Fundamentals: Listen to Your Tools
Certain noises may be telling you that something is wrong

Synopsis: The sounds a tool makes can alert you to a dull blade, an incorrect setup, or a faulty technique. Aimé Ontario Fraser helps you interpret the hums, whirs, and shrieks of bandsaws, tablesaws, jointers, routers, drills, and handtools, so you can troubleshoot issues before they become major problems.
Listen closely to your tools, and they’ll speak volumes. The sounds a tool makes can alert you to a dull blade, an incorrect setup, or a faulty technique. If you learn their language, your tools will tell you about issues so you can set them right before they become problems.
Bandsaws should hum
The bandsaw is one of the most vocal tools in the shop, so hear what it has to say before you start sawing. If all’s well, you’ll hear nothing but the motor’s hum and the whirling wheels. If you hear scratching, something’s touching where it shouldn’t. Check…
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