Thread: cutting turnings in half on a bandsaw

Originally Posted by mick59wests

To all you other bandsaw users.......

mostly I do turning, so the bandsaw is my second machine (cutting blanks mostly) and the only other one I have permanently setup for dust extraction....

I am looking at turning a set of skittles/bowling pins to play with my 5 year old grandson. I want to turn each into characters (me with the fat belly, SWMBO with other parts that are bigger, grandson as the smallest one). When thinking about this, I decided I do not need a fat belly behind me and could half my turning time by cutting each in half (have two fat belly 'pops' for the price of one ). However I have not yet worked out a (even relatively) safe way (I still have all my fingers) of cutting the figures in half. The ones I have saved for the task are only 30mm or so diameter so using my hand as a guide on a piece that is not nice and flat is a bit scary. Actually there are lots of scary things about what I am thinking of doing!

I do have a fence so if the piece was small and flat I would be comfortable with what I am doing.

Any thoughts / suggestions / divine interventions greatly appreciated

thanks

Mick

Hi Mick, the safest way to do this is by what is called split turning. Basically 2 pieces are glued together with a piece of paper between them, I use photocopy paper.
These are clamped until dry, then turned to the design required, using the glue line as a centre mark. A steb centre on the headstock end and a ring centre on the tailstock or similar is best to use. The reason for these is that pointed centres may split the turning before it is finished. Once finished, a sharp chisel is used to split the turning and the glued paper is removed.
Hope this helps
Kryn

Kryn,

much appreciated. I'll do research on this - it certainly seems safer and easier than what I was thinking. I'd prefer to keep all of my fingers for a bit longer!

thanks

Mick

Kryn is right on the money with the split turning idea. My old woodwork teacher taught us that in the late 60s. I have done it a number of times in the intervening years. It works really easily and very well. You also get "a true" half because there is no loss in thickness from a saw kerf. To slit the two halved I use a putty knife lightly tapped into the paper line, because it is thin, you won't get an imprint/bruise from a chisel bevel

I can still count to ten without removing my shoes.

To cut small odd-shaped pieces on a bandsaw, I wrap the piece with masking tape and use hot-melt glue to attach it to a large flat board (even corrugated cardboard); then make the cut(s) and remove the tape. The tape protects the piece from the hot-melt glue and makes removal easier.

Cheers,
Joe

The other accessory you may want for cutting round objects on a band saw if a 'V' block. Depending on which way round the cut is to be made you may need to attach the 'V' block to a ply of similar base then make a relief cut through the root of the 'V'. If you are cutting at 90 degrees to the round axis you can just leave one end hanging off the block and use the other hand as the clamp, but if you are going the 'long way' a bit of sand paper in the 'V' will be handy as would a top clamping block.

Originally Posted by joe greiner

I can still count to ten without removing my shoes.

To cut small odd-shaped pieces on a bandsaw, I wrap the piece with masking tape and use hot-melt glue to attach it to a large flat board (even corrugated cardboard); then make the cut(s) and remove the tape. The tape protects the piece from the hot-melt glue and makes removal easier.

Cheers,
Joe

Joe,

thanks - I have not yet tried using hot melt glue for anything. It must be time to expand my horizons!

cheers

Mick

Originally Posted by bsrlee

The other accessory you may want for cutting round objects on a band saw if a 'V' block. Depending on which way round the cut is to be made you may need to attach the 'V' block to a ply of similar base then make a relief cut through the root of the 'V'. If you are cutting at 90 degrees to the round axis you can just leave one end hanging off the block and use the other hand as the clamp, but if you are going the 'long way' a bit of sand paper in the 'V' will be handy as would a top clamping block.

Excellent idea. I do have a 'V' block but had not thought of using it in this manner
cheers
Mick