Decades-old trees have been cut in your backyard for some construction. What do you want to do with these logs? You wish to lumbar saw them into some useful pieces. This should not be experimented with by some newbie in carpentry. To lumbar saw with a band sawmill, you should have some basic know-how of operating the band saw and some basic knowledge of measurements and cuttings.
Band saw
A band saw is a modern carpentry tool used for cutting and slicing. Its cuts are sharp, smooth, and can be tailored to suit your needs.
Benefits of lumbar saw with a bandsaw.
The main benefit of using a band saw is a decreased amount of waste. The amount of sawdust produced is far less than other wood cutting tools. It is convenient for cutting irregular shapes. Its energy consumption is also very budget-friendly.
What are the different techniques for cutting a lumbar saw with a band saw?
You can choose several different techniques for cutting the lumbers. Every method has its advantages and disadvantages. You have to choose which fits your requirements and skills. We will name them here. They are:
1. Live sawing (the one described below)
2. Cant sawing
3. Plain sawing
4. Grade sawing
5. Quarter sawing
Size requirements:
Knowing the limitations of your machine is very important. You should know that your band sawmill will not operate beyond 18 inches (45.72 cm) mostly. They work well with logs of length around 2 feet (0.61 m). This is an ideal estimation for your log options.
Supplies required:
You require safety tools and gear, measurement tools, sled for holding, meter gauge, moisture meter, drill machine for screwing, etc.
Step guide: How to Saw a Lumber?
Before we proceed on to the practical steps and implementation of our expertise into your skill, you have to have and learn about the safety measures are:
Safety gear:
Safety comes first. So, you have to wear full safety gear. You should wear gloves for hand safety from cutting, scratches, and abrasions. They also help you get a firm grip. Thus, no chip pricking and no object slipping.
Safety Glasses:
The other important thing is wearing safety glasses. Since you are dealing with cutting wood logs, any splinter or sawdust can get into your eyes. You were resulting in either severe eye infection, foreign body in the eye. Or, if the damage is severe enough, you may lose eyesight.
So, to break this sequel, you need to wear your safety goggles. For further precautions, you may put in some earplugs to mask the noise effects of the band sawmill machine, and of course, it keeps the sawdust away from your ears.
The physical safety attire is followed by some safety measures like unplugging the band saw when it is not in use.
Now you will work on getting an ideal size lumbar piece.
Step one — Make a sled.
The first step is making a simple sled. This is done by taking a middle-density fireboard (MDF). Its dimensions should be measured in width and length as 10 inches (25.4 cm) into two, respectively. The next thing is measuring the distance between the blade and the miter gauge.
Step two — Join the miter bar.
Now your next target is to put flat-headed machine screws on the miter sled. For this, make some countersunk holes. Your primary concern is to avoid slipping away or falling the back of the log once you start the process. Sometimes lumber is irregular with no flat surface for getting fixed in-band sawmill. So, fixing them for supporting each other is pivotal.
Step three — Peel off the few inches from the side and above
This step is very important and depending upon the shape of your log. You have to decide the number of peels your lumbar needs before it is finally ready to slide easily through the band sawmill for slicing. Usually, a flat surface at the bottom and side adjacent to the band saw is good enough to keep things going smoothly.
Step four — Cut the lumbar slices
Yes, this is the most exciting, interesting, and productive step. Now mark the width of your boards. You depend upon the shape you may have to mark after each cutting to get the maximum out of it. Start cutting the planks, usually an inch in width. Each plank is carefully taken off the band sawmill, and the remaining lumbar saw is prepared for further cutting. At all times, save your hands from getting too close to the board. Secondly, each time you are done with the cutting, switch it off or unplug it to avoid accidents.
Step five — Let the moisture go.
It would help if you dried your boards before utilizing them. The moisture should all dry up. As moisture in the final products can hamper its quality, it may expose it to various termites, fungus, or less shelf life. It would be best to let the moisture flow away by simply stacking them and exposing them to natural air. Beware of not drying them in direct sunlight or heat as it can result in cracks. These cracks can compromise the quality of your product.
Step six — Produce a finished product
Once you have tested your planks on the moisture meter, your planks or boards are ready to undergo further processing. This includes smoothing the edges, rubbing the surfaces, and treating them with different chemicals. There can be anti-termite sprays too. It can be further cut or joined into pieces as per your product requirements.
Conclusion
You want to lumber saw using a band sawmill. Besides knowing the basics of cutting and measuring, you should be skillful enough to handle the log with vigilance. Your half job is done once you can fix the log on the sled. Cut the boards of your choice and enjoy transforming them into new creations.
But in all cases, stay safe by using safety gear. You can avoid ruining your wood piece if you follow each step systematically. Enjoy making benches, chairs, or desks. It’s all in your hands!