The Wood Whisperer
Published on 6 Jul 2017Back in 2007, I posted a video on Bandsaw Setup. The method I demonstrated was one I learned from other woodworkers as well as numerous books and manuals. While the method works perfectly, it overcomplicates things and employs a couple of unnecessary steps, namely achieving coplanarity of the wheels and eliminating drift. Four years later, I became aware of a video from The Woodworking Shows featuring Alex Snodgrass and his simpler (and nearly foolproof) method for bandsaw tuneup. I have since become friendly with Alex and asked him if he’d be willing to come out to my shop to film his setup method. He agreed and here we are! I can say without a doubt that this is the BEST way to set up a bandsaw.
Align the Blade
Install the blade and apply just enough tension to keep the blade securely on the wheels. Use the tracking adjustment while turning the wheel by hand to line up the deepest part of the gullet with the center of the top wheel.
Tension the Blade
You can usually ignore the tenon meter on most bandsaws as they are notoriously inaccurate. Instead, tension the blade until your finger is only able to deflect the blade by about 1/4″. This test should be done at the back of the saw where nothing can get in the way of the blade. The amount of pressure you apply to the blade shouldn’t result in turning your finger white. If that happens, you’re pushing too hard. After the tension is set, make sure the blade is still tracking properly with the gullet in the center of the top wheel.
Side Guides (Front to Back)
The front of the side guides should be located about 1/16″ back from the deepest part of the blade gullets. You don’t want the side guides to contact the cutting teeth of the blade since the teeth flare out at a slight angle. This adjustment is made to both the top and bottom guides.
Thrust Bearings
Adjust the thrust bearings carefully so that they do NOT rotate while the blade moves, but they DO begin to rotate as soon as light pressure is applied to the blade. Spend the necessary time to get this adjustment just right. Of course, you’ll do this adjustment to both the top and bottom guides.
Side Guides (Side to Side)
Just like the thrust bearing adjustment, the side guides should be as close to the blade as possible without actually touching. So when the blade moves the bearings should be stationary. When a slight amount of pressure is applied to the blade as its moving, the bearings should spin.
Square the Table
Using a 2×4 or 2×6, make a partial cut into the face of the board. Turn the saw off, flip the board around and try to get the blade to slide into the cut slot. If it slides in easily and without resistance, we know the table is 90 degrees to the blade. If it doesn’t slide in, make adjustments to the table and cut/test again. The wider the board is, the more accurate this test will be.
Align the Fence
The fence can be aligned parallel with the body of the blade using nothing more than a ruler. Be sure the ruler is resting on the body of the blade between the teeth. With a long enough ruler you can easily align the fence by eye. Alex shows us the F.A.S.T system which is a simple and convenient way to do this same task.
Test Cut
Since the overall goal of this setup process is to prepare for resawing, a good test is to slice off a thin veneer from a jointed and planed board. In our first test cut we were able to slice off a piece that was .016″ or just over 1/64″. This is way thinner than anything I’d ever need but it’s pretty cool to see that the saw is capable of making such a delicate cut.
Special thanks to Alex Snodgrass and Carter Products for helping make this video possible. Happy bandsawing!
November 18, 2017
The Best Way to Set Up a Bandsaw!
November 7, 2017
How To: Make French Cleat Storage
Make It Now
Published on 22 Dec 2016Today I’m going to be adding some storage options for the French cleat wall I built a little while back. If you haven’t seen that video, check it out and then come back to this one.
October 27, 2017
How to Make Small Dovetail Boxes | Episode 3 | Paul Sellers
Paul Sellers
Published on 16 Oct 2017This is one of our very early Woodworking Masterclasses series from 2013. In the third episode of this dovetail series Paul finishes the simple chisel tray. Watch it carefully. This episode shows quite simple steps but it contains some great, and quite complicated, planing techniques.
October 20, 2017
How to Make Small Dovetail Boxes | Episode 2 | Paul Sellers
Paul Sellers
Published on 9 Oct 2017This is one of our very early Woodworking Masterclasses series from 2013. In this second episode Paul continues to show how to cut the dovetail and also shows how to prepare the box for glue-up. This requires a few hand plane tricks that will prove helpful in future projects and are well worth watching! Enjoy!
