Tip #31
Band Sawing Versatility (continued)
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Round Stock

Figure 14-26. A tilted table and a miter gauge with an extension create a perfect V-block. Always place the miter gauge so it is on the down side of the table.

Cutting round stock requires extra caution because its shape makes the workpiece difficult to hold. Warning: The teeth of the blade can catch the stock, spinning it out of your hands, or worse, dragging your hands into the blade. For this reason, round stock should always be supported and guided with the miter gauge or a V-block.

Figure 14-27. Use the miter gauge to corsscut round stock. By attaching a stop block to the left side of the table, you can accurately cut duplicate lengths.

If you're ripping a round piece, such as a lathe turning, use the miter gauge with an extension locked in a tilted table to form a "V" (Figure 14-26). When cross-cutting round stock, use the miter gauge to push the stock into the blade. Hold the stock firmly while you're working. By clamping a stop block to the left side of the table, you can cut duplicate lengths of dowel. Make sure the back edge of the stop block does not extend beyond the front edge of the blade (Figure 14-27). Warning: Be careful when making the cut because the blade guide must be raised to accommodate the miter gauge face. This exposes the blade.

Figure 14-28. When cutting spiral grooves in dowels and rounds, the table tilt determines the "pitch" of the spiral and the miter gauge determines the depth of cut.

Figure 14-28 demonstrates a setup that can be used to form spiral grooves in dowels or larger rounds. The spiraling can be done on dowels before they are cut into lengths for use in glue joints, or it may be done just for decorative purposes. Tilt the table from 10° to 20° depending on the "pitch" you want, and lock the miter gauge in position to control the depth of cut. Slowly rotate the dowel to make the cut. This is a good way to mark stock for spirals that you handshape on the lathe.

Figure 14-29. Construction details of a special V-block. Click on image for larger view.

Special V-Block-If you make a special V-block, you can use the bandsaw to accurately form half-round or quarter-round moldings from dowel, rounds, or from pieces that you have shaped on the lathe. Figure 14-29 shows how to make the V-block. The V-block guide that rides in the kerf keeps the stock aligned throughout the pass (Figure 14-30). Be sure to saw the kerf exactly on the centerline of the V. Position the V-block by moving it past the blade and then installing the guide. If the guide isn't a tight fit, use a C-clamp at the base of the block to close the kerf about the guide. Make certain to clamp the V-block so it is parallel to the edge of the table (Figure 14-31).

Figure 14-30. The guide rides in the kerf and keeps the stock perfectly aligned throughout the pass.

Figure 14-31. Be sure the V-block is clamped in a position that is parallel to the table's edge. Lathe-turned pieces, as well as simple rounds, can be halved, even quartered.

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