Use and Care Manual

25
12.0 Operation
The following section contains basic information,
and is not intended to cover all possible applications
or techniques using the Band Saw. Consult
published sources of information, acquire formal
training, and/or talk to experienced Band Saw users
to gain proficiency and knowledge of band saw
operations.
The following Figures may or may not show your
particular model, but the procedures are the same.
12.1 General procedure
1. Make sure the blade is adjusted correctly for
tension and tracking, and that upper and lower
guide bearings and thrust bearings are set in
proper relation to the blade.
2. Adjust guide post so that the guide bearings are
just above the workpiece (about 3/16”) allowing
minimum exposure to the blade.
3. If using the fence, move it into position and lock
it to the guide rail. If you are using the miter
gauge for a crosscut, the fence should be
moved safely out of the way.
4. Turn on the band saw and allow a few seconds
for the machine to reach full speed.
Whenever possible, use a push
stick, hold-down, power feeder, jig, or similar
device while feeding stock, to prevent your
hands getting too close to the blade.
5. Place the straightest edge of the workpiece
against the fence for a rip cut; or against the
miter gauge for a crosscut.
6. Push the workpiece slowly into the blade, while
also keeping it pressed against the fence or
held against the miter gauge. Do not force the
workpiece into the blade.
Some further operating tips:
Make relief cuts whenever possible. A relief cut is an
extra cut made through the waste portion of a
workpiece up to the layout line. When that
intersection is reached by the blade while following
the layout line, the waste portion comes free. This
helps prevent pinching of the back edge of the blade
in the cut.
When cutting, do not overfeed
the blade; overfeeding will reduce blade life, and
may cause the blade to break.
When cutting long stock, the operator should use
roller stands, support tables, or an assistant to help
stabilize the workpiece.
12.2 Ripping
Ripping is cutting lengthwise down the workpiece,
and with the grain (of wood stock). See Figure 41.
Always use a push stick or similar device when
ripping narrow pieces.
Figure 41: ripping
12.3 Crosscutting
Crosscutting is cutting across the grain of the
workpiece, while using the miter gauge to feed the
workpiece into the blade.
The right hand should hold the workpiece steady
against the miter gauge, while the left hand pushes
the miter gauge past the blade, as shown in Figure
42.
Do not use the fence in conjunction with the miter
gauge. The offcut of the workpiece must not be
constrained during or after the cutting process.
Using the fence in conjunction
with the miter gauge can cause binding and
possible damage to the blade.
Figure 42: crosscutting
12.4 Resawing
Resawing is the process of slicing stock to reduce
its thickness, or to produce boards that are thinner
than the original workpiece, such as veneers.