blank roughouts

[Dennis Taylor]

Being a beginner yet, I got a few patterns, glued to the wood(Basswood) and ready to rough out on the band saw, using a 1/8 in reg tooth blade...any advice?..other than don't cut off a finger!....ha ha.....Dennis

[Smokey]

I suggest that you cut outside the lines and leave your carving a little bigger than the pattern.

[AlArchie]

That and don't try to rush the cut, make sure you are always feeding the blank STRAIGHT into the blade by turning the blank as you cut so as the blade is not twisting.

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

sometimes I cut both directions, if I do, I use double sided tape to put one side back on for a flat surface....but most of the time I think just the two sides are enough (see Ricks hobo blank)

[Goody]

Originally Posted by Dennis Taylor

Being a beginner yet, I got a few patterns, glued to the wood(Basswood) and ready to rough out on the band saw, using a 1/8 in reg tooth blade...any advice?..other than don't cut off a finger!....ha ha.....Dennis

LOL Been there done that! It Happens Quik and it hurts like hell the next couple of months. Safety first around that band saw.
Goody

[Dennis Taylor]

I am aware of the hazards, I just had a 1/8 blade break about a week or so ago, and although not hurt, scared me a bit when it snapped....tks...Dennis