BANDSAW MAGIC

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Wow..................THat is amazing. Although, I have to admit that I'm scared to death of band saws, ever since I was a kid working with a butcher cutting out the belly fat on a Halibut and he trimmed off the top of all eight fingers...........and didn't realize it since we were working in a refrigerated room.
 
That's pretty cool. I've seen similar done at the woodworking shows before. It's always amazing to see them perform what almost comes off as magical.
 
How many times do you think he has cut that deer out??? I can tell you many many times. I have seen him at the woodworking shows for a few years now and still cutting the same deer out. Not that hard. It is pine he is cutting into also.
 
It appears he has found the 'magic' that results from using Carter guides. Alex Snodgrass is the Carter rep and he does the same deer. ONLY Alex is a bit more careful with his fingers when it comes to getting really close to the blade. Watch the Carter video here: http://www.carterproducts.com/product.asp?product_id=32&cat_id=14

The blade guide being used appears to me to be the new Carter Stabilizer Guide - about $80 or so -for that smaller blade. The Stabilizer Guide is the only guide used as there is NO guide assembly below the table. The grooved guide completely allows tighter turns, and a higher level of blade tension increases backing out capabilities with this blade size.

Cutting the deer is relatively easy to do after one has cut several dozen of them ... and using pine makes a huge, huge difference.

Carter also has introduced a magnetic fence that is great, and when not in use it simply can be attached to the lower wheel cover door.

A bandsaw tune-up video is produced by Carter and goes into some great detail about the use of the tuning of a bandsaw, converting to their guides, and a great section on the PROPER way to fold up and safely unfold a bandsaw blade and not seriously injure yourself. I believe the video is about $15 or so at the various Woodcraft and Rockler stores.

I have a Powermatic 14" with riser that I use to precut my bowl blanks round on and until I recently installed the Carter guides for this model it was taking a bit of time and effort to cut 10" bowl blanks. Now it only takes a couple of minutes and no effort at all. Just an immense respect for the blade and always where my hands and wrist are positioned. :smile:
 
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That's just scary! 2 years ago almost to the day, my wife slipped on ice and shattered her wrist. Surgery was scheduled for the next morning so I thought I would cut out some bear blanks and carve while I played nursemaid by her side after the surgery and anesthesia. I went to the shop, didn't fire the heater up and went to cutting...in a hurry. I was about at the end of the basswood block when my brain said "you need to reposition your fingers" about the time the blade hit a soft spot and pushed through into my left thumb. Found out that was a soft spot too! Needless to say the shop looked like a homicide crime scene and I refused to got to the ER since it was so late and her surgery was early morning. Butterfly closures and a finger splint and took care of the LOML. We were a pair the next day...my finger, her wrist. To this day I have no feeling in that thumb. That video made my skin crawl......:eek:
 
chuckw3 said:
jttheclockman said:
How many times do you think he has cut that deer out??? I can tell you many many times. I have seen him at the woodworking shows for a few years now and still cutting the same deer out. Not that hard. It is pine he is cutting into also.
Click to expand...

NOT THAT HARD ?????? OK
Click to expand...

I agree...... not that hard!

At a wood show a few years ago I saw a guy making these. I don't know for sure but I would guess he made two or three an hour... all day long. And he probably did the same thing every day at all the other shows so it wouldn't surprise me that he has done thousands of these.

Sawing that many, he could probably do it blindfolded if he wanted to! :smile:
 
The Carter Stabilizer system is exactly what that guy is demonstrating and I can attest it does work well if using those smaller blades for tight curves.

Now as far as the fingers too close, I agree he is playing with fire. He has become very relaxed at doing these and that is usually when bad things happen. Hope it never happens at a show. He usually goes and demonstartes this in different sizes and when he gets done he has an entire deer family right down to the baby deer which he does really tiny. Now that is one to see.

By the way they do the same demonstartion for scrollsaws.
 
I've noticed that all that are saying it's not that hard, are saying they've seen someone else do it. Can we expect some examples of yours soon?:tongue:
No, I can't do it. If I practiced for years, I coudn't do that I'm just wondering how "not that hard" it is. The only requirement is to be able to count to 10, with shoes on, later.
 
randywa said:
I've noticed that all that are saying it's not that hard, are saying they've seen someone else do it. Can we expect some examples of yours soon?:tongue:
No, I can't do it. If I practiced for years, I coudn't do that I'm just wondering how "not that hard" it is. The only requirement is to be able to count to 10, with shoes on, later.
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Randy
Very well said, thank you. Even if I had seen this person do this 1,000 times, it's still pretty amazing as far as I am concerned. Certainly no one would ever think it was his first time doing it. I know I couldn't. Kind of like the people who regularly post pictures of their work here on IAP. Every time I see one of them, I am totally impressed and often I learn something new. I'm afraid to post any of my work because it's probably too easy. Oh well, maybe some day I'll be worthy.

