I would like to know how to cut ties with a band saw. My 3 wheel Craftsman refuses to cut in a straight line when I use a fence. I am told that all band saws tend to wander from a straight line so how can ties be cut?
I cut scale lumber in Walnut on my old Sears bandsaw. It takes some doing. What I have learned
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get a NEW blade, as fine as availible.
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Spend as much money as you can, my best blades are custom cut at a local shop, about $4.00 more than Sears.
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Cut some scrap to see what the drift is. Set fence up to compensate for the drift.
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Feed slow enough to reduce the drift.
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When I want sanded scale lumber I will plane or sand between cuts, that will give one smooth side. I use the rough side where unsanded full demention lumber would be used.
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Expect some waste. I keep the waste and use it where the loggers or miners would build shacks or leantos.
I found it easier than I expected.
Since my other hobby is RC airplanes, I use my bandsaw a lot to cut parts for scratch building, but usually anything under 1/4 inch in width , I use a my Craftsman deep throat scroll saw, with a fence I made for it. It’s easier to cut small stock that way. Another choice is very small hobby table saw I have which will cut stock down to abut 1/8 inch or slightly less.Most ties ( HO and N ) are quite small,(about 1/8 inch in width or less) and bandsawing them is a bit tricky.Yes a very good blade is required if you do so.
Also depends on what kind of wood you are attempting to cut.
Micromark carries the small table saws.
Harbor Freight may have them also.
A sheet of thin spruce or basswood would work for ties. Balsa would be a bit soft unless you use hard grade balsa.
TheK4Kid
Get yourself one of these: http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=50304
I was one of the best investments I have made in the hobby tool dept.! MicroMark has another more expensive one that can be tilted if you really want to get into making all kinds of tiny cuts.