I just finished following Michael Fortune’s bandsaw tune up steps and my second hand saw (14″ jet) is cutting much straighter now, but the cut is still very rough. I ordered new guide blocks and will probably get a new blade, as the old cool blocks were really worn down and the blade is a 3/8″ 5 tpi that came with the saw and has likely seen better days.
My question is: how smooth of a resaw cut should I expect? Right now if my tablesaw was cutting this rough I would be very upset. Is tablesaw-like quality to be expected, where some sanding/scraping or a light pass or two with a plane is enough for a good finish? Or should I expect to lose another 16th to an 8th of material going through the power planer to get a good surface?
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Smoothocity
"Is tablesaw-like quality to be expected, where some sanding/scraping or a light pass or two with a plane is enough for a good finish?"
No.
"Or should I expect to lose another 16th to an 8th of material going through the power planer to get a good surface?"
Yes.
The quality and sharpness of the blade will make a big difference, as will how well-tuned the saw is. But, you still won't get a ready-to-be-scraped surface. The fundamental design of the bandsaw doesn't allow for that.
Three TPI blades are usually recommended for resawing, with a blade width of anywhere from 1/2" to 1" depending on the saw (size, power) and the preferences of the individual. Some folks also prefer carbide blades for resawing, others not.
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