Thread: Hi, Newbie from Melbourne

Hi Guys,

I'm a complete newbie to woodwork, I've never really used tools much until recently, I'm doing a pre-apprenticeship in fitting and machining so I've started to get my hands dirty a little bit in the way of tools and machinery. I'd really like to learn some woodworking skills too though, so I have come here. My first project that I'd like to do is make some scales for some straight razors (have been doing a little restoration of straight razors which is probably what led me to change from studying commerce at uni to doing a pre-apprenticeship in Fitting and Machining. I picked up a bandsaw second hand from e-bay and have realised now that I shouldve just spent a little extra for a brand new one. The bandsaw was not working when I got it although it was advertised as working, it needed new tyres only, Ryobi no longer makes parts for the bandsaw that I bought. So I had to track down someone who made aftermarket tyres to suit the model which wasn't too difficult. But now I've got the tyres on, the bandsaw isn't really working that well. I planned to use it to split the blanks of wood and horn that I've bought to make the razor scales from but it wanders to the right whenever I try to split something. Are bandsaws usually able to split something from 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch? I was thinking of giving up on the bandsaw and just getting a japanese ryoba saw or something.

Anyways I just wanted to say Hi and maybe someone can point me to the forum sections where I might be able to find help, I'd like to get into wood turning at some stage also, I really like doing work on the lathes at school so I think I'd enjoy working with wood lathes as well.