cutting pieces for a segmented bowl – what tool besides a table saw?
Dear All,
I started taking wood turning classes this past Aug and really enjoy it. I like how in a few to 10 hours I can have a completed project whereas my handtool woodworking often takes 100-300 hours.
I like segmented bowls. In terms of machines, all I own that I could use to cut these angled segments would be a band saw.
1. Do any of you use a bandsaw to cut segments for a segmented bowl? Likely not ideal.
2. Besides a tablesaw, what else do you use to cut these angled segments? I’ve heard Festool makes a good “chop saw” and was wondering how well that would work.
3. For those that use a table saw, is there some minimum level of quality needed to get clean and precise cuts? I don’t have room for a saw that has a large footprint (plus I really don’t need one for the way I work besides for these bowls). I’d be inclined to get either the Compact or Job Site Pro Saw Stop due to the small footprint and safety features.
Thanks for your help.
Sincerely,
Joe Leonetti
Replies
If you know your angle based on the number of segments you could look for a matching router bit and run strips to cut into pcs at a chopper for assembly into rings. Grain orientation will be the added issue.
I dont do segmenter bowls but I would think a radial arm saw would would well and they are realy cheap.
A Wedgie Sled for cutting segments is, in my opinion, a necessity. There are a number of methods that can be used to cut segments, but the Wedgie Sled is the best and most accurate. When I used the sled I made, I cut a single feature ring for a small bowl with 12 segments and it glued together perfectly with no gaps.
As for a "chop" saw, certainly Festool's is the best. However, I would not recommend a miter/chop saw as the best way to cut segments. A tablesaw with a good blade with a high number of teeth (at least a combo blade with 40+ teeth) and the Wedgie Sled should get you started and on the right path.
I wouldn't recommend a bandsaw in place of a tablesaw. It would be difficult to be able to get a smooth enough cut to create a segmented ring without some gaps. Plus, if you aren't interested in making a Wedgie Sled, I've only seen one jig online made for the bandsaw; an expensive one.
If you use a Wedgie Sled, I would think almost any tablesaw would work, especially if it's brand new and not subject to previous abuse. I cut my first segments on a Sawstop Jobsite Saw (the first version) with Sawstop's combination blade that came with the saw. Worked well.
The best source for segmented work is SegEasy.com - Along with selling various items to help with segmented work (most not absolutely necessary), there are plans for Wedgie Sleds (since the Wedgie Sled development is associated with this site). Also, YouTube has videos concerning making Wedgie Sleds and various other jigs and items to help with segmenting. (Some videos are great and some aren't, so pick which ones are useful and consistent with other information on segmenting.)
As with anything new you are trying, you're welcome to try to cut segments in any of the other ways you think might work. The general problem with just cutting them with even a good quality miter gauge (like Incra or Woodpeckers) is that that all segments except the last one will fit. The cut(s) on the last segment will almost always have to be adjusted to fit without a gap. The reason for this is that even a tiny variation on the exact angle required to make a full circle of segments with be mulitpied by the number of segments you need for the ring. For example, even a .1 degree difference (which isn't much or necessarily even noticeable on its own) multiplied by 12 segments (24 cuts) could mean that, over the whole ring there would be an angle error of .1 times 24; a significant error of almost 2.5 degrees. This means the last segment would need to be repetitively adjusted and fit to be sure no noticeable gaps exist.
I have made a ton of segmented bowls and have sold many. I use a Dewalt 12" chopsaw. Take a long enough strip of wood, cut the angles, just leave enough at the end of the strip to keep your hands away from the blade. A bandsaw will not give you a smooth enough cut. You can use a sled on a tablesaw as another approach.
Thanks all for the feedback. Seeming as if a small table saw with a quality high tooth cross cut blade is the way to go. I will look into the wedgie sled and segeasy.com sites as well.
Joe, I recently found a Hammond Glider G3 for $150. They were/are used by printmakers but a good woodworking blade can be found for them. Lots of ingenious built in stops and clamps. Mine is from 1938 and VERY heavy, but there are later versions made from stamped steel. Amazing little sliding table saw. Could be perfect if you can find one. And In certain you could if you keep your eyes peeled. I see them around NYC often enough. They are also known as a Hammond Trim o saw.
I don’t make segmented bowls myself, but I’d imagine a radial arm saw would work well for that. Plus, they’re pretty affordable!
Not the quickest or cheapest option, but if you like working with hand tools you could get a good quality shooting plane (both LN and Veritas make excellent ones) with the veritas shooting fence. You can cut close with a hand saw and get a perfect fit with the shooting plane. Very satisfying, but you'll be working for about 25 cents an hour.... You can actually use a standard plane for shooting, but I much prefer the skewed blade and ergonomics of a dedicated shooting plane.
I found the previous comment interesting Using hand tools,namely a handsaw, plane of some sort, and a shooting jig? Hand tools certainly have their place in woodworking and wood carving, but not so much in turning (unless you also carve on your pieces, especially segmented turning. There is just some work that cries for power tools. If I needed to spend money on hand tools or power tools to get started in segmented turning I’d put my money into a small tablesaw with a smooth cutting blade and the materials to make a wedgie sled. The tablesaw has many other uses in woodworking and the wedgie sled is a minimal investment. Sometimes it’s hard to know whether a post is meant to be serious or just to get a reaction. Well this is my reaction.
As my first sentence stated, hand tools are not the most efficient way of doing this. It was simply an option for someone who does not have the requisite power tools. Not meant to be controversial.