Whats the trick to coiling a bandsaw blade, does it have to have an odd or even number of coils, do you twist in opposite directions on each coil?
Thanks All ..
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Replies
One of those things that's easy to do but takes so many words to explain! I grab the blade at opposite ends, twist with one hand towards me and the other hand away from me at the same time. With a drop of encouragement the blade makes itself into 3 coils.
David Ring
http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e
wane,
Many ways to skin this cat! I usually grasp the blade with end of the loop towards my belly, teeth facing down, the balance of the blade pointing out into the room, hands about a foot apart. With thumbs up, bend wrists down, folding the balance of the blade downward, twisting both hands inward (towards one another) at the same time. Presto, the blade forms three coils. Alternatively, or for wider, less flexible blades, put one foot on one end of the loop, and simply twist and press downward at the same time. Might want to be wearing long pants doing this.
Ray
I don't have any difficulty coiling the blades, using the methods described here.
But what about UNcoiling? I've had more close-calls and scratches UNcoiling than coiling.
Any suggestions?
-TOm H.
Tom,
Either look the other way and shake the blade with your arm fully extended, wearing full-fingered gloves or have somebody else do it.Chris @ flairwoodworks
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
I have perfected uncoiling bandsaw blades safely. Release the bindings that hold it coiled, take it outside, toss it on the lawn and when it quits moving, go pick it up being careful of the teeth.
Works perfect.Tom Hintz
Because there is always more to learn!
Oddly enough, this very question was posted in the Experts section yesterday.
This works for me: Hold your arms out in front of you, with your left palm facing you, thumb pointing up, and your right palm facing away from you, thumb pointing down. Now simultaneously rotate both hands so that their positions are reversed (left thumb down, right thumb up).
To fold a bandsaw blade, just do the above maneuver while holding opposite sides of the blade in your hands. As you rotate, move your hands closer to each other, and each of the unconstrained portions of the blade will miraculously fold up into a circle, with the portions you're holding forming the third circle.
Wear gloves (and face protection, too). Every so often, a blade will get away from you, and you can get some nasty cuts on your hands, arms, face, etc.
If the blade is really long (much longer than you would normally see in a woodworking bandsaw), the process can be repeated: You can take the 3-looped blade and fold it one more time to create a 9-looped blade.
Here's a video showing basically the same technique, except with a foot and one hand instead of two hands: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI1Okb4Vp9Q
Folding a blade is actually the easy part--unfolding a blade without getting hurt is tricky. Some people just throw the blade away from them and let it bounce around--it usually unfolds itself on the first bounce. Of course, you have to do this on a relatively soft surface to avoid damaging the blade.
-Steve
wane,
Watch this video of John White a couple times and you'll be good to go:
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuideArticle.aspx?id=5206
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Is there a problem with leaving the blades unfolded? I store mine hanging as full circles.
Thanks everyone, if I look like I got in a fight with the cat this weekend, you'll know what happened (or didn't) ..
Wane
(this is not a step)
wane,
Please supply a video!
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Look, ya gotta look sideways at the thing.
If you are scared of cats get yourself a nice long vee belt to practise with, then you soon get the knack. It's a question of nonchalance, very simple .Philip Marcou
Is there a problem with leaving the blades unfolded
Only if you're NOT RELATED to Norm. :>)
Awww, cmon man. If I can do it I'm sure you can.
Take another look at the video, key is initial hand position (turn your right hand inside out!) and maintain the same speed as you reach down coiling the blade, at least it was for me. Once you get it you'll slap yourself in the forehead!
Real woodworkers always coil their blades,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
But, aside from compactness, what are the advantages to folding the blades? Is there more stress placed on them by the flexing involved in folding?Inquiring minds want to know.
I do believce that compactness is the primary goal. As for any flexing involved with folding them I can't see where there would be any more stress than when they are actually run on the BS.
Certainly storing them uncoiled should present no problems other than the space required and the occasional bumping of the teeth together - no big deal.
It's kinda funny about this though. I stored mine for a long time uncoiled, perhaps intimidated by trying to coil them with no success. One day when in the woodshop I kept hitting them on my head, go aggravated, and gave it a go. It worked - once!
Sounds like you have decided not to wrastle with the cat this weekend!?
Just messin with ya,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
There is less chance of the blade getting a kink in it with it coiled up.
sorry, for me it's just a space issue (and everytime my Dad did it he'd bend the blade!)
Man, you guys are giving me inspiration to start a new school! Kidderville Acres Saw Blade Coiling!
It's easy :>). Just watch John do it!
Step on the blade, turn you right hand counterclockwise till it feels awkward (hurts if you have arthiritus!) till your thumb points away from ya and grab the top of the loop. Then unwind your arm as you reach down to touch your toe (the one standing on the blade) in one fluid motion. Done!
Now, see how easy that was.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
And for the advanced – Double Blade Coiling! one in each hand ( and foot)Then we can go on Letterman.
ckenney,
Better be able to get the tassels spinning in opposite directions before the Letterman tryout.
Ray
Ray,
Damn, and I just got the hoola hoop working again!
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Injun rider ,
Once again a lunch time laugh provided by you , thank you .
dusty ,maker of designer kindling
I think if you have a weak or poor weld it can let go when folding , but it would probably let go if kept in use as well .
If you think about it the circles are much smaller when folded then when in use so some extra stress is most likely present when in a smaller circle as in a tighter bend .
dusty
step on one end, and grap the opposite, palm facing up, then rotate/flip your rist, and that should do it.
There's enough youth in this world, how 'bout a fountain of SMART??!!
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There's enough youth in this world, how 'bout a fountain of SMART??!!
Wane,
If you examine Andyfew's pictures...you'll see the key to this technique is turning your hand a full 360 degrees. Most people stop at 180 because they think it not working...
Andy, that is all well and good for mini bandsaw blades, but you have to adopt a different pose for the longer ones, and coiling these is a must otherwise they would be all over the shop.....Philip Marcou
thanks everyone, all my blades are nicely coiled on the peg board ..
ps .. why didn't someone tell me you had to take them off the bandsaw first!
yeah, That is made for coiled blades
There's enough youth in this world, how 'bout a fountain of SMART??!!
We have a video at the link below that shows one of the easier ways of doing it. By the way, this video has remained one of the top ten in video views on my site for three years now!
http://www.newwoodworker.com/coilbsblde.html
Tom Hintz
Because there is always more to learn!
I used to live in Pennsylvania, which makes it easy to coil bandsaw blades. Think pretzel.
you might like this for your now coiled blades
http://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-plans/bandsawing/the-all-business-bandsaw-blade-holder/
There's enough youth in this world, how 'bout a fountain of SMART??!!
Andy,
Thanks for the idea. It sure beats hanging them all from a nail where they kind of get tangled. I'll add it to the long looooong list of projects to be done.Chris @ flairwoodworks
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
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