Grizzly G1258 instruction manual Blade Information Resawing, Proper method for resawing lumber

Blade Information Resawing

A bandsaw blade is a delicate piece of steel that is subjected to tremendous strain. You can obtain long use from a bandsaw blade if you give it fair treatment. Be sure you use blades with proper width and temper for the various types of cutting operations.

Always use the widest blade possible. Use nar- row blades only for sawing small, abrupt curves and fine detail work. Blades may be purchased welded, set and sharpened ready-for-use. We supply 1541/2" bandsaw blades in 3/16", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4", 1" and 11/4" widths for this saw. Refer to our current catalog for prices and ordering infor- mation.

Always select and use good-quality saw blades and choose the right blade for the right job. Poor quality blades and improper use are often the cause of premature blade failure.

Many conditions may cause a bandsaw blade to break. Blade breakage is, in some cases, unavoidable, since it is the natural result of the peculiar stresses that bandsaw blades are sub- jected to. Blade breakage is also due to avoid- able circumstances. Avoidable breakage is most often the result of poor care or judgement on the part of the operator when mounting or adjusting the blade or support guides.

The most common causes of blade breakage are:

(1)faulty alignment and adjustment of the guides,

(2)forcing or twisting a wide blade around a curve of short radius, (3) feeding too fast, (4) tooth dullness or absence of sufficient set, (5) excessive tension, (6) top blade guide assembly set too high above the workpiece, (7) using a blade with a lumpy or improperly finished braze or weld and (8) continuously running the bandsaw when not in use.

When installing a new blade, inspect its weld and file smooth, when necessary, prior to operation.

Resawing is the process of cutting a board into two or more thinner boards. The maximum board width that can be resawn is limited by the maxi- mum cutting height of the bandsaw. Maximum cutting height for this bandsaw is 13".

The Model G1258 bandsaw is highly capable of resawing, provided the saw is set up properly. Use common sense when resawing. Attempting to resaw too wide or too dense a board may put excessive strain on the blade and be dangerous.

The important consideration when resawing is blade selection. Generally, the wider blade, the better your results. In most applications, a hook or skip tooth style will be sufficient. Since most resawn lumber will be planed smooth, choose blades with fewer teeth-per-inch (from 3 to 6). While blades with fewer teeth-per-inch produce rougher cuts, these types of blades offer larger gullet capacities for clearing sawdust, less heat buildup, and yield more horsepower per tooth.

Figure 16. Proper method for resawing lumber.

1.The bandsaw must be adjusted correctly. See Blade Adjustment Section.

2.The table must be square to the blade. See Table Adjustment Section.

3.Use the widest blade available. The blade must also be in good condition.

4.Use a fence to guide work.

G1258 20" Bandsaw -15-