Bandsawing Secret Technique!

[@charliereina7933]

It’s well worth the 20 minutes, Tommy. The explanation makes sense, the expanded model illustrates it clearly, and the blade-line connection is visible throughout the actual sawing. Keep doing what you’re doing.

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thanks Charlie, much appreciated! 👍😎

[@williammagee7514]

The effort you went through to create the "Model" is significant, and shows just how much you care about creating truly effective lessons, THANK YOU!

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thanks Bill, it was my pleasure! 👍

[@martyconrad8352]

Thank you for your hard work.

[@centurion2185]

A sincere Thank you to you and your camera woman. I’m 73 and could’ve used this 6 decades ago . I’ll try to pass it on to my kids.

[@RICKYDENNIS49]

Excellent video, The best bandsaw video I have ever watched. 40 years of woodworking and you never stop learning. Many thanks for all of your efforts

[@rickstewart6047]

Last cut camera shot really showed the technique well. Nice work camera lady!!

[@EpicWoodworking]

Great, she gets the shots! 👍😎

[@southernexposure123]

Nice job. The last two cuts you recorded really clarified the technique.

[@lmcsquaredgreendale3223]

I may now go back and tackle the beast of a band saw that my late father owned. When I say this is a beast I can't give you the exact number because it is at my late parent's home which my brother is renting. When you look at the drive wheel and idler wheel they look about the same circumference of a passenger car tire. I have tried to use it and I always end up going back to my jig saw or for small projects my scroll saw. When you were cutting on the side you are most comfortable with I could see that you were using the back of the blade. I've tried so many different ways but that never occurred to me. My brother who has been a machinist/programmer for 40 years uses it almost as well as you do but when I asked him for an explanation he said I just needed to practice. He knows what I am doing wrong but he wants to keep me humble. Thank you!

[@waterwalker813]

Thank you for sharing this technique. This will make projects so much easier once I practice and perfect it.

[@MucaroBoricua]

Wow, after decades of frustration, you illuminated my main problem spectacularly. My sincere, thank you.

[@thomlipiczky9021]

I can't believe this is the first time I've seen this technique! brilliant! Thanks so much! I've enjoyed your FWW videos, but now I'm a subscriber to your channel!

[@ray1283]

the way I was taught this technique was to take an already cut curved piece with the line still intact on the edge, and with saw OFF! slide the piece along against the side of the blade, focus on pressing the line against back edge of the blade and guide it with the teeth just skimming the edge/line. This gives the proper 'feel' and 'focus' and allows the student to focus on that feedback thru the fingers without the danger. When the student is comfortable, try a real cut with the saw running. It takes just a few cuts to get the feel right, speed will come thru repetition. I loved your description of 'leaning' on the back edge of the blade and the model!

[@chrisallen6511]

Thank you for this and thank Greg for the suggestion of a shot from behind the cut. I was a bit confused on which side to push against the blade until I saw that view. This is very helpful.

[@atishghosh4682]

Great tip-will try it out. Love the scale model of the blade-must have required a lot of work but very useful to explain what is going on. Thanks to you and to all the other woodworking experts on KZbin who generously share their knowledge for free! Much appreciated by novices like me! Liked and subscribed to your channel.

[@ashokmoghe8035]

I am new to bandsaws and your videos (this and other ones) are awesome. You have taken so much effort in this one including creating a 10X model of the blade - amazing. Don't have words to appreciate it enough. Thank you and please keep making such wonderful videos.

[@socrates2890]

As much as you laughed at your model mock-up, it did a GREAT job conveying the concepts you discussed. Brilliant job!!! 🏆🏆🏆

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thanks Socrates, that means a lot coming from you!! 😎👍

[@joefran619]

The model was good, point made with visual aid.

[@kerryschoolfield1537]

Best demonstration of this Ive seen. Thanks for taking the time to explain this in detail.

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thanks Kerry! 👍

[@AndrewLowry-e6h]

Thanks Tom and Kris great demonstration of a technique I've never heard of or seen. I am always wondering off the line l will be trying this out next time I'm using the bandsaw. Thanks for all your great tips and tricks.

[@EpicWoodworking]

Our pleasure! Thanks, after a little practice on some scrap you will no doubt be a smooth operator! 😎👍

[@earthling01]

Good info, thank you for the demonstration and showing the band saw cutout example!

[@jimhogan5333]

Always love your Videos Tom, learn something new every time. I have purchased 3 sets of plans and they are top notch. Keep up the great work.

[@dgdubya9415]

Thank you Tom and Kris. I've seen this technique demonstrated before but never with the clarity you've provided. Love your model blade and work piece! Thank you.

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thanks, I enjoyed making the model too! 👍😎

[@Greg-fs8np]

The final shots where the Camera Lady got behind the blade, finally, really showed clearly how to do it. I have read about this technique before and seen a video but still had trouble understanding it. Thank you for the great demonstration and all the effort that went into it!

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thanks, yes, she always gets the shot! 👍😎

[@bobb5528]

All these years I struggled cutting to the line. I was always steering from the front of blade teeth. Never knew about this technique. I will definitely give it a try. Thanks so much for sharing this. I learn a lot watching your vids.

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thank you, much appreciated! 👍😎

[@codeblue2532]

@@EpicWoodworking:: does the heel or thicker part of the blade contact the left side or right side of the kerf moving forward ?

[@robertherzog2087]

I've always had trouble with the blade wandering, even with a fence. I've watched numerous videos on how to adjust the saw for blade drift, which has helped a lot, but never heard of steering with the back of the blade. Makes sense and I will definitely try it the next time on the bandsaw.

[@EpicWoodworking]

Great, thanks Bob! 👍😎

[@Anonymous-fx5bu]

What a great lesson! I'm gonna go try it right now. Thank you for spending the time to make this very informative lesson!

[@ehRalph]

I’ve cut a lot with 3/8 1/2 and .025 bandsaw and likely used this method without knowing. Definitely plan to focus long on the blade next time. It occurs to me this is like teaching driving - look farther down the road to stay steady in your lane

[@w4shep]

This is an epic explanation !! New sub here. Thanks for your detail in explaining this. Makes perfect sense and has improved my cuts a lot.

[@EpicWoodworking]

That’s great, thank you! 🙏

[@richardpatsel9628]

Thanks for the great tip, the last couple of shots really showed me what you were demonstrating with your oversized blade and kerf. I also love how you explain things so the average woodworker can comprehend. Thanks again! Liked and Subscribed.

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thanks Richard, much appreciated! 👍😎

[@WoodShopStop]

Great props. The saw blade prop is my favorite. Good information for band sawing.

[@ronmcbride986]

wow, that changes the game a lot!! thanks for making the model and the demonstration!!!!

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thank you, making the model was kinda fun! We just posted a short video of that process too 👍

[@kwilliams2239]

Amazing! This is the most useful KZbin video I've seen this year. THANK YOU!👍👍

[@henryrossouw930]

Great explanation and demonstration.Sure it will end my struggles getting straight cuts.

[@jimmiebell5106]

Me too!

[@JeffYoder-t8v]

Amazing thank you for making this video. I never seen this explained so well it makes sense.

[@jimmiebell5106]

That made so much sense! Thank you for taking the trouble to build the scaled model of a band saw blade. It’s a game changer to this novice. Once again, thank you.

[@sandmandave2008]

Holy moly what an eye opening video! I've had a Craftsman 12" bans saw for over 20 years and never got great cuts which I just attributed to a shaky, under powered, cheap band saw. I recently bought a brand new Harvey 14" 3hp band saw that I am chomping at the bit to put to good use. I finally have something powerful enough to do some re-sawing and other more accurate general use. Can't wait to get my new Timberwolf blades.

[@hillbillydust]

Great technique! Thank you for sharing. Where did you get that light that’s attached to your table? Looks like a magnet base and mirror?

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. The light is from Harbor Freight by Braun, rechargeable led and cheap…only $19 right now. 👍

[@billclancy4913]

Great video...I'm spending time in the shop tomorrow doing this!

[@sundayschoollessons2241]

Great video! I'