Safety Guide for Using Band Saws

Source: Band saw reviews            Author: Harry Barber

Among all woodworking equipment, band saws are considered as the relative safest machinery. But, the band saw is still a dangerous working tool that needs you be careful while working with. To avoid any considerable unexpected injury, we will discuss and give a list of items and safety principles that you should carefully consider.

Before you start working

• Reading the user’s manual carefully.
• Be sure that you fully understand the user’s guide before you start using any part of machine or tool.
• You also should know the limitation and working ability of your machine.
• Check the stability of the band saw to avoid strong vibration.
• If can be, keep in mind some basic principles related to woodworking tool. That may save your time and maintain the process smoothly.

Protective Equipment

• First of all, whenever you work with any kind of woodworking machines, make sure you wear eyes protection as goggles or safety glasses. As you know that the blades rotate in relatively high speed and make many small pieces propelling around in different directions. In other worse case, if the blade is broken, that may lead to serious injury. Therefore wearing an eye-protective tool is necessary whenever you standing near the cutting machines like a band saw.
• A high level and frequency of the noise can also damage your hearing ability. That’s why the ear protection is required, either ear muffs or earplugs are good.
• In addition, you should wear a suitable clothing while working with a band saw to protect your body from unwanted problems. The footwear is also needed in case of requirement.

Checking the band saw

• Ensure that the machine is in good working conditions: right place of guards, adjusted and the band wheels are enclosed.
• Set the height of blade guard in about 3 mm from the top of materials you tend to cut.
• Make sure the tracking of blade is correct and runs smoothly
• It is better to use the sharp blade, correctly set and right for particular job requirement (for example, blade width, teeth forms or suitable tooth pitch)
• Check for the tension that set on the blade is proper. It is ideal to have the band saw which has automatic tension control feature.
• Hold your stock tightly and flat on the table prior to starting the cut
• Always use the stick if you want to remove the cut pieces. Keep your hand at least 3-inch away from the blade.
• Ensure that the saw is running at full speed before you start cutting. Do not force the stock, let it being cut in designed speed of the blade.
• Make release cut before cutting long curves.
• While operating the band saw, if you hear any clicking noise, stop running the machine. Check for any cracking on the blade, if it is, the replacement is required.

Other recommendations while working with a band saw

• Stand in front of the band saw when working, not at the side.
• Don’t allow anyone stand close to the place where you work. If any breaking happens, it may cause a serious injury because of he/she does not have any protection.
• Do not talk during working period, you will lose attention to current work. If you really want to talk, stop the band saw temporary.
• Do not remove the sawdust or cuttings by hand even when the machine is stopped.
• Do not leave the band saw running while you disappear. Turn off the machine and make sure it stopped before you go.

How To Make a Succulent Planter From Books

Have you ever been intrigued by elegant photos of succulent or cactus planters on the Internet? Take notice and you will find that they adorably grow out from anything: old tires, bricks, fishing net, or even books! These planters are such a great inspiration for creativity that you can also make one by yourself, depending on the limit of your imagination. With your own tools: band saws, drill, sander… you can make it easily.

Below is the instruction of making planter from books that you can take as an example. But first, just take a look at the materials:

• Succulent (or cactus)
•  A hardback book
• Clamps
• Potting soil and rocks
• Drill
• Paintbrush
• Polyacrylic paint
• Wood: 2 pieces
• Wire cutters
• Pliers
• X-acto knife
• PVA glue
• Ruler
• Glue gun with extra glue sticks
• Sandpaper
• Hardware cloth
• Protective eyewear

Once you have prepared all the necessary materials and tools, you can start to make your very unique planter.

Step One – Firstly, you have to make a template for drilling through the book. Take a piece of wood and drill a hole into it.

Step Two – Secondly, mark a center point on top of the book, which is the hole’s position.

Step Three – Then, put the drilled piece of wood on the top of the book while another piece on the opposite side. Tightly hold the book between them.

Step Four – After sandwiching the book between pieces, you now have to clamp it to a hard table. 

Step Five – At this stage, you start drilling through the book. Never forget to wear a protective eyewear for safety reason. Now, drill bit by bit with about 1 or 2 inches each time. After every few inches, stop drilling and use the pliers to get rid of paper from the hole attachment. Continue to drill until the hole’s path goes through both the book as well as its back cover.

Step Six – In this next step, use a sharp utility knife to create a square surrounding the hole. You have to cut right through the pages with about ¼ inch depth. This is the place of your drainage screen.

Step Seven – You continue with putting a piece of window screen neatly into the square, then put a square piece of the hardware cloth on its top. Firmly fix them both with hot PVA glue.

Step Eight – Attach the back cover with glue and hold it down about a minute so it is set.

Step Nine – Close the book with clamp, then paste a decent layer of glue all over the pages and the inside of the hole. You should let it rest for a few hours.

Step Ten – You have basically finished the main steps. Now it is time for decorating your planter. Use a brush to apply polyacrylic to the book’s bottom. After the first coat is dry, add one more layer of paint and wait until the entire bottom is completely dry. Likewise, turn over the book to proceed with the top and sides. Each surface should have 2 layers of coat. Finally, let the planter dry for about 24 – 48 hours.

Step Eleven – After waiting for 1-2 days, you now can add soil, delicate succulents and top it with pretty tiny rocks.

In the end, you can see that there is much joy and excitement when you create such a thing on your own. it can be a fun way to spend some spare time, it can be a great hobby or it can be something great you can make for someone that means a lot to you. A little bit of hard work goes a long way.

Read more wood working tips at http://mybestbandsaw.com/