Bandsaw log cradle

[John Torchick]

I got the idea from woodturner, Mike Peace. I tend to go overboard from a basic technical background. It is from an oak stair tread, 5/8 inch aluminum channel. Took lots of planning and cutting. One upright was a bit in the way of the blade. Quick to resolve it. Wish they were all like that.

 

[Steve Tiedman]

I really need to build one. I might make the base from 1/4" plywood to preserve cutting height as much as possible. And a piece of 3/8" x 3/4" wood as a key to ride in the table miter slot.

Or, no key, run it freehand so I can control the angle if needed, and even steer the sled with the saw miter gauge if looking for angle cuts.

 

[John Hicks]

They are great for not injuring yourself trying to cut round stock. I'm not sure how I know that.

 

[John Torchick]

John, tried to turn a piece while cutting. Found that isn't a good thing to do.
Steve, had 1/4 inch plywood but opted for a heavier base. Tread is one inch. Don't think the thickness difference will matter.

 

[John K Jordan]

I've cut many, many log sections in all orientations on my bandsaw without incident. There are several good ways to stabilize a round log when both ripping and crosscutting, but I don't use a cradle, mostly simple wood wedges. I usually use 2-4 wedges at once. Very bad things could happen if a round log could roll when crosscutting. I discuss and show the methods in my bandsaw video along with some other things that can cause problems.

I mostly cut turning squares but also cut bowl and other round blanks. I always use Lenox 1/2" 3tpi spring steel blades. Sharpen 4-5 times before replacing. Bandsaw should be well aligned and adjusted, especially the guides.



JKJ

 

[Steve Tiedman]

Heck, John, feel free to ship offcuts like that one to me!

 

[John K Jordan]

Heck, John, feel free to ship offcuts like that one to me!

Are those little rounds good for anything? I don't turn many bowls.
I have a few like that in cherry burl I've been thinking about turning. Been sitting on the shelf for almost 10 years now.

 

[John Torchick]

Are those little rounds good for anything? I don't turn many bowls.
I have a few like that in cherry burl I've been thinking about turning. Been sitting on the shelf for almost 10 years now.

Should be dry by now.

 

[John K Jordan]

I occasionally break down and make something like this from one of the rounds. Not often, but enough to keep my hands tuned up.


I think I turned this about 20 years ago. Purpose-made to hold something specific for display.

JKJ

 

[John Torchick]

Amazing turning when only nine years old.

 

[Steve Tiedman]

Are those little rounds good for anything? I don't turn many bowls.
I have a few like that in cherry burl I've been thinking about turning. Been sitting on the shelf for almost 10 years now.

I enjoy one-hand sized turning projects more than stuff sized for family dining service. I could make all kinds of stuff from the cutoff in your photo. Mainly because it is so clean and uniform looking already, no bark or other stuff to cut away. Little bowls, cups, chess pieces, etc.

 

[John K Jordan]

I could make all kinds of stuff from the cutoff in your photo.

Me too. I don't waste much. In fact, I probably keep more than I can turn in two lifetimes. When I get a notion to turn something I usually have a piece of wood on hand that will do.



I cut up the large offcut in that bandsawing photo into turning squares for boxes and such. The curved pieces left over (from both ends) are in my box of wedges - nice to have a variety of sizes and radii on hand when processing logs on the bandsaw.

I store nice domestic wood pieces, often flat rectangles too thin/small for turning in tubs in the barn and occasionally find an art teacher excited to get them. I guess I could glue some up to turn but I don't. I do save potentially useful scraps of exotics like cocobolo, rosewoods, olive, and ebony. A friend who makes furniture for his house used some of the ebony for wedges in his latest table and chairs.



I do burn a lot of scraps but scarcely anything thicker than 1/8" and often end grain slices where I cut away drying cracks before sealing/resealing.

I keep a burn barrel - after having several "normal" steel 55gal drums disintegrate from the high temperatures, I finally found a source for heavy wall stainless steel 55gal drums, just $50 each because they were dented. (A good stainless 55gal drum can be $900 or more.)



The first SS burn barrel I made has survived for over 10 years now, often gets so hot burning scraps of wood the sides of the drum glow bright-orange-hot. I cut out most of the bottom, cut air vents, and weld up a grate from 1/2" rebar for a 6" gap at the bottom. The heat softens the rebar and causes the grate to sag in the middle so I just flip it over occasionally.)

So handy!



JKJ