Wood Have any wood cutting tips w/ machinery?

[DeviantDigi]

Greetings,
I was wondering if you guys had and tips to share about wood cutting?

Lately I've been doing a lot of wood projects, and it takes me hours upon hours longer because I simply can't get a straight cut. Fixing, patching, and sanding every piece I cut. It really adds up.

For example, I have a craftsman 10" table saw. It has the guides and whatnot. However, absolutely nothing on it is straight. All the guides rattle back and forth. They tighten down, but there is wiggle room before hand, so how am I supposed to know that is straight? Adding, there is absolutely nothing on it to get a proper reference point (90 degree angle or line). I've see where people make their own guides, but I can't get that straight line so . . . idk.

Another issue is with my band saw. I spent like an hour making sure everything was aligned and watching tutorials. As soon as I start cutting, the blade just veers off whatever direction. When you go very, very slowly and it starts to look like it'l work. You can't turn the saw blade when our cutting, it just goes straight while bent sideways lol.

I use a right angle to mark up and design my projects. But then I start cutting and it breaks everything.

 

[asdaq]

I feel your pain. I had incredible difficulties with a 30 year old plus craftsman. My trouble was getting the blade angle to zero. If you have the blade right, you can get the fences pretty easily just make the distances from the blade at both ends of the table and make sure they match. The push guide should have angle indications on it and should be pretty easy to keep set. I gave up on the table saw and switched to a chop saw instead. My brother said his table saw was all off too and he decided to get a new one. Best of luck getting your straight.

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[Nermal]

Well, that's what band saws do, Digi. I just love Craftsman tools, as long as you're talking about socket tools. Good as any, and better than some. Hang the Craftsman name on anything with a motor and it's a real crapshoot. I can come up with a straight edge on a no name router, but only if it isn't real long. For angles, there is a router/shaper fixture out there that clamps the work to the fixture, but just how much do you want to spend to accomplish what you need. In other words, is the sum of the projects worth the sum of the tooling? Don't forget the floor space you're giving up.

We have a member (Ken-A) who can make a straight, true dado with a wood chisel. Real low cost of tools, but I wonder how much time went into developing the skill. Maybe it comes naturally. Yeah, that's it.

 

[williebb123]

for the table saw you can build a sled i made one over the winter that i use to cut large pieces of 3/4 plywood so mine is quite large but you can make it to fit your needs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE9f4bp_wm8

i also use for smaller pieces of wood for 90 deg or smaller the kreg table saw miter gauge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88drFFLMxJY

i find myself doing repetitive cuts quicker on the kreg miter gauge with the small stuff anybody that has worked with a chop saw knows it is not made for the small stuff unless you have some kind of clamping, it will kick out and remove a few fingers so be safe

 

[williebb123]

there are also some vids on utube how to square up a table saw that might help , just trying to save you some money woodworking has gotten expensive over the years im in the tens of thousands of dollars but ive been collecting for over 30yrs but i always bought the best tools i could get and back then they would last a lifetime but now not so much

 

[rurwin]

My father was a carpenter. He cut perfect mitres freehand. I've got good enough now to be able to cut reasonable ones with a mitre block.

There's a huge gap between the "professional" products you get in DIY stores and the products that the professionals use. If you spend enough in a DIY store, you might get something that's borderline useful. The drill I inherited off my father is solid, powerful and just works. I've never seen anything like as good in the local DIY store. Even their top-priced models don't come close.

 

[something_vague]

With your table saw you should be able to get the fence parallel to the blade, that is the only reference you should care about....the blade! You should never use the front of the table or any other part on the saw to align your fence with, you just care about the blade. If there is any adjustment you can do to the fence and or table, always reference the blade for the adjustment. I no longer use my table saw but when I did I had all settings locked in to achieve perfectly parallel cuts and I built a crosscut sled to ride in the miter slots to cut perfect 90deg cuts. To achieve your fence is parallel to the blade you need to get a perfect measurement from the front of the blade to the fence as the back of the blade to the fence. And I always marked the blade with a sharpie where my measurement was taken from, that way when you go to measure the back of the blade you turn the blade around to the mark and take the measurement from the same exact point on the blade...that way any blade deflection wouldn't be present.

I have changed my whole outlook on woodworking (I have been a hardcore hobbiest woodworker for 10years or so) and switched to 95% handtool oriented. I no longer use a table saw at all. The only power tools in my shop now are a Band Saw, drill press, and occasionally break out a router when I really can't find another way with the tooling I have to achieve the result I want. But for the most part I use hand saws, hand planes, hand router, chisels, axes, froe, etc. This is now my passion and is the way I love to work. I can achieve absolute perfect straight edges and square. Which I find this handtool method works really well for small pieces especially in reference to building mods.

Do a little bit of research on setting the fence parallel to the blade, plenty of you tube videos, and investigate your adjustments and setting on your particular saw. You should be able to lock these settings down to get consistent results. A good blade is also extremely important, and this is even more true in your bandsaw. There can be a lot of work to getting a band saw set up properly to cut nice a straight but this will never be possible if you aren't starting out with a good quality SHARP blade.