Fred,
Thank you for those links. I watched them and learned a lot about bandsaw techniques.

Cheers everyone :wink:
Bob
 
randywa said:
I've noticed that all that are saying it's not that hard, are saying they've seen someone else do it. Can we expect some examples of yours soon?:tongue:

Not from me........ the ones I made were given as gifts several years ago and are probably stuffed inside a "christmas decorations" box somewhere! :tongue:

No, I can't do it. If I practiced for years, I coudn't do that I'm just wondering how "not that hard" it is.

So, you've just convinced yourself that you can't do it right! I remember years ago when I saw my first Cabriole Legs on a piece of furniture. I thought, wow, that's tough, I wonder how they do it! Then I started studying them and made some small mock up legs then before I knew it, I was making some pretty nice cabriole legs and putting them on everything! All it takes is practice!
Click to expand...

Every Christmas season, someone at our local wood turning club would do a demo on how to make these little things among other Christmas tree ornaments. Usually at the next meeting the display table was swamped with dozens of different variations. So, having actually made several, I stand by what I said..... they are not that hard!

There are instructions and templates all over the web, here are some easy "how to" instructions; http://woodgears.ca/reindeer/index.html

Here is another reindeer, done at a local Woodcraft class; http://lumberjocks.com/projects/7649 Here was his comment....
"This was my firt time using a bandsaw and upon my wife seeing the little reindeer she decided I needed a bandsaw to make christmas presents…."
 
that is amazing and WAY too close for comfort. I like to be able to utilize every finger. it is amazing the speed though. I think that he is too comfortable around the blade that is when accidents happen
 
Bob, what I've learned in my 2 short years here, is don't be afraid to post. I laid back and watched for 1 1/2 years or so before I showed my first. I'm proud to say they were either well received or folks showed restraint. As yet, no one has piled on about how lacking my skills are without showing me a better way. I suspect you are worthy if it pleases you. My favorites to make are Comfort Slims. I'm starting to like the Gatsbys because there are less parts to screw up. So, go ahead and show some.
 
Texatdurango said:
randywa said:
I've noticed that all that are saying it's not that hard, are saying they've seen someone else do it. Can we expect some examples of yours soon?:tongue:

Not from me........ the ones I made were given as gifts several years ago and are probably stuffed inside a "christmas decorations" box somewhere! :tongue:

No, I can't do it. If I practiced for years, I coudn't do that I'm just wondering how "not that hard" it is.

So, you've just convinced yourself that you can't do it right! I remember years ago when I saw my first Cabriole Legs on a piece of furniture. I thought, wow, that's tough, I wonder how they do it! Then I started studying them and made some small mock up legs then before I knew it, I was making some pretty nice cabriole legs and putting them on everything! All it takes is practice!
Click to expand...

Every Christmas season, someone at our local wood turning club would do a demo on how to make these little things among other Christmas tree ornaments. Usually at the next meeting the display table was swamped with dozens of different variations. So, having actually made several, I stand by what I said..... they are not that hard!

There are instructions and templates all over the web, here are some easy "how to" instructions; http://woodgears.ca/reindeer/index.html

Here is another reindeer, done at a local Woodcraft class; http://lumberjocks.com/projects/7649 Here was his comment....
"This was my firt time using a bandsaw and upon my wife seeing the little reindeer she decided I needed a bandsaw to make christmas presents…."
Click to expand...

I stand by what I said. If it's not that hard, show me,( my state motto). And yes I've convinced myself I can't. My mind struggles with 1 dimension. 3 of them would get me hurt. And by the way, Queen Anne legs were the first thing I taught myself to make. It was the reason I bought my first lathe.
 
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Most anything gets to be easier if that is all you ever do. The problems begin when one becomes lackadaisical, stops practicing 'safety first', then up and throws common sense away.

If you use it one time, or a million times ... never, never think for an instant that your reflexes can ever be faster than the 'gotcha' from any power tool, especially one that can make body parts fall off.
 
Hey, I can make one of those with a scroll saw. And not nearly that fast.
 
Texatdurango said:
chuckw3 said:
jttheclockman said:
How many times do you think he has cut that deer out??? I can tell you many many times. I have seen him at the woodworking shows for a few years now and still cutting the same deer out. Not that hard. It is pine he is cutting into also.
Click to expand...

NOT THAT HARD ?????? OK
Click to expand...

I agree...... not that hard!
Click to expand...

