| Location | Northeast Minneapolis (NEMTL) |
| Location Code | SHOP |
| Manufacturer | JET |
| Model | JWBS-20 |
| Size | 20" |
| Weight | Heavy |
A band saw is a power saw that uses a long blade loop stretched between two wheels.
You can think of the blade like a ribbon that continually rotates along with the wheels.
Band saws are most often used for woodworking. However, you can also use them for lumbering and metalworking.
The main advantage of using a band saw is that you can do the highly uniform cutting. This is thanks to the evenly distributed tooth load.
A bandsaw can easily cut curved or irregular shapes. It works a lot like a jigsaw, but it allows you to have more control.
Only a small part of the blade loop shows in the cutting area.
However, most band saws allow you to make adjustments to expose more of the blade. This is helpful if you’re working on larger pieces of wood.
Because band saws feature small-sized blades, you can use them to make detailed, intricate cuts.
With these machines, the blade loop comes up through the center of the table on the saw.
The table is where you place the wood before you move it to meet the blade.
Some band saws also let you adjust the speed, and they let you make mitered and angled cuts, depending on the table surface of the saw.
This Unit:
Operation:
1. Collecting Dust
Dust gets in the way of a lot of things, including blade tracking, clean cutting, power transfer and clean air. Do your best to remove dust from your saw as it’s made and clean it on a regular basis.
2. Adjust the Tension
From “nice and low is the best approach” to “when in doubt, crank it up to 11,” band saw blade tension sometimes seems like a black art. Every situation is different. One thing you can do is play around with the tension of the blade you’re using in a specific situation in order to get more familiar with the results.
3. Use a Sharp Blade
Any tool works better when it’s sharp and a band saw is no exception. I bet some woodworkers neglect the “finer points” of band saw blade sharpness, but because of the amount of wood a band saw blade is removing and how fast it’s asked to do it, a sharp blade is not to be underestimated.
4. Clean Your Band Saw
Though I might have mentioned it before, a clean-running band saw will be able to expend its energy solely on cleanly cutting wood. Dust, sap, etc. only impede cutting, so keeping your saw clean is a good habit to get into.
5. Add an Auxiliary Table
Small- to medium-sized work pieces don’t need a third hand for support, but anything longer than a few feet will extend well off a standard band saw’s outfeed table, and could benefit from some added support. A simple plywood outfeed table that can be easily removed if the table needs to be tilted is a great idea.
6. Adjust Your Throat Depth
We’re all trying to be as productive as possible in the shop, but taking just a few seconds to adjust the height of the upper rollers on your band saw before making a cut will go a long way to stabilizing your band saw blade and making more accurate cuts.
7. Switch Blades
Depending on the cut you’re making, swapping in a different blade might be the difference between a great cut and an impossible cut. If you’re cutting a fairly tight curve, a 1/4″ blade will likely work best, but that same 1/4″ blade isn’t going to track very well while making straight or slightly curved cuts.
8. Understand TPI
A blade with a low TPI (teeth per inch) will cut quickly but leave a rougher surface. A blade with a high TPI will cut much smoother yet slower. Most blades range from about 2 TPI to about 15 TPI, with a middle ground of about 6 TPI.
9. Keep the Area Clear
If you’re cutting long pieces, make sure the area around your band saw is clear. Getting 3/4 of the way through a cut only to realize a cabinet door is in the way is going to make for a tricky situation.
10. Add a Light
The importance of seeing what you’re cutting can’t be overstated. If your saw has a light, turn it on. If not, magnetic lights can be purchased and will bring a smile to any woodworker’s face.
Safety:
Wear safety glasses or goggles, or a face shield (with safety glasses or goggles).
Wear hearing protection that is suitable for the level and frequency of the noise you are exposed to in the woodworking area.
Tie back your hair, remove jewelry, and wear fitted clothes to avoid getting caught or pulled by the moving blade.
Make sure all guards are in place and properly adjusted.
Make sure the wheels and blade are in good condition.
Make sure the blade is positioned properly on the track.
Adjust blade guard height to about 3 mm or 1/8 inch to 6mm or 1/4 inch above the top of the material being cut. Wider gaps will place tension on the blade and increase the risk of breaking.
Ensure the blade is tracking correctly and runs freely in and against the upper and lower guide rollers.
Ensure the blade is under proper tension. A band saw equipped with automatic tension control is desirable.
Use band saw blades that are sharp, properly set and otherwise suitable for the job (e.g., the right tooth pitch; tooth form; blade width).
Keep hands away from the line of the cut, and braced against the table.
Hold the stock firmly and flat on the table to prevent the stock from turning and drawing your fingers against the blade.
Use a push stick when you remove cut pieces from between the fence and saw blade or when your hands are close to the blade. Keep your hands on either side of the blade – not in line with the cutting line and the blade. See Woodworking Machines - Push Sticks for more information on push stick design.
Make release (relief) cuts before tight curves when doing intricate scroll-type work.
If you need to stop cutting, hold the material firmly and shut down the saw. Wait for the blade to stop moving before removing the piece.
Keep the machine properly oiled and serviced.
Provide adequate lighting at the machine table. A light fixture with a flexible connection can provide essential lighting.
Loan Notes: