I have come across a bargain purchase of 30 bd ft. of walnut but the boards are 8/4 stock and 10′ x 10″ in size. I will surely need to resaw the boards prior to using them for most of my projects. I am looking for cheaper resaw alternatives to purchasing a 14″ bandsaw outfited with a riser block and resaw blade or an 18″ bandsaw. Is it reasonable to try using my 10″ table saw with a thin kerf blade and taking a 3″ cut around the edges and then follow it up with a good hand rip saw. Any other tools or methods I should consider?
– Peter
Replies
Check out the yellow pages for a local mill or shop that makes fancy moldings.
Mark
Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with chalk, cut it with an ax.
It's do-able. I've done it that way a couple of times, but on much shorter pieces (around 3'-4'). It's certainly not my preferred method as it takes a lot longer than you'd think to saw through the middle section by hand. My handsaw at the time was reasonably sharp, but I had a bit better luck using a frame (bow) saw. Seemed like the thinner blade went through a bit easier. 10' long pieces is going to be a workout. Make sure to leave enough thickness to clean up the cut side with the planer (or handplanes) though.
Waddaya mean it wont fit through the door?
I second Mark. Find either another local woodworker with a bandsaw or look for a cabinet/milling shop and pay to have it resawn. Unless you have plenty of time, a real good rip saw properly and recently sharpened and a stong arm and back having it done is the best alternative to buying a decent bandsaw of your own
But Hey it is a good excuse to buy one!
Like the others aid, it works, but I wouldn't want to do a lot:
Use your tablesaw with a good rip blade to cut about 2-3" in on each edge. Then use a Sawsall with an aggressive 12" blade to follow through the cuts. I wouldn't consider doing it by hand.
I've done it many times prior to buying my 14" bandsaw....
The older I get, the better I was....
OK, you guys are starting to convince me to buy a bandsaw. But once I buy a 14" bandsaw with riser block and resaw blade I'm almost at the price of a RIKON 18" bandsaw. Would it be a better investment to get the 18" if my main use is resawing or am I missing some advantage of a good 14" bandsaw?
- Peter
I don't know what a Rikon costs, but a 14" Delta with riser is about 700CDN, and a good resaw blade is about 25 bucks.
Bigger for bandsaws is usually better. Stay with 220V, regardless of HP. I don't know why you would "lose out" by getting a bigger saw., except for cost.
Resawing % versus overall use should be your factor.The older I get, the better I was....
The RIKON 18" is sometimes on sale at Woodcraft for $850.00 US. So it's definitely competitive.
- Peter
You can "lose" out with a bigger machine.I took the base off of my 14" bandsaw and built a lower base that suits my height and style of use much better.Much harder to do with a bigger machine - break conctrete, dig hole, new concrete, drop machine in hole.
Wouldn't it be easier to build a platform for you to stand on ;-)Dave
Gee Dave ya Cruel!
4'x10' of infeed platform. It is doable. But I would prefer a hole.But then a horizontal bandsaw is another option.
GeorgeR,
It seems the height of the table top on a bandsaw goes down as the BS gets larger. Is there a particular advantage to that or is it just the presumption that bigger stock on bigger BS?
Peter,
I've done it tons of times on the cabinet saw using the sawsall with a 12" blade to finish up and then planing...but never on 10'lengths. However, I'd have to think long and hard to do that to walnut that width and thickness...gotta believe that wood would make a wonderful top for something??
Yes, definitely buy a bandsaw...opens up a whole new world of opportunity. Haven't heard anything bad about the Rikon, many love the Grizzly. Personally, most of my resawing is turning flatsawn timbers into quartersawn stock...which is more stable..for faceframes, rails and stiles and glued up panels. The point is I'm doing a lot more resawing than I first envisioned but the resawing height is of less importance. Maybe when I start to dabble in veneers my needs will change.
Edited 6/23/2005 2:19 pm ET by BG
As BG indicated a lot of people like the Grizzly and I have heard that they and Rikon compare fairly equally. check out the Grizzly site at
http://www.grizzly.com/products/items-list.cfm?key=420000&sort=price
Sorry BG, meant to send to Peter and when editing cannot change the recipient
1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go 4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
Edited 6/23/2005 4:09 pm ET by Rick503
Maybe when I start to dabble in veneers my needs will change...
Geee.. THEN you will want a 24 inch OR BIGGER...saw!
Peter , you will never regret buying the bandsaw
Wicked Decent Woodworks
(oldest woodworking shop in NH)
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
Not sure where ya at but if ya bring a small fifth of Jack Daniels you can use my bandsaw!
Peter,
You have some perfect face plate turning blanks. Consider turning a set of shallow bowls. Seems to me 10" diameter is about right for ice cream...
Steve
10" diameter is about right for ice cream... OK if the bowl is about 8 inches deep..
I love ice cream!
Edited 6/24/2005 11:32 am ET by Will George
Peter
If you're in the chicago area, bring the boards to my shop with a 12 pack of Bass Ale, we'll have em ready in no time.
Jeff
12 pack of Bass Ale How about a Pony Keg and my SEMI?
I tried the table saw routine once on a piece of 8/4 red oak. It was to large for my band saw. I thought my arm was going to fall off trying to cut the oak. My advice would be to buy the band saw or get someone else to cut it for you.
8/4 red oak.. My RICON thinks stuff like that BALSA wood..
Well, with my 1 inch 3 tooth LENOX blade in there..
check around for your local wood-mizer (or equivalent) owner - bring it to where I am set up, and that 12 pk of good brew will get you what you want - -
you won't regret owning a bandsaw unless you get a poor machine, but resawing 2X10's is a task on the common 14" ones -
I will gladly trade you 30 BF of 3/4" walnut for your 8/4. Might save you some time and effort, if you don't live too far away.
Regards,
Dan
Thanks for all of your helpful suggestions. I think I'll try to get a local shop in Annapolis Maryland to resaw the boards for me and then save up for an 18" RIKON if I forsee resawing as a big part of my woodworking future.
- Peter
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