Operation
General Procedure
1.Make sure the blade and upper and lower bearings are properly adjusted for tension and tracking.
2.Adjust blade guide assembly so that the guide bearings are just above the workpiece (about 3/16”) allowing minimum exposure to the blade. See Figure 30.
3.If using the fence, move it into position and lock it to the guide rail. If you are using the miter gauge for a crosscut, the fence should be moved safely out of the way.
4.Turn on the band saw and allow a few seconds for the machine to reach full speed.
Whenever possible, use a push stick,
5.Place the straightest edge of the workpiece against the fence, and push the workpiece slowly into the blade. Do not force the workpiece into the blade.
When cutting, do not overfeed the blade; overfeeding will reduce blade life, and may cause the blade to break.
6.When cutting long stock, the operator should use roller stands, support tables, or an assistant to help stabilize the workpiece.
Ripping
Ripping is cutting lengthwise down the workpiece, and with the grain (of wood stock). See Figure 31.
Figure 31
Crosscutting
Crosscutting is cutting across the grain of the workpiece, while using the miter gauge to feed the workpiece into the blade.
Slide the bar of the miter gauge into the end of the slot on the table.
The right hand should hold the workpiece steady against the miter gauge, while the left hand pushes the miter gauge past the blade, as shown in Figure 32.
Do not use the fence in conjunction with the miter gauge. The offcut of the workpiece must not be constrained during or after the cutting process.
Using the fence in conjunction with the miter gauge can cause binding and possible damage to the blade.
Figure 30
Figure 32
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