Bandsaw cutting question

[comreno]

Hello;
Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.
The question I have is about cuttung with the bandsaw.
When I read about a project they usually says to cut the pattern on the band saw or other type of saw but it isn't really clear about which to cut first.
Do you cut the front view first or the profile first?
Is there a rule of thumb to follow when it comes to deciding which to cut first?
Would appreciate you ideas and suggestions.
Thanks;
Larry

[Tom Ellis]

Larry, I like to cut the simplist side first. Stop when you are about an 1/8 inch from the end, and back your blade out. Same on second line. Then when you turn your piece on the side, you have a nice flat surface, and your pattern is still in place for the last side.

Hope this helps. Tom

[Claude]

Word of caution: I also do as Tom suggests on some of my carvings, BUT - turn the bandsaw off before you back it out of a long sinuous cut!!!! Push a small dowel or pencil against the teeth of the blade as you back the blade out of the cut. This will hold the blade against it's guides and neither bend it nor pull it off the wheel. Trying to back out of a long cut while the bandsaw was running cost me a big scare and ruined Timberwolf blade when it pulled off the wheels...

A variation of this Tom's idea is to cut all the way through, then either glue the waste back on with a dab of hot melt glue, or wrap ordinary 1 inch masking tape around everything to hold the waste in place while the other view is cut. It is very important that the wood have a flat surface contacting the table - if you try to cut a piece supported by air, and the blade catches, it will flip the wood across the room and likely break your blade.

Claude

[steve brown]

Either one of these suggestions will work. Always cut the easy side first.
Steve Brown Woodcarving

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

I agree with the above, I use tape after cutting the first side.

Dave

[chisler10]

I do the same as Claude..but I use clear packing tape so it is easier to see the pattern for cutting.
Patrick

[jwd]

I agree with Tom on cutting the simplest side first. I use double face tape which keeps pieces from falling off and keeps the piece more square. I then use a small chisel to pop off the pieces still held the tape.

[TexasSteve]

I do the same, and I use blue painters tape to hold it all back together to cut the other side.

[torpidhummer]

I totally agree with Claude,I use the cheapest masking tape as one can see the
lines of the projects I am sawing.
Oscar

[Grandpa Roger]

I usually cut the side that removes the most wood from the blank first. (Simlest side?) That way I have a better surface to glue or tape back on before cutting the other side. Works for me!