HOW TO RESAW WITH A BANDSAW

A large band saw is augmented to split the stock into larger sections to smaller parts, maintaining the same length and width through resawing. As blade size plays an important role in having straight cut, it’s always preferred to use 2-3 inches long blades with at least 3 teeth per inch as recommended by the professionals. It is the known fact among the carpenters that only the wider blade is able to produce a straight cut through the stock. Nowadays, many small and medium category sawmills are comfortable to saw the log with 1 to 1.5 inches blade. It’s now a proven fact that the wider blade is the perfect choice for resawing the stock. The primary function of resawing is to split the log or a lumber into thinner pieces with the band saw. Other advantages of resawing are creating wide sheets from constricted board, turning the logs into lumber, creating tinny pliable pieces for bent laminations, etc. Resawing also allows having thinner slabs for book-matching through vertical ripping of thick boards. However, resawing the log with a bandsaw is associated with some technical aspects which woodworkers or DIYers need to know. Besides, resawing needs some specific skills to produce a wide range of cuts. 

However, let’s have a talk about how to resaw with a band saw in order to utilize the various cutting features of the band saw through resawing.        

Set up Bandsaw Blade and Board

One of the important steps is to set up your bandsaw blade and board. Place the bandsaw blade in an upright position on the table, especially when you intend to resaw wide lumber. To achieve an optimum result, it’s suggested to show the indicators or the guidepost all the way. Use a square with the support to measure which saw is capable of resawing. Then position your table and make sure there is no breach between the blade and the support. Get a board with a square corner. Thus, it can drive the flush in contrast to the tall fence and the table while performing a cutting task. 

Fix Bandsaw Fence at Drift Angle

The next step is to angle the stock to produce a straight cut.  It’s extremely vital to find the drift angle and set the fence to ensure they preferably match with each other to produce an effective re-sawing task.

To do this, first draw a straight line on a scuffle board parallel to its edge. Then make a cut according to the line by adjusting the angle of the board if necessary. After having a cut to a certain point to create the drift angle, grip the board in position and relocate the angle to the saw’s table. 

Then place your fence at the same angle by using the line previously drawn. Then, make a trial cut and readjust your fence as required in order to have a perfect setup. Repeat the adjustment procedure until the stock stands evenly alongside the fence without any restriction. 

Measurement of Box 

With the above setup, resawing long boards would be gust as the board could be held spontaneously along with the fence. It would allow your hands to feed the board without any obstruction. 

Then the next step is to make a box which should be as long as the width of the board. The width of the box should be aligned with the distance between the blade and the front side of the table. In contrast, the length of the box needs to be aligned with the distance between the blade and the right edge of the table. Place the box in front of the blade and secure it properly to make sure the board fits comfortably and the slides fit between the box and the fence voluntarily and steadily as well.  

Increased Capacity of Resawing 

If your project deals with a 12-inch thick log or a 24-inch wide book-matched table-top, bandsaw raises its resawing capability from 6 to 12 inches if your saw comes with riser block kit. 

The kit is assembled with a block and all other important parts including a longer guidepost and a blade guard that helps adjust the saw as required. In addition, you have to purchase longer blades in case the bandsaw swamps down due to resawing exceedingly wide boards. Even you may need to install a horse-power motor to manage the larger projects.  

Stacking Resawn pieces for resembling

When a board is resawn into thinner and supple pieces by winding and bonding, this helps woodworker produce curved shapes through a process called Bent Lamination. Lamination process helps in some other ways, for instance, designing the board with the carpenter’s triangle allows you to reconvene the thin pieces which come from the board. That’s why it is recognized that the lamination diligently looks like a solo piece of bent wood. 

Resawing is Less Time Consuming  

It becomes easier for the bandsaw to resaw the board which is partially resawn with the table saw. Because it allows the blade to have less cutting loads and keeps the saw away from drifting. It’s considered to be a great technique to apply if the saw swamps down while resawing covering the full width. Besides, it’s also less time consuming as resaw can be done without installation of resaw table. If the board is resawn with the raised blades of the table saw, many experts believe this method is perfect to produce a great finish with the band saw. 

Additional Tips:

Try to catch up some indications while making a test cut. If the stock tends to move off from the fence on the outfeed end, it indicates that the outfeed end of the fence is angled too distant from the blade. In contrast, if the stock fixes, it means the outfeed end of the fence is angled too near to the blade. In such situation, you have to make a necessary adjustment for precise cutting results and reconfirm it by another trial cut. 

Always get a sharp blade along with recommended sizes and teeth count to enable the blade clear sawdust.

Maintain a dawdling feed rate and slow down your saw if detected any bogging or abnormalities.

After resawing, try to cut the thick stock to a plane out the cap as sometimes too much dried wood may react while cutting.  

Inspect the tension of the blade and make sure the blade does not refract more than ¼ inches. 

Guide bearings instead of guide block would help the bandsaw blades operates straighter 

Concluding Remarks 

I hope that you have got general idea about different cutting features of the band saw through resawing and would be able to apply your knowledge into your next resawing project. As you have to take care of some technical aspects, I would suggest you to train yourself on operation of the bandsaw and resawing procedure to utilize all unique cutting features for your project. 

Try to strictly follow the tips discussed in this article to achieve outstanding cutting results and prevent workplace hazards and injuries. I would add value to our efforts if you let us know your feedback and make us able to provide you with the support at soonest possible time. I would really appreciate if you would share this article with your family and friends so that we could bring more people under umbrella of our unique clients’ service.