For more information on these topics, see https://paulsellers.com or https://woodworkingmasterclasses.com
October 12, 2017
How to Make Small Dovetail Boxes | Episode 1 | Paul Sellers
Paul Sellers
Published on 2 Oct 2017In this first episode of one of our first Woodworking Masterclasses series, Paul shows how to prepare the wood and cut the tails for the dovetails. These steps will be repeated for other boxes in this series. It will show how the basics can be adapted to more complex projects.
For more information on these topics, see https://paulsellers.com or https://woodworkingmasterclasses.com
September 29, 2017
How to Make a Sharpening Plate Holder | Paul Sellers
Paul Sellers
Published on 18 Sep 2017The sharpening plate holder is used daily and is a vital part of Paul’s sharpening system. Paul shows how to make your own using just a few hand tools. It holds the stones securely, keeping them in order from coarse to fine, which means you can easily pull it out and be ready for a quick sharpen.
For more information on these topics, see https://paulsellers.com or https://woodworkingmasterclasses.com
September 21, 2017
The Paul Sellers’ Mortise & Tenon Method | Paul Sellers
Published on 11 Sep 2017
Paul has developed his own system for cutting mortise and tenon joints using a conventional hand router plane to create perfectly sized mortise and tenons that are accurately aligned. This system will revolutionise the way you think about mortise and tenon joinery.
September 11, 2017
5 Woodworking Cuts You Need to Know How to Make | WOODWORKING BASICS
Published on 9 Jun 2017
Sometimes the terminology gets confusing, so in this BASICS episode, I’ll break down the 5 basic types of woodworking cuts and how to make them.
September 2, 2017
Making zero clearance table saw inserts
Published on 13 May 2012
Showing the steps for making a zero clearance table saw insert
http://woodgears.ca/delta_saw/insert.html
September 1, 2017
Mis-placing Your Plane? | Paul Sellers
Published on 21 Aug 2017
Paul shows how he handles and places his bench plane in the day to day of woodworking for practical use.
For more information on these topics, see https://paulsellers.com or https://woodworkingmasterclasses.com
August 26, 2017
Building a French Cleat System for Power Tools
Published on 26 Jul 2015
For a written tutorial check out my blog at http://wilkerdos.com/2015/07/power-tool-french-cleat-system/
Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wilkerdos
Visit Triton’s homepage: http://www.tritontools.com
This week I build individual holders for each one of my power tools so that I can store them on a French cleat system.
August 20, 2017
Evaluating Used Hand Tool Condition
Published on 8 Aug 2017
Shopping or used hand tools can be fun, but it’s important to know what you’re buying to make sure it’s a deal. Hand tool expert Ron Herman shares a bit of knowledge with us about considering the condition of used hand tools. For more information on hand tools, visit: http://www.popwood.com/tools/woodworking-hand-tools
August 9, 2017
How to use a Wooden Spokeshave | Paul Sellers
Published on 8 Aug 2017
Wooden spokeshaves may seem like they’ve been superseded, but they are very useful in the day to day of woodworking. A wooden sole means minimal friction and Paul shows how to easily micro adjust the blade for a variety of uses.
To make the Poor Man’s Spokeshave, see the series on YouTube (link: https://youtu.be/jZwzBbcwbgU).
August 6, 2017
A Shooting Board – Why You Should Make One – 264
Published on 23 Oct 2016
Build article: https://jayscustomcreations.com/2016/10/a-shooting-board/
August 1, 2017
106 – How to Build a French Cleat Storage System
Published on 17 Nov 2009
Original post on our site with additional information, plans, questions & comments:
http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/videos/french-cleat-storage-system/A French cleat is as ingenious as it is simple. It involves securing a strip of wood with a 45 degree bevel to the wall, and then securing an opposing beveled strip on the back of a cabinet or anything you want to hang. Its incredibly strong and versatile. Its a great way to hang cabinetry and as you’ll see in this video, it can be used to make an awesome modular wall storage unit.
