Woodworking I – Irregular Shapes Hand Outs

BAND SAW

  1. Function – Used to make exterior irregular shaped cuts.
  1. Parts – Power switch, table, miter gauge slot, table insert, upper blade guard and guidepost, saw blade, blade wheel guards.
  1. Safety and Operation Procedures
  1. Adjust the upper blade guard and guidepost to 1/4" above the wood surface.
  2. Always keep your fingers 2” away from the saw blade at all times.
  3. Always keep your fingers out of the line of cut. This is the area directly in front of the saw blade.
  4. When completing a cut be careful to compensate your feed rate as you exit from cutting the wood.
  5. Allow the saw to come to full power prior to feeding the stock into the saw blade.
  6. When sawing stay to the outside of the object line on the scrap side of the wood.
  7. To avoid breaking the saw blade never back the blade from a cut, or attempt to cut to tight of a radius.
  8. Only remove scrap wood when the saw blade is off and not moving.
  9. If you are cutting round cylindrical stock always use a V – block and miter gauge to cradle the stock and feed it while sawing.
  10. If the saw blade pulls off the wheels or breaks, please remove or open the wheel guards and inform the instructor so the situation can be fixed.
  11. Always wear safety glasses while operating this machine.

SCROLL SAW

  1. Function – Used to make interior and exterior irregular shaped cuts.
  1. Parts – Power switch, table, table locking knob, blade tension control, saw blade, blade holders.
  1. Safety and Operation Procedures
  1. Install the blade so the saw teeth are pointing downward towards the table surface.
  2. Always keep your fingers 2” away from the saw blade at all times.
  3. Always keep your fingers out of the line of cut. This is the area directly in front of the saw blade.
  4. When completing a cut be careful to compensate your feed rate as you exit from cutting the wood.
  5. Allow the saw to come to full power prior to feeding the stock into the saw blade.
  6. Feed the stock at a slow steady rate of speed. With a scroll saw you can turn as tight of a radius or angle as you wish as long as it is done slowly by pivoting the stock.
  7. Hold the stock firmly to the saw table while sawing, do not allow the stock to chatter and vibrate on the saw table.
  8. Only remove scrap wood when the saw blade is off and not moving.
  9. To make an interior cut a clearance hole needs to be drilled through the scrap stock so it is larger than the saw blade.
  10. If the saw blade breaks, please inform the instructor so the situation can be fixed.
  11. Always wear safety glasses while operating this machine.

SABER SAW

  1. Function – Used to make interior and exterior irregular shaped cuts.
  1. Parts – Power switch, saw blade, blade holder, saw base, blade screw, variable speed control
  1. Safety and Operation Procedures
  1. When making blade changes always make sure that the saw is unplugged. Also make sure that the saw is turned off prior to plugging in.
  2. The saber saws teeth point upward and cut on the upward cutting stroke. Because of this always place the stocks best surface facing down to prevent the wood from splintering and tearing out.
  3. Always place the stock that is being cut so it overhangs off the workbench and that it is clamped securely to the bench top.
  4. Position the base of the saber saw on the wood surface but have the blade not in contact with the wood.
  5. Allow the saw to come to full power before feeding it into the stock.
  6. To prevent unnecessary vibration hold the saw firmly to the stock while sawing.
  7. Stay to the outside of the object line while sawing.
  8. To make an interior cut a clearance hole needs to be drilled through the scrap stock so it is larger than the saw blade.
  9. Never raise the saw from the stock while operating. To remove the saw, turn it off allow it to come to a complete stop then remove from the wood surface.
  10. After completing a cut allow the saw to come to a complete stop before setting it down.
  11. To keep the saws cord out of the way please use an extension cord, and drape the cord over the operators shoulder passing it out through the operators far arm pit.
  12. Always wear safety glasses while operating this machine.

DISC SANDER

  1. Function – Used to sand exterior radiuses on a stocks end and edge grains.
  1. Parts – Power switch, abrasive disc, table, miter gauge & slot.
  1. Safety and Operation Procedures
  1. Always allow the sander to come to full power prior to beginning a sanding operation.
  2. Always use the side of the sanding disc that is rotating downward into the sanders table.
  3. Always have the stock placed down on the table surface while sanding.
  4. Keep fingers away from the sanding disc at all times. Do not sand very small objects.
  5. Apply light pressure into the sanding disc, do not press hard into the sanding disc.
  6. Start sanding as much as possible towards the center of the disc and work outward to the outside of the sanding disc.
  7. Sand different areas of the stock by revolving the wood to different portions of the board.
  8. When the abrasive surface begins to become clogged with saw dust, use the abrasive cleaner on the sanding disc.
  9. Always wear safety glasses while operating this machine.

SPINDLE SANDER

  1. Function – Used to sand interior radiuses on a stocks end and edge grains.
  1. Parts – Power switch, sanding spindle, table insert, table.
  1. Safety and Operation Procedures
  1. Always try to use the largest sanding spindle for the radius that you are sanding
  2. Always allow the sander to come to full power prior to beginning a sanding operation.
  3. Always have the stock placed down on the table surface while sanding.
  4. Apply light pressure into the sanding spindle. Do not use excessive pressure.
  5. Feed Direction – always feed the stock against the rotation of the sanding spindle.
  6. If the sanding spindle need changed, please have the instructor change to the appropriate spindle size.
  7. Always wear safety glasses while operating this machine.
  1. Always use a partner to assist you in your ripping operation. The role of the spotter is to help keep the stock down against the table surface, up against the rip fence, and support it as it passes off of the table saws surface.
  2. Always wear safety glasses as you perform a ripping operation on the Table Saw.

Power Miter Saw

A. Function – used to make angled (mitered cuts).

B. Parts & Accessories – feed handle, power switch, table, fence, board clamping mechanism, locking handle, indexing tab, saw blade, blade guard, bevel lock.

C. Safety & Operation

1. Set the saw to the correct angle of cut by: loosening the locking handle, depress the indexing tab and moving the table to the desired angle of cut. When you are at the desired angle of cut, lock the locking handle in place.

2. Place the stock firmly against the saw table and fence using the work clamp on the stock whenever possible. Never have your hand within 6” of the saw blade, holding the stock. If making a final cut to length align the saw tooth pointing towards the good stock on the pencil line.

3. Hand positioning – have the hand closest to the saws feed handle feed the saw. If the work clamp is used it is not necessary to hold the stock with the hand furthest from the saws feed handle.

4. Start the saw at the top position away from the stock. Allow it to come to full speed then penetrate through the stock, stopping the saw at the bottom allowing the saw to come to a complete stop once the cut is completed.

5. After the sawing operation is complete and the saw has come to a complete stop, allow the saw to go back to the starting position, and then remove any scrap stock.

6. Always wear safety glasses while operating this tool.

Sliding Power Miter Saw

Safety & Operation – Apply all of the same rules of operation that is used for the power miter saw with one exception. To start a cut pull the saw beyond the stock that is being cut, turning the saw on, and then plunging the saw into the stock, feeding the saw back towards the saws fence.