Thread: Bowl Blank Balancing Jig using a Tablesaw

Originally Posted by D_Gerard

Hi Neil, sorry I can’t see your images, I don’t believe I have access rights as of yet. I agree with what you are saying. If I had a large heavy lathe that could run at a very slow speed I would not need this jig. I have a smaller lathe with a reeves drive and the lowest speed is 600 RPM. My bandsaw is not big enough to handle a large blank. This balancing jig allows me to turn larger green bowls with my present equipment. Maybe my wife will surprise me with a new lathe for my birthday….

If you're turning a lot, ditch the table saw jig and buy an electric chainsaw. You can mount the piece inside your shop and use the chainsaw to true it up without worrying about exhaust. As far as I'm concerned the table saw is still a bad way to try and deal with out of round wood for a lathe. YMMV

Originally Posted by NeilS

Found an old redgum example of that... no wonder I gave that idea away a long time ago!

Attachment 533959

To be honest. With hardwoods I wouldn't even consider the second angled cut on a bandsaw. Far far too much blade exposed, just waiting for a slip or lurch... Good way to lose a finger or three. Gives me the shivers. YMMV

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

We aren't jumping on you - we care for your welfare and that of your wider family and circle of friends! Unfortunately some of us have seen some very nasty injuries to others. Tablesaws have a nasty bite and it can get very messy in milli-seconds! Injuries have a huge impact on all around you, not just yourself.

One of the challenges of learning to operate wood processing machinery is understanding the potential and ever present hazards of each machine and process, the risks associated with them and the potential harm (Table saw kickback etc) they can cause. Some risk will always be there no matter how good an operator you think you are, and no matter how much experience you have. It's simply a fact that "good operators" avoid very risky tasks and seek less risky options.

Have fun wood turning. If we can help you out you just have to ask.

The biggest problem with the written word is it's missing ninety percent of what we need to communicate effectively. There are no voice inflections, facial expressions, hand gestures... As such, the reader is the one that puts their emotion into what they read. None of the people here are trying to have a go at anyone that has less experience but the friendlyness of our attempt is lost because we're not with you in person. I would hazard a guess that those that have more experience would be happy to send hours or even days helping out, if it were logistically possible - especially if you have copious amounts of beer.

Now, if I were to say: do you think you're trying to do you idiot... You can be petty sure I'm a prick and should be blocked because I have nothing worthwhile to say. But, unless dementia has set in early and I've completely forgotten I said that, my apologies. And you should still block me...

YMMV

Originally Posted by The Spin Doctor

To be honest. With hardwoods I wouldn't even consider the second angled cut on a bandsaw. Far far too much blade exposed, just waiting for a slip or lurch... Good way to lose a finger or three. Gives me the shivers. YMMV

I should have provided some further details: When using that method I held the blanks on the bandsaw with a jig so my fingers were on the opposite side of the blank to where the cutting was being done and pulling away, not pushing towards, the blade. If I slipped my fingers would be moving away from the cutting zone and not towards it.

I never attempted to do that 2nd cut freehand...

It was a relatively safe method using the jig that way and I didn't abandon it for safety reasons, but found it too time consuming for any extra benefits from preparing the blanks that way.

Nowadays I use that jig as a sled for holding the blank while doing eight straight cuts or sixteen on a very large blanks. I still keep my fingers on the opposite side of the blank to where the cutting is happening, but used like that as a sled I'm pushing towards the blade, which IMO is potentially more dangerous than my earlier method.

I have always use a jig when cutting blanks on the bandsaw and never cut freehand. That way my fingers are always well away from the 1" x 1.3tpi blade that I use, which would do a fairly rough job of cutting them off!

What sort of jig do you use on your bandsaw Neil?

Originally Posted by NeilS

I have always use a jig when cutting blanks on the bandsaw and never cut freehand. That way my fingers are always well away from the 1" x 1.3tpi blade that I use, which would do a fairly rough job of cutting them off!

Looking again at video clip in D-G's original post, that jig arrangement also keeps the fingers well away from the blade. A bigger safety concern for me is the amount of uncaptured fine dust it creates. Not such an issue if done outside like shown, but a major issue if done inside a workshop.

One disadvantage I see with the blanks it produces is that it takes out a concave section were I would want more wood left in that area with the bowls I make. The other methods we have covered take out less wood in that area with a straight or convex cut...

Pine blanks.jpg

Originally Posted by The Spin Doctor

LOL. I'll expand on that. Don't use drywall screws for anything other than drywall. They are a hardened screw that is weak as p%ss for anything else.

I've settled on Type 17 Hex - Wood Coarse Thread. The drive end never strips out and they are quick to put in and out with a cordless drill. They will drive into green woods without a pilot hole.

The coarse thread will lift up wood fibres as they are driven in, which stops faceplates and rings from sitting flat, so I have countersunk the back of the screw holes in those to give the fibres somewhere to go.

Originally Posted by delbs

What sort of jig do you use on your bandsaw Neil?

It's a simple home made DIY job. I've posted photos here before, but images would have gone when we lost all those from the forum some time back. I'll take a photo the next time I'm at the workshop.