Shopsmith Forums

I was given a half dozen fairly straight 4' long oak logs about 10" dia. Would this saw be good for cutting them into boards.

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/tls/4700476183.html

Too bad SS doesn't make a saw with enough throat to cut these logs. Now that I understand what a riser kit is, I wish the SS BS was designed to accept one. It certainly has the HP for larger stock.

Use a chain saw to "half" the 10 inches into half. then start sawing with the SS bandsaw to resaw the balance of the log ...

Dick, if I had the equipment, I'd go one further. Slice the logs into halves, and slice the halves again, into quarter pieces. Now, by reversing and cutting on alternate flat sides, you can get quarter-cut planks. However, this method is better on a larger log. But, the "good" lumber and the "waste" would be the same, with either method, and the "good" stuff would be quarter cut.

Just my (humble) opinion.

steve

skou wrote:Dick, if I had the equipment, I'd go one further. Slice the logs into halves, and slice the halves again, into quarter pieces. Now, by reversing and cutting on alternate flat sides, you can get quarter-cut planks. However, this method is better on a larger log. But, the "good" lumber and the "waste" would be the same, with either method, and the "good" stuff would be quarter cut.

Just my (humble) opinion.

steve

Steve, That is exactly my plan of attack. But I prefer to make all the cuts with a band saw. I just wanted to hear opinions as to weather this saw is up to the task.

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/tls/4700476183.html

Jim

Ah, so it was a non-Shopsmith band saw after all, with a riser, and the seller was being accurate.

The review says it cuts up to 12" tall so obviously if you are cutting 10" diameter logs, this saw has the capacity. If I'm not mistaken, Ridgid is the Home Depot store brand. I don't know who actually makes it, but I bet you can find some reviews on the web of that band saw using the model number.

skou wrote:Dick, if I had the equipment, I'd go one further. Slice the logs into halves, and slice the halves again, into quarter pieces. Now, by reversing and cutting on alternate flat sides, you can get quarter-cut planks. However, this method is better on a larger log. But, the "good" lumber and the "waste" would be the same, with either method, and the "good" stuff would be quarter cut.

Just my (humble) opinion.

steve

That is a good idea Steve. A chainsaw has some waste, but still you are getting quarter sawn .....

Dick

If you make the initial cut on a bandsaw, you'll need some sort of sled to hold the round log while you create that first flat reference surface. Here's a couple of examples:

https://woodgears.ca/shop-tricks/bandsaw_sled.html
http://mywoodadventures.blogspot.com/20 ... e-for.html

Playing with this myself, I discovered that you can actually slice up a log that's larger than 6" in diameter on a SS bandsaw. First, slab off a side, like in the WoodGears illustration. The trick is to do this with the table tilted at 45 degrees. Then the full diameter of the log doesn't have to pass underneath the saw guide. That side then becomes your first reference surface, and you can proceed from there.

I sure that I've seen a commercial sled as well, but couldn't find it just now.

BuckeyeDennis wrote:If you make the initial cut on a bandsaw, you'll need some sort of sled to hold the round log while you create that first flat reference surface. Here's a couple of examples:

https://woodgears.ca/shop-tricks/bandsaw_sled.html
http://mywoodadventures.blogspot.com/20 ... e-for.html.

I know. That's what got me going in this direction. I have seen a half dozen sled designs, but haven't settled on one yet.

BuckeyeDennis wrote:Playing with this myself, I discovered that you can actually slice up a log that's larger than 6" in diameter on a SS bandsaw. First, slab off a side, like in the WoodGears illustration. The trick is to do this with the table tilted at 45 degrees. Then the full diameter of the log doesn't have to pass underneath the saw guide. That side then becomes your first reference surface, and you can proceed from there.

That's an interesting idea Dennis. Have you tried it?

kablerj wrote:I know. That's what got me going in this direction. I have seen a half dozen sled designs, but haven't settled on one yet.



That's an interesting idea Dennis. Have you tried it?

Yes, I made such a cut successfully, but quickly concluded that my jerry-rigged sled was not ready for prime time. But the basic geometry does work.

My current plan is to build a pair of stands for quartering logs with my chainsaw and Alaskan mini-mill. Then I'll use the SS bandsaw to resaw the slabs.