After getting into and enjoying making bandsaw boxes I’m curious about what other bandsaw box makers use in their projects.
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What width and TPI blade are you using? I currently use a 3/16” wide by 3-4 TPI but would like to try a higher tooth count. How long will a 10 or 14 TPI blade last when cutting through 3-½” wood?
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After cutting the form out what methods do you prefer to smooth the bandsaw marks? Oscillating spindle sander? Belt/disc sander? Scraper? By hand?
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When gluing the back of the box and the fronts and backs of the drawer cutouts back together how much sanding do you do on the to be glued surfaces? Any?
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I’ve used pressure sensitive felt material to line the inside of trays/drawers but have heard of others using flock. Any preferences here?
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Does anyone use modeling software such as SketchUp to design and layout the pattern or is it mostly freehand and french curve?
Thanks for your input and help.
BobE
Replies
We are prolly making differing bandsaw boxes but here goes:
1. Semi-permanently installed 1/2” resaw blade
2. Disc Sander
3. None
4. Bare wood finished with water based poly
5. Freehand
Bob, from your questions it seems you may not have watched Michael Cullen’s bandsaw box video series. I watched the series a dozen times, took notes, stopped and got the oil stones Cullen recommended, stopped and got some leather finger protection to sharpen the gouges like Cullen recommended, made some test boxes and made mistakes. After a couple months I made a bandsaw box and was finally rewarded with the good feeling of an endorphin rush for a job properly done.
Cullen did not touch on how he handled the box interior. I posted that question on the website and Ben Strano replied that Cullen leaves the interior unsanded. I was concerned about that detail and I appreciated Ben’s reply.
r
Rule of thumb when selecting the TPI of the saw blade is that we need to consider the size of the material that you are cutting. Say, you are cutting thin materials, you should go for fine tooth configuration. If you are cutting big one, you need to go coarse. Example, if you are cutting less than an inch thick, you can use 10-14 or 8-12 TPI.