I dunno.... after a buncha dozen of those I bet he gets a cold sweat and a nervous tic at the THOUGHT of having to do another one those "blinkety blank deer".....
 
randywa said:
Texatdurango said:
randywa said:
I've noticed that all that are saying it's not that hard, are saying they've seen someone else do it. Can we expect some examples of yours soon?:tongue:

Not from me........ the ones I made were given as gifts several years ago and are probably stuffed inside a "christmas decorations" box somewhere! :tongue:

No, I can't do it. If I practiced for years, I coudn't do that I'm just wondering how "not that hard" it is.

So, you've just convinced yourself that you can't do it right! I remember years ago when I saw my first Cabriole Legs on a piece of furniture. I thought, wow, that's tough, I wonder how they do it! Then I started studying them and made some small mock up legs then before I knew it, I was making some pretty nice cabriole legs and putting them on everything! All it takes is practice!
Click to expand...

Every Christmas season, someone at our local wood turning club would do a demo on how to make these little things among other Christmas tree ornaments. Usually at the next meeting the display table was swamped with dozens of different variations. So, having actually made several, I stand by what I said..... they are not that hard!

There are instructions and templates all over the web, here are some easy "how to" instructions; http://woodgears.ca/reindeer/index.html

Here is another reindeer, done at a local Woodcraft class; http://lumberjocks.com/projects/7649 Here was his comment....
"This was my firt time using a bandsaw and upon my wife seeing the little reindeer she decided I needed a bandsaw to make christmas presents…."
Click to expand...

I stand by what I said. If it's not that hard, show me,( my state motto). And yes I've convinced myself I can't. My mind struggles with 1 dimension. 3 of them would get me hurt. And by the way, Queen Anne legs were the first thing I taught myself to make. It was the reason I bought my first lathe.
Click to expand...


If I showed one how are you going to know how hard it was??? How do you know how fast I did it??? How do you know if I used my bandsaw or my scrollsaw??? What difference does showing you one mean. ??? There are a ton of 3D patterns out there. This one just happens to be an all time favorite and many people do them. Believe me it is not hard. What makes it a bit harder for him is he is not using a pattern but like I said do them a couple hundred times and you too can make them without a pattern. Same as turning a pen. Remember the first one you did and how slow and careful you were. Now I bet that times has decreased 100fold. Try it and see for yourself and show us.
 
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jttheclockman said:
randywa said:
Texatdurango said:
randywa said:
I've noticed that all that are saying it's not that hard, are saying they've seen someone else do it. Can we expect some examples of yours soon?:tongue:

Not from me........ the ones I made were given as gifts several years ago and are probably stuffed inside a "christmas decorations" box somewhere! :tongue:

No, I can't do it. If I practiced for years, I coudn't do that I'm just wondering how "not that hard" it is.

So, you've just convinced yourself that you can't do it right! I remember years ago when I saw my first Cabriole Legs on a piece of furniture. I thought, wow, that's tough, I wonder how they do it! Then I started studying them and made some small mock up legs then before I knew it, I was making some pretty nice cabriole legs and putting them on everything! All it takes is practice!
Click to expand...

Every Christmas season, someone at our local wood turning club would do a demo on how to make these little things among other Christmas tree ornaments. Usually at the next meeting the display table was swamped with dozens of different variations. So, having actually made several, I stand by what I said..... they are not that hard!

There are instructions and templates all over the web, here are some easy "how to" instructions; http://woodgears.ca/reindeer/index.html

Here is another reindeer, done at a local Woodcraft class; http://lumberjocks.com/projects/7649 Here was his comment....
"This was my firt time using a bandsaw and upon my wife seeing the little reindeer she decided I needed a bandsaw to make christmas presents…."
Click to expand...

I stand by what I said. If it's not that hard, show me,( my state motto). And yes I've convinced myself I can't. My mind struggles with 1 dimension. 3 of them would get me hurt. And by the way, Queen Anne legs were the first thing I taught myself to make. It was the reason I bought my first lathe.
Click to expand...


If I showed one how are you going to know how hard it was??? How do you know how fast I did it??? How do you know if I used my bandsaw or my scrollsaw??? What difference does showing you one mean. ??? There are a ton of 3D patterns out there. This one just happens to be an all time favorite and many people do them. Believe me it is not hard. What makes it a bit harder for him is he is not using a pattern but like I said do them a couple hundred times and you too can make them without a pattern. Same as turning a pen. Remember the first one you did and how slow and careful you were. Now I bet that times has decreased 100fold. Try it and see for yourself and show us.
Click to expand...

If you make one, at any speed, with any saw, and tell me it's not hard, I will gladly accept your word as a gentleman and sawyer. I've tried similar projects, but as I said, mine is not a 3D mind. All I ended up with was really nice kindling. It made for easy fire starting.
 
When I was a young child my father used to rough out duck decoy bodies and heads on his bandsaw. He got so good he could paint them, throw them in the marsh and at 50ft you would swear they were real ducks.
 
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