade guides is higher, while the other is lower. Make sure the guide is set to the right height for your cut to make a decent cut.
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Step Five: Plug-In
When I’m not using my band saw, I leave it unplugged. It’s just more convenient that way, mainly when working on the saw and changing the blade.
Thus, the last thing I do before cutting is double-checked that the saw is turned on.
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Step Six: Unplugged
Before doing other things, please make sure that you will switch off the band saw.
It is the best way to keep safer; unplugged the band saw is a good habit after working with it.
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Step Seven: Released Blade & Cleaning the Band Saw
After working with it, we should release the blade and clean it. As we did before cutting, so the blade is not kept rigid.
Once you released the blade on the band saw, keep it clean, just like cleaning it before you use it.
This is a crucial point to stay safe whenever you’re finished with the saw.