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Hello, looking at the bandsaw circle cutting jig, I am used to cutting large circles on this with a 3/4” blade. The workpiece rotates on a pivot in the centre point location.
Can anyone advise if a 3/4” blade on this type of jig would be suitable for cutting, say, 75 mm diameter circles? Or would I have to change to a smaller blade, which I am reluctant to do having finally set up the 3/4” blade nicely for veneer re-sawing. I am sure most of you would understand
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From my limited experience you would first have to freehand cut off most of the surrounding excess.
Then just finish off with the jig.
I recently cut two 185mm circles with a 19mm blade using a pivot jig and it was a good learning curve.
I persevered because they weren't to be masterpieces; but they were too small for a jig with a 19mm blade.
I had to cut off a lot of excess.
My suggestion, practice cutting off most of the excess freehand, then try it.
Good luck, and let us know how it works out.
Bite the bullet. 19mm blades are not intended for cutting round . . . too much back of blade involvement, think burning.
Back to the 6 or 10mm blade for 75mm diameters.
The set up for round cutting is different than straight veneer cutting any way, you have to allow the blade some flexibility.
This sort of diagram is all over the internet - this one is from the carabatech website
What its basically saying is the a 3/4" blade can cut a circle with a radius no smaller than about 140mm.
My experience is you can goa bit smaller than this but not much - certainly you would be able to get to A 75mm diameter.
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I made a circle cutting jig for my bandsaw shortly after I got it but rarely use it now. I found it was very hard on blades and i would get a lot of drift after a few good cuts. I have since read about it a bit more and it makes sense that the constant angle of attack will wear the teeth unevenly.
Like many woodturners I think, I now make a few straight cuts to take the corners off (roughly) and it only takes a minute on the lathe to get it round.
I think I would use a jig if I needed a one-off nice circle in flat timber, but don’t intend to use it routinely any more.
Bruce