Cutting exotic hardwoods on a bandsaw

J

JD Wairr

Joined
Aug 6, 2001
Messages
19
I have a number of 2"wide by 1" thick strips of Cocobolo.

I would like to split the strips down the center to make 1/2" matching pairs for handle scales.

Man, my bandsaw will Not cut this wood, it just burns it. I have a 14" bandsaw and a 6 TPI blade, with the blade running at the slowest speed.

I need some help and suggestions.

Thanks
JD Wairr
 
Cut it on a table saw. My bandsaw won't do it either. I tried to cut some Bocote the other day and it just kept wandering off to the side. Much better results on a table saw even though you lose more material.
 
wood cutting bandsaws run very fast.

6 tpi should work fine. but make sure it's not dull. if the blade pulls to one side, then the teeth are dull on that side. if you have to push or you get any burn marks change the blade. If you are ripping stock get as wide a blade as poss. with as few teeth as you can find. and run it as fast as your saw will go.(I'm talking blade speed, not feed rate) Keep your feed rate slow enough that the blade dose the cutting.

cocobolo is very hard, with a high reson contentso it will have a tendency to gum up the works, but it shouldn't be to much of a problem if you keep your feed slow and use a corse blade.

be careful, and have fun EE
 
I use my metal-cutting bandsaw for the likes of cocobolo and ironwood with a bimetal blade, slow feed. works ok.

Just in case you don't know: cocobolo dust is very toxic if inhaled. It has put more than one knifemaker in the hospital.

Sorry if I'm repeating common knowledge, but I figured safety comes first...:)
 
Mike,personally,I dont think that safety precautions can be repeated too many times.
 
I bought a new resawing blade from Grizzly last week- 1 inch wide, 3 teeth per inch, carbide embedded.

I added Carter roller guides a couple years ago.

A friend came last weekend and we resawed scales for about a half day. We ripped some of the larger pieces to width on the table saw and then sawed the scales in two on the bandsaw.

The roller guides and the resaw blade make ALL the difference.

It is easy to use and results are real good if your tool is set up properly. We just marked the line in the center and fed them into the saw [using a push-stick at the end of each piece]. It actually takes a lot LESS pressure on the bandsaw than on the table saw and you don't end up with burned spots or the work pinched between the fence and the blade. Also much less waste.

Dave
 
your bandsaw should work fine....sounds like the blade is dull to me. SLOWEST SPEED???? your bandsaw has speeds.....is it a metal cutting bandsaw? That could be your problem....wood cutting bandsaws run at around 3000 spm and metal 1/10th that speed....put it on the FASTEST speed and get a blade with 10 tpi and go for it...or go over to your woodworker buddy and get him to do it. Shouldnt be a problem, a new blade will cut ANY kind of wood without difficulty.
 
Originally posted by tom mayo
your bandsaw should work fine....sounds like the blade is dull to me. SLOWEST SPEED???? your bandsaw has speeds.....is it a metal cutting bandsaw? That could be your problem....wood cutting bandsaws run at around 3000 spm and metal 1/10th that speed....put it on the FASTEST speed and get a blade with 10 tpi and go for it...or go over to your woodworker buddy and get him to do it. Shouldnt be a problem, a new blade will cut ANY kind of wood without difficulty.
Click to expand...

Mr. Mayo, I really don't undestand your advice.

I' m using a woodcutting bandsaw with a NEW 6TPI blade running at the slowest speed.

I can't split the cocobolo as I described in my initial post.

I really don't want to use a tablesaw when I should be able to cut in on the bandsaw.

JD Wairr:(
 
Hey JD

Like I said before I use a metal bandsaw
at 300spm & it works fine. What kind of blade
are you useing? I use a6 tpi with a hook
tooth with a 10 degree rake.
Not much help I know:confused:
 
JD, I've used a neighbor's bandsaw to cut Cocobolo, Ironwood, and giraffe bone without any problems. You might want to try increasing the blade speed. My neighbors saw was running wide open. For safety try carpet taping (non-foam variety) the peice you want to cut to a larger piece of wood that has been squared up. That way you can keep your fingers out of the way and get more control.
 
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