[rickm]

ok, I give up.
I dont have a bandsaw and have tried trimming basswood chunks with a coping saw, but the saw fills up to fast and it takes longer than just whacking at it with a knife.
Anyone have any suggestions for hand sawing the blanks/ what kind of saw might work?

[Just Carving]

Hi rickm

Since you're just hogging out, and not needing to "put the block back together" to cut on a bandsaw, you can use just about any saw--hand saw, hack saw, recirprocating saw, bow saw, as long as it gets the job done and doesn't mess up what your trying to save.

but the saw fills up to fast

Not sure what you mean--you can switch to a coarse tooth blade if that's what you mean. If you running out of space in the throat, you can use a fret saw.

I prefer to take the biggest chisel I have--which is a good solid thick 2" paint chisel that I reground, and that's what I use to hog out. It's cheap, it's thin so it works fast, and it's a good workout, too.

Using a chisel gives you more leverage than a knife since you can get behind the chisel to push. Just be careful not to break off too much of the block.

Bob L

[Thomp]

Rickm
i use a scrollsaw, not having a bandsaw,

in the past i used a coping saw, with a real fine tooth blade, if your cutting cross grain the saw dust falls pretty easily but if your cutting with the grain the blade will fill up, if you force the saw it will fight you,

coping saws are used with a shoe or v board it's a sacrificial board attached under the table top, or in vise, it has a v cut in the end thats closest to you,

attach the wood to the shoe, with a spring or c clamp, and instill lots of patience, the saw shouldn't be forced and the blade should be positioned so the cut is on the pull. with handle downwards

really it works ive cut out several cutouts using a coping saw, i don't prefer it but it can be done,


keep the cut slow and easy

maybe best technical definition of shoe or v board here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coping_saw

[Shimmy]

You can use a backsaw and cut across the grain and do not go to the line.make alot of cuts about 1/2" to 1" apart. do not go to close to the pattern line.Leave about 1/4" . Then with about a 1" flat chisel.chip them off carefully.

[Eddy Smiles]

Rick...

I'm in the same boat as you. I don't have a bandsaw and like Tom I use a scroll saw. However, when ever I do anything larger than 2" square it's beyond the capability of the scroll saw and I have to revert to hand saws.

I use a coping saw for some things but for really rough cutting I use a pull type hand saw...i.e. Japanese style.

For small detail cuts I bought a small japanese style flush cut saw at Harbor Frieght for a rediculously low price when it was on sale.

You might want to look in to using a scroll saw. I have two. I bought a B&D at an outlet store for less than $100 and then picked up a vintage Craftsman for less than $10.00. With a skiptooth blade that Craftsman cuts circles around the B&D. The bottom line is that a scroll saw is really versatile for small work and not all that expensive an investment for someone who does a lot of smaller work.

[windsong]

rickm
I also don't have a bandsaw.So i cut all my wood with a hacksaw and rought out knife.When done this way you have to keep your project small or it will wear our hands out trying to remove all the wood by hand.I'm hope some day to get a bandsaw .I wish I wish I wish!!! No luck yet Ha Ha .
windsong

[Thomp]

harold enlow in several of his books shows how to use carpenter chisels to hack off the bulk waste wood with mallet and chisel,

but i thought it too much risk in busting off feet or cowboy hat brims

[cats pa]

Okay, there are so many of you out there without bandsaws, you've got a tear of sadness rolling down my cheek. Reading your posts just makes me want to go out and round up all the orphan bandsaws I can find and send them to y'all for christmas.

Ahhhh, sorry, I didn't really mean to come across as such a meanie ("I've got a bandsaw and you don't, nyah, nyah"). If I keep up like that somebody's gonna belt me in the mouth.

What I really meant to say is, many power and hand tools can be creatively used for hogging out unwanted wood.

Got a drill press, or even a variable speed drill with a 1/4" brad point bit? If you can fasten your pc of wood firmly to some massive object, you can drill a series of shallow holes.

Got a table saw? Set the blade to project maybe 1/4" and take a series of kerfs using the miter gauge. Start with an oversized blank and leave a square part on each end.

Got a sharp hatchet? Set the corner at some strategic spot and whack the poll with a wooden mallet (gently at first, and don't use a steel hammer - I've got a steel chip in my arm to remind me of that).

Perhaps using whatever tools you do have in different ways can help you amuse yourself while saving up for a bandsaw. And if money is tight, maybe you don't really need a brand new fancy one. What Eddy said about scroll saws is true of bandsaws as well: there are a lot of set up and tuned old saws still cutting a lot of wood.

Parker

Official disclaimer: You, and you alone are solely responsible for your safety in the shop. Don't do something you're nervous about just because I suggested it. I'm just saying, there's more than one way to peel a pelt...

[JIM QUILICI]

I believe that trying to carve without a band saw ...is like....trying to be a cook without a stove or a oven......oh you can go outside and make a fire and do it ...but what a lot of work ....with out a band saw its a lot of work ....and I believe a person will get tired of carving , if every thing you do to get ready to carve is hard. someone even said to use a ax.........wow....before I got a band saw i used rough outs ...and used practice sticks and used "Pete Leclair " book on how to carve people out of practice sticks with out cutting them out first.... suggestion....... don't make it hard ...you will have more fun.
Jim

[Gergie]

Hello Rick, Before I had a bandsaw I would go to our High school and they had a open shop night where you'd pay 5 bucks and use any of there shop equipment. I would have several projects lined up and cut them out.

This may be one option you'd want to check out. Good Luck!