Just bought a bandsaw, need help/ideas!

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GrantH

Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2011
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346
Location
Hattiesburg, MS
Hey guys I just got my shopmaster up and running and I plan on delving into segmented blanks. The saw didn't come with a fence unfortunately, but i'm hoping i'm not too bad off. Do any of you guys have pictures/designs/ideas on how to go about building a few jigs or fixtures to start me off segmenting? I'm not looking to go to a difficult design right away, but would like to try something soon.

Thanks a lot.
 
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The only place I can find these are at Menards which is not local to me. I guess I will shoot an email to the company to see what they say. Hmm...
 
Gary, I think those would work but do you just measure from the face to another portion of the table to square it up? It seems like it would be a hassle to do that for every cut? Maybe I am wrong though.
 
A good straight board and 2 C clamps is all I use. It has worked for 35 years, it is not broke, cost was nothing, and better than nothing.

Although I've got a fence for my Shopsmith bandsaw, sometimes just clamping a straight board to the table works better for some given situations.
 
Alright so i've got my straight edge figured out, and quite possibly have a ripping jig figured out (to get a straight edge cut even from less than straight woods) effectively trimming the edge straight.

What I need to know now is, Do I need a miter jig? I don't have the stock one as mentioned, and I can't find an adjustable one that anyone has built that helps cut small pieces like we need to do for pens. Am I looking at segmenting from the wrong view point, or am I just at a blank spot for how to do this stuff?
 
I'm slowly starting to realize maybe I should have bought a scroll saw and built a sled for my table saw. I absent-mindedly thought a bandsaw could cut slight curves in pen blanks. I realize now that is not the case. Hmmm......
 
Yup. If you have the bearing guides, you need to set those up to be just behind the teeth. The same for the bearings below the table. I do not have a 1/8" blade but my 1/4" will do both straight and curve.
 
Alright, I'll look at whats going on and if I can do anything to fix it.

Does anyone have pictures of a sled they have built for miter cutting angles? I can't find or picture in my head how one would be put together/work to cut small pieces for blanks and such like the herringbone pens. Blanks that need small pieces cut with angled ends. I can see where a large sheet could be done fairly simple, but something even a little bit smaller (4x4 board) would need some sort of jig/sled. I'm racking my brain over here!
 
Grant,

Here is a picture of a miter sled I drew up for my bandsaw.It will have an adjustable fence and stop block.It can be made of materials you probably have laying around.The sled for mine will be 12" x 12" and the fence will be around 16".I will post pictures of it when I can get it done.I have been sick this past week and haven't been able to do anything.Cant wait to get back in the shop again.
 

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I have a Kreg fence that I purchased for my bandsaw. It works great and allows me to even resaw. Has a fine adjustment to help keep the fence square. I cut fine curves on my bandsaw. There is a bandsaw book that is really good at setting up and maintaining your saw. It is called The Bandsaw Book. There is a member here, Turning for fun, who has a great jig for doing segmenting on a bandsaw. He makes beautiful blanks with this jig. Shoot him a PM and ask him about it.
 
My old Delta didn't come with one either so I used a bar clamp. It's not perfect but might work until you get a real fence.
 
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