Author Topic: Cutting quarter sawn Hickory strips from bandsaw  (Read 4508 times)

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Offline bigcountry

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Cutting quarter sawn Hickory strips from bandsaw
« on: June 16, 2010, 11:44:06 pm »
How in the world do you guys cut nice strips from hickory?  It kills my bandsaw.  My bandsaw does ok with osage, and black locust, but hickory is tough. 

I am thinking of flatening the bottom of a stave, and then taking a circular saw with a carbide bladeand going up the stave following a line.  If I can get one flat side, I think I could put on my rickety table saw and cut backing strips that way.  But the bandsaw ain't going to work.  At least mine won't.  Its a 12" craftsman.   The 1/2" blade has cut out about 5-6 bows.  Maybe its dull.
Westminster, MD

Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: Cutting quarter sawn Hickory strips from bandsaw
« Reply #1 on: June 17, 2010, 12:06:54 am »
With a brand new 1/2" 3tpi blade on my Griz I can only cut 6 or so hickory backings and the blade is shot, tough stuff that hickory.

Offline Pat B

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Re: Cutting quarter sawn Hickory strips from bandsaw
« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2010, 12:09:05 am »
I used my table saw but I think that can be dangerous. Finger boards are a must.    :o
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline bigcountry

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Re: Cutting quarter sawn Hickory strips from bandsaw
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2010, 11:40:01 am »
With a brand new 1/2" 3tpi blade on my Griz I can only cut 6 or so hickory backings and the blade is shot, tough stuff that hickory.

Ok, I guess that explains it.  One can't appreciate hickory and its toughness until they dry it and cut it.

I had a lumber guy tell me, to cut it wet.  He has a bandsaw sawmill, and said he doesn't mind cutting oak, or anything dry except hickory and HHB.  He said its much easier wet. 
Westminster, MD

Offline bubby

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Re: Cutting quarter sawn Hickory strips from bandsaw
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2010, 05:06:09 pm »
I cut my backing's on the table saw, use a finger board and a push stick
failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline Marc St Louis

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Re: Cutting quarter sawn Hickory strips from bandsaw
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2010, 06:49:48 pm »
With a brand new 1/2" 3tpi blade on my Griz I can only cut 6 or so hickory backings and the blade is shot, tough stuff that hickory.

Odd.  I can cut a lot more backings than that before my blades are shot.  The high density tropicals are what kill my bandsaw blades
Home of heat-treating, Corbeil, On.  Canada

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Offline ken75

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Re: Cutting quarter sawn Hickory strips from bandsaw
« Reply #6 on: June 18, 2010, 01:07:58 am »
i love hickory , i just buy lots of blades !

Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: Cutting quarter sawn Hickory strips from bandsaw
« Reply #7 on: June 18, 2010, 10:44:44 am »
After I cut about 6 backings I start getting burned streaks in the hickory from my blade being dull. I can use the same blade for a while on other woods before I chunk it but it is shot for anymore backings.

Offline Badger

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Re: Cutting quarter sawn Hickory strips from bandsaw
« Reply #8 on: June 18, 2010, 12:17:37 pm »
  I have the 14" delta, 2 years ago I cut about 160 backings, I don't think I used more than 2 blades. One big thing on bandsaws is that you cannot always use a fence when resawing. Seldom do you push the wood straight through as you do on a table saw. I use the corner of a 1X4 spaced about 3/16 from my blade and then feed the wood through at whatever angle keeps the blade in a relaxed position. very seldom is it a traight push. If you go just a little bit faster than the wood wants to go your bade will be toast almost immediately so getting a feel for the right speed is important, I go by the sound of the motor. I use a 3 tooth but a two tooth is better if you can find one. Steve