 

[DeviantDigi]

Ask and you shall recieve lol. Thanks a lot guys, really appreciate the effort. So much good information!!!

The tools I'm using are second hand from my father. He doesn't cut straight line either lol. I'm trying to polish a turd here so quality, will always an area for improvement. I do need a some new saw blades.

I can't make a sled, well as in the normal sense, as my table saw has little notches in the runners. Yey for proprietary things! I'm going to try and make a wood overlay for the whole table. There is a lot of rough surfaces from the craftsman engraving/bolts etc. so that would at least help. But then I'll try to add some smooth runners in there somehow.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[DeviantDigi]

Here is my table saw and band saw btw. And yes I have too much stuff.


This is the current project. Its a desktop computer [AMD quad 2.7 ghz, 4 GB] and a 15" monitor slapped together into one package. It's going to be a media PC and server. (And now that Steam has in home streaming. Giggity) But the larger idea is it's going to be a centerpiece of some cubicle style shelving.

But since I can't cut a perfect stright line. I had to make trim pieces to cover up the piece of wood that detach. Also I had to sand off all of the wood glue which made up for the gaps in the corners.



Then I got one of these bluetooth keyboards. Seems Pretty sweet for $16. Or I could do that 'mouse without borders' deal. It always seems to lag my connection though. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HFS24DQ/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

imgur: the simple image sharer

 

[Karltinsly]

I have ryobi table saw that had - HAD - tabs in the miter slots. I took a grinder and ground them off so I could build my crosscut sled. It's not perfect (ryobi, remember?) but at least I can cut a pretty close 90 degree angle.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[Karltinsly]

Oh and I used to use mouse without borders - note I use synergy.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[DeviantDigi]

Almost there. What do you think I should do with the paint scheme? Looking for more than just black, but universal. Not stain though, too many imperfections.

 

[Vapant]

Wrap it in leather with brass fittings/ trims.

 

[asdaq]

Paint looks like paint, rather covers the wood but you see the grain still. You said this was the centerpiece for something larger, how is the cubicle shelving finished?

 

[DeviantDigi]

I like the leather idea, but I don't know leather lol. That would look very pretty though.

But change of plans. I've been in a slump all day today. I took out the PC parts. I stepped over and I heard a crunch. The LCD shattered, I forgot I set it down on the floor. -.-'

And apparently the cheapest monitors are $40 anywhere. And if I'm buying spending money, I'm going with a touch screen. But the point was to not spend money on this.... I got my eye on some, but they aren't an option for at least few days. :/ (Bid on them, and I will find you. ^_^)

I think I'm going to make a plexiglass insert where the the monitor went before. When I get a monitor, I'm going to make a bracket that goes around the face. So it will be kind of hovering over the plexi glass window. I could throw some LED lighting in there. It may just work out.

 

[DeviantDigi]

Anybody know where I can find a like 20" x 20" sheet of clear/translucent piece of plastic for cheap? So far I've only been seein $40 this, $30 that lol. All I need it for is the window of the case.

 

[DeviantDigi]

Just a work log update. Everything with this project should be set in stone. Now I just gotta' get the parts in and finish.




Touchscreens fell through.... Found a $30 17" standard monitor. Free shipping. Still kind of bummed I couldn't get anything cheaper, but I'm impatient lol. So from the front of the case, I'm go to make two braces from wood that the monitor will hang from. I just hope it doesn't become front heavy.

Going with black high heat rustoleum in the case. Black wood stain on the outside. (Sorry, I couldn't make up my mind.) 1/16th Acrylic plastic sheet for the window (24" square - $13 Amazon).

White LED strip lighting on the inside. A LM2596S DC-DC Step Down for brightness control. I was going to use the chip on a box mod, but that thing is too big.

 

[DeviantDigi]

I have ryobi table saw that had - HAD - tabs in the miter slots. I took a grinder and ground them off so I could build my crosscut sled. It's not perfect (ryobi, remember?) but at least I can cut a pretty close 90 degree angle.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

I actually like Ryobi. I have a bunch of their stuff, never had a problem. Their weed eaters are great.

But I decided I was going to make a whole new table top, for the table saw. There is a lot of engraving there currently. I think it would be easier. I just just make rails with that.

Side note, something worked. Dat dimming XD

 

[DeviantDigi]

Hopefully the last work-log.


(Minus the over spray mark. I'll sand it off -.-')

Currently, the paint is currently curing. All that is left is the Ebony stain and to hook up all the electrical stuffs.

I designed it to have two modes. It can be used as a normal PC case. I think it looks pretty nice on a desk. But there is also a mounting bracket that goes on the front, which a monitor hangs on. There are two sets of feet. Short for desktop mode and long for monitor hang mode.

This project was much more difficult and took way longer than I expected lol. The first $13 Acrylic plastic window completely failed and broke using a razor. Then I went with plexiglass and a oscillating tool. Then I had to make custom shelving for all the components like SD and USB.

This simple box has fought me in every step. Masking alone took about 2 hours lol.

 

[DeviantDigi]

I have a few kinks left to work out in the monitor mount, but I'm calling this done I like the way the color scheme turned out. It has that black on matte black type of thing, but with wood. Kinda different.