Popular Woodworking 2003-06 № 134, страница 84

Bird is a fan of the traditional block side guides. Frequently made of steel, these side-guide blocks are also available in a plastic or ceramic. Bird recommends an even lower-tech option, scrap wood: "They're inexpensive, guide the blade, and if an expensive carbide tooth happens to touch the block, the block will give way, rather than the tooth."

Barragan prefers Euro-guides. Bearings that mount face-to-face almost touching the blade body provide side support, while a bearing mounted tangen-tially to the blade provides rear support. He says that even though they can be fussy to set up, the end result is better performance during the cut.

Helshoj says guides should guide the blade and reduce vibration. He prefers a ceramic block guide because it reduces heat and can touch the blade to dampen vibration (on at least one side of the blade; if the weld is perfect, then on both sides). Blocks are better than bearings because there are no moving parts, further reducing vibration.

Wilke says the Carter Guide-All design is preferable over the Euro guides because the thrust bearing is moving with the direction of the blade, but it is still able to provide stable support. In addition, he says, the grooved track provides excellent guidance.

what guides offer the best performance, and we've posted their opinions above.

Do you Need a Band Saw Designed for Resawing?

Now we get down to the essence of the question. While our experts agree that the rigidity and capacity found in steel-frame band saws is a benefit to resaw-

ing, you need to decide how important resawing is to you.

Traditionally (and for most woodworkers) the band saw has been a good machine for making curves and some joints. The band saw has become a necessary but an occasionally used tool. Today, woodworkers are becoming more sophisticated in their woodworking - and material selection - and

the value of the band saw as a resawing tool has increased.

Woodworkers are using more expensive and exotic woods, and the idea of losing one-third the thickness of that wenge to the planer is unthinkable. Accurately resawing 12"-wide lumber has become a primary job of the band saw for many woodworkers.

That said, is it necessary, or

even beneficial, to consider a steel-frame saw as the only choice for quality resawing?

Bird says that for the average woodworker, a 14" cast-iron saw with a riser block to extend the resaw capacity and a good blade will do a great job. He says one drawback of cast-iron saws has traditionally been the motor size, which he considers underpow

CB:carbon block; C:ceramic; ES: Euro-style; M:metal block; B:bearing guides; CI:cast iron;AL:aluminum; Delta cast-iron saw in red. Thanks to the Olson Saw Co. for providing blades for this article.

CB:carbon block; C:ceramic; ES: Euro-style; M:metal block; B:bearing guides; CI:cast iron;AL:aluminum; Delta cast-iron saw in red. Thanks to the Olson Saw Co. for providing blades for this article.

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Popular Woodworking June 2003