Whether you are a professional carpenter or you are just fond of doing the woodwork at your home, you must be familiar with the tools used for woodwork, right? Of all the tools used by carpenters, the band saw is one of the most useful ones. Yes! You can use the blade for a variety of things when you are making things out of wood. You may cut almost any type of wood to make furniture and different wooden items.
However, it is a tricky business when it comes to folding and storing your bandsaws. The reason being, it is too big to handle. For all those out there wondering how to fold the band saw blade, here is what you need to know:
What do you need to have?
Before you start folding the blade, you should first gather up the things you might need for the process. So, here is what you need:
- A pair of protective gloves
- A Bandsaw blade
Now comes the actual process of folding the bandsaw blade. You can do it in two ways. So, let us start:
Preparation:
» Step One: Stay Safe!
Take precautionary measures first of all. Yes! As the blade is sharp enough to cut through any surface, you must wear protective gear, mostly gloves, to avoid any accident. This will not only be a protective layer for your hands but will also help you to grip the blade properly, which will, in turn, save you time and avoid any potential hazard.
» Step Two: Choose the location!
The band saw blades usually take quite a lot of space as they are round. So, when you are trying to fold a bandsaw blade, you have to keep in mind that you go for an appropriate space. To keep everything under control, it is important to choose the location to fold the blade easily. Ideally, you have to pick up the spot where you have sufficient floor space so that you may fold the blade without hurting yourself or anything else during the process.
How to Fold a Bandsaw Blade | Method 1:
» Step One: Fold the blade:
Now you will go ahead with the folding of the blade. Start off with your blade by holding it right in front of you. Make sure that the teeth of the blade are facing outwards. Then you will place it on the bottom side of the blade to make sure that it stays in one place and does not move while you proceed with the next step of folding it.
Next, you will hold your bandsaw blade with the right hand. Now you will start rotating the blade in the anticlockwise direction. As the blade has a structural tendency to curve itself, it will follow its path. You have to let it do it on its own. When it follows its flexibility, it will be curved into smaller rounds, making it easy for you to handle it better.
» Step Two: Flatten the blade:
Once the blade curves down into smaller rounds, you may manage it properly. All you have to do is to flatten the coils. Yes! This is quite simple as you will press the coil, maybe with the help of your hand against the other end, which you have kept stable and still under your foot all this time. Now you can pick it up all the layered blades, coiled into multiple rings.
However, it would help if you were careful here. If you miss any of the coils, you will end up unfolding the entire blade. So, you have to be extremely careful. Similarly, bear in mind that you have to handle it such that it does not hurt you anyways.
Method 2:
» Step One: Hold the bandsaw blade:
In this method, you will hold the blade with both of your hands, with the blade’s teeth facing yourself. Please keep it away from yourself and then secure the bottom part of the blade. Keep holding the blade on the opposite end all this while.
» Step Two: Bring both sides together:
Now you will push both the ends of the blade together until they come closer to each other. Make sure that both your thumbs come closer to each other. As you will do it, the blade will start curving itself at the top end.
» Step Three: Keep Curving:
Now you will step back from the blade as the saw’s top end will band in the forward direction. Make sure that you keep gripping the blade firmly during the process.
» Step Four: Cross over the blade and lock:
As the saw bends downwards, you need to cross over both your hands such that your right hand is positioned over your left hand. You will have many loops of the blade here. Now pick up the bottom coil with the left hand to coil it. Eventually, you will wrap the saw coils to secure them there.
Store the bandsaw blade:
Now when you have folded your bandsaw blade successfully, you have to keep it somewhere. Gather all the coiled layers of the blade and place it in a drawer. I prefer a wooden cupboard or drawer to store your band saw blade as it keeps it safe and protects it from rusting.
Conclusion:
Now when you know how to fold the bandsaw blade, it will be easier for you to do it yourself, without any external help. Doing small things yourself at home not only saves you time but also gives you a sense of self-sufficiency.
So, enjoy working at home, and the next time you need to fold your saw blade, do it in the comfort of your home. However, do not forget to take precautionary steps to avoid any potential hazards when folding the saw blade at your home. You have to be very careful about this all the time.