Band Saw Safety in the LabBand Saw Safety in the Lab

Common TechniquesCommon Techniques

Parts of the Band SawParts of the Band Saw

Guide Post AssemblyGuide Post Assembly

Essential Elements and ControlsEssential Elements and Controls1Blade tension

adjust

2 Wheel cover

3 Arm

4 Thrust bearing

5 Tilt table

6 Throat plate

7 Bevel gauge

8 Power switch

9 Work lamp

10 Guide post

11 Guide post adjust

12 Blade guard

13 Blade

14 Blade Guides

15 Blade slot

16 Miter gage track

Lab Safety for the Band Saw Lab Safety for the Band Saw Remove tie, rings, watch, and other jewelry, and Remove tie, rings, watch, and other jewelry, and roll up sleeves above the elbows. Remove all roll up sleeves above the elbows. Remove all loose outer clothing and confine long hair. loose outer clothing and confine long hair. Protective type footwear should be worn. Do not Protective type footwear should be worn. Do not wear gloves when operating the band saw.wear gloves when operating the band saw.Wear an approved safety shield, goggles or Wear an approved safety shield, goggles or glasses to protect the eyes.glasses to protect the eyes.Keep the table and floor around the machine Keep the table and floor around the machine clean and free of scrap material, chips, oil, clean and free of scrap material, chips, oil, grease, coolant, tools or accessories to minimize grease, coolant, tools or accessories to minimize the danger of slipping or tripping.the danger of slipping or tripping. Keep guards in place at all times. The blade Keep guards in place at all times. The blade guard should be from 1/8 to ¼ inch above stock. guard should be from 1/8 to ¼ inch above stock. Keep hands away from blade and do not open Keep hands away from blade and do not open upper or lower band saw doors while blade is in upper or lower band saw doors while blade is in motion. Maintain a balanced stance and keep motion. Maintain a balanced stance and keep your body under control at all times; do not your body under control at all times; do not overreach.overreach.

Lab Safety for the Band SawLab Safety for the Band SawUse only blades that are in good condition. Blades Use only blades that are in good condition. Blades that are not sharp or have missing teeth can that are not sharp or have missing teeth can require excessive force and increase the chance of require excessive force and increase the chance of an accident.an accident.Make all adjustments with the power off. Make all adjustments with the power off. Disconnect the power for any service, maintenance Disconnect the power for any service, maintenance or blade changes on the band saw.or blade changes on the band saw.Give the work your undivided attention. Looking Give the work your undivided attention. Looking around, carrying on a conversation and horseplay around, carrying on a conversation and horseplay are careless acts which can result in serious injury.are careless acts which can result in serious injury.Upon completion of a job, clean the band saw and Upon completion of a job, clean the band saw and work area. Never clean the machine with the work area. Never clean the machine with the power on and never use hands to clean up chips power on and never use hands to clean up chips and saw dust; use a brush.and saw dust; use a brush.Do not allow the hand or fingers to come closer Do not allow the hand or fingers to come closer than 2 inches to the blade.than 2 inches to the blade.

Band Saw Operating ProceduresBand Saw Operating ProceduresSelect the proper blade width, refer to a Select the proper blade width, refer to a chart which gives the blade width for chart which gives the blade width for minimum radii cuts.minimum radii cuts.The teeth on the blade of a properly The teeth on the blade of a properly installed band saw should point installed band saw should point downward in the direction of blade travel.downward in the direction of blade travel.Check tension and tracking of the blade Check tension and tracking of the blade frequently, make adjustments as frequently, make adjustments as needed. Disconnect power and turn needed. Disconnect power and turn wheels by hand to see if the blade is wheels by hand to see if the blade is tracking in the middle of the wheel.tracking in the middle of the wheel.Be sure material being sawed is free of Be sure material being sawed is free of nails, paint and other obstructions.nails, paint and other obstructions.

Band Saw Operating ProceduresBand Saw Operating ProceduresPlan your cuts carefully. Lay out Plan your cuts carefully. Lay out work clearly, use relief cuts, and work clearly, use relief cuts, and avoid backtracking.avoid backtracking.Do not cut stock until the machine Do not cut stock until the machine is running at full speed.is running at full speed.Always place stock flat on the band Always place stock flat on the band saw table.saw table.Do not force the stock into the Do not force the stock into the blade at a rate faster than it can be blade at a rate faster than it can be readily cut.readily cut.

Band Saw Operating ProceduresBand Saw Operating ProceduresIf sawing freehand, use one hand to If sawing freehand, use one hand to guide the stock into the blade and the guide the stock into the blade and the other hand to push the stock into the other hand to push the stock into the blade. DO NOT PUSH STOCK WITH blade. DO NOT PUSH STOCK WITH HANDS IN LINE WITH THE BLADE.HANDS IN LINE WITH THE BLADE.Do not place excess stress on the blade Do not place excess stress on the blade by twisting the stock, cut curves by twisting the stock, cut curves gradually.gradually.If a problem develops and the blade has If a problem develops and the blade has to be backed out, shut off the machine to be backed out, shut off the machine and wait until the blade has stopped.and wait until the blade has stopped.

Band Saw Operating ProceduresBand Saw Operating Procedures

If the blade breaks, shut off the power If the blade breaks, shut off the power and move away from the machine. and move away from the machine. Never try to free a blade while the Never try to free a blade while the wheels are turning.wheels are turning.An indication of a cracked blade is a An indication of a cracked blade is a rhythmic click as the cracked portion of rhythmic click as the cracked portion of the blade passes through the wood.the blade passes through the wood.Cylindrical stock should be mounted in a Cylindrical stock should be mounted in a holding device to keep it from spinning holding device to keep it from spinning and crowding the blade while being cut.and crowding the blade while being cut.Make sure the band saw has stopped Make sure the band saw has stopped before leaving it. before leaving it.

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