Here is a cheap, easy way to straighten a rough-edged or crooked board on the bandsaw. Screw a length of aluminum or steel-bar stock to the bottom of the board. Then push the stock through the saw with the bar riding in the miter-gauge slot to guide the cut. To know exactly where to fasten the bar, mark the cut line, and then space the bar over the distance from the blade to the table slot. Extend the bar several inches from each end.

When ripping on the bandsaw, you don’t have to worry about kickback, which is a problem on the tablesaw. I prefer to use a 3/4-in. resaw blade for this operation because it doesn’t deflect as much from the pressure of a heavy plank.

David B. Bills, Fairport, N.Y.

Fine Woodworking Magazine, October 1995 No. 114

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