band saw technique

[lexrex]

when cutting complicated or large curves on the band saw, where do you stand? The arrows show direction of cut.

1) facing the cutting edge?
2) facing the band side?
3) other (explain)?

[Beamer]

I stand wherever i need to in order to keep control of the cut and SEE what's going on. Vague, eh?

Truth of the matter is that it really depends on the workpiece. I'll sometimes stand at position 2 because the piece is just easier to hold that way.

I'd say most of the time I stand at position 1.5 - which is directly right of #1 and directly below #2.

Do a dry-run of sorts before turning the saw on and see what feels best whenever possible

[rhull]

Ditto on what Jason says, though I'll add this: where I stand also is affected by how I need to push the workpiece. I'm always careful to push the workpiece in a way that, should I slip for some reason, my body parts aren't aiming right into the blade. If I need to adjust my position or stance to maintain a safe feed into the blade, I will.

[Beamer]

Good point, Rob! I do the same but forgot to mention it ...

Always ... ALWAYS ... ask yourself: "What will happen if the wood disappears?"

[TDHofstetter]

I always stand directly inline with the blade, so I can't see the body of the blade - only the bottoms of the gullets, whizzing past behind the teeth. That way I can always see clearly exactly what's going to be cut next, and how far from (or across) the line I am. One reason I don't stand to the side is that I have no depth perception, so I can't tell visually how far the teeth are from the line.

The only exception I make to my standard position is when I'm making a long curvy cut & have to wave the workpiece through that spot. Then I'll stand off to the side just enough to get it done, usually craning over the workpiece to stare directly into the teeth again.

[fredbelknap]

I usually do like Tim does. I use a push stick and sometimes I go on the opposite side and pull

[Joe Lyddon]

If I am using the fence or resawing, I first start out in your #1 position pushing with my left hand while holding it to the fence with the right & also pushing... trying to always keep a uniform slow speed. As I get toward the end of the cut, I move to position #2 where I tend to pull the piece through with my right hand & using the left to hold to fence.

If I'm free sawing to a line, I'm almost always in position #1 for the complete cut.

I NEVER have my hands pushing the piece through where they are in line with the blade, no matter how far I am away from it... I have seen wood all of a sudden speed up and fly through the blade, for some reason, & if a hand were inline, could easily get cut.

That is my #1 most important rule at the band saw.

[Ruffnek]

Nov 9, 2009 0:47:34 GMT -6 Joe Lyddon said:

I NEVER have my hands pushing the piece through where they are in line with the blade, no matter how far I am away from it... I have seen wood all of a sudden speed up and fly through the blade, for some reason, & if a hand were inline, could easily get cut.

That is my #1 most important rule at the band saw.

I always pay attention to hand placement, especially towards the end of the cut but the truth is, if you are using enough force that your hand would go into the blade if you encounter a soft area in the wood, then you are using too much. Anything more than fingertip pressure indicates a dull blade.

I only see a red X on the positions pic, but I normally stand directly in front of the blade teeth, although sometimes the shape of the piece or cut dictates a different position.

[lexrex]

Thanks for all the thoughts!

The pic still works for me...hosted at imageshack. img196.imageshack.us/i/68862675.jpg/