Mr. Redwood Posted December 7, 2016 Report Share Posted December 7, 2016 I have a walnut tree that was cut down a long time ago and I want to have some walnut to cut for plugs and other small accents. I only have a bandsaw to cut it, but the bandsaw is perfect for this, 7" of blade ready to cut. My only concern is that there is no safe way to cut the tree, the tree is plenty manageable, but there are curves and twists in the tree that allow the bandsaw blade to grab and pull down. Is there a sled or some sort of way for me to make a rip cut down this tree safely? Thank You and Happy Woodworking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted December 7, 2016 Report Share Posted December 7, 2016 There are a few youtube videos of cutting logs or branches on a bandsaw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wtnhighlander Posted December 7, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 7, 2016 A plywood "half-box" sled. Basically a 90* corner to support the log. Clamp, hot-glue, or screw the log into the corner. A runner underneath to guide the sled via the miter slot, or the table edge if you saw has no slot. One the first flat side is cut, you can rotate the log to cut a square corner on it. After that, just push the log through, with that corner against the fence. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Redwood Posted December 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2016 Thank you wtnhighlander, I was thinking of something like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted December 7, 2016 Report Share Posted December 7, 2016 What diameter are you talking about. If it is "plenty manageable" , it may not have enough heartwood to be worth the effort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Redwood Posted December 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2016 It has plenty of heartwood, "manageable" just meant not so large I cant even maneuver it. The Heartwood is about 5.5"x 5.5". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted December 7, 2016 Report Share Posted December 7, 2016 You in da money then! What highlander said is the way to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Redwood Posted December 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2016 Lucky to get my hands on that tree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted December 7, 2016 Report Share Posted December 7, 2016 Totally agree. I cut down a walnut tree 28 months ago and am just now able to start using the wood. Keep us posted with your progress pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharleyL Posted December 8, 2016 Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 Here is a manufactured jig for this, but you can build one quite easily, once you understand the concept. http://stockroomsupply.ca/shop/little-ripper-and-round-ripper.html . If you don't want to make your own, this one is pretty good, and for a reasonable price. I don't own one yet, but have watched one of these in use at a woodworking show and I was impressed. You will also need a special blade for good results. Re-sawing is different than most band sawing that you do because it is a ripping function of very thick wood and not the usual cross cutting of thinner wood. A cross cutting type blade will not work well for this. I wider than usual blade is best, as wide as your saw can handle, adjusted tight, with the blade teeth gullets centered on the band saw's tires. The saw will be working hard to do this. Don't kill your saw's motor. This is a slower process than normal band sawing. Have a good push block ready when you get near the end of the cut. Charley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CandorLush Posted December 8, 2016 Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 http://www.popularwoodworking.com/projects/simple-lumber-maker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Redwood Posted December 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 It would be nice to have a visual for something to go off of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 8 hours ago, CharleyL said: Here is a manufactured jig for this, but you can build one quite easily, once you understand the concept. http://stockroomsupply.ca/shop/little-ripper-and-round-ripper.html . If you don't want to make your own, this one is pretty good, and for a reasonable price. I don't own one yet, but have watched one of these in use at a woodworking show and I was impressed. You will also need a special blade for good results. Re-sawing is different than most band sawing that you do because it is a ripping function of very thick wood and not the usual cross cutting of thinner wood. A cross cutting type blade will not work well for this. I wider than usual blade is best, as wide as your saw can handle, adjusted tight, with the blade teeth gullets centered on the band saw's tires. The saw will be working hard to do this. Don't kill your saw's motor. This is a slower process than normal band sawing. Have a good push block ready when you get near the end of the cut. Charley Charley, I too was impressed when I saw this at a show here in Houston a few years ago. So much so that I plunked down big bucks for it. Turned out that it was several months before I got a chance to use to and found out that it was a piece of junk. I contacted the folks in Canada and was told that the warranty had expired. I ended up making my own from BB ply and clamps. Don't waste your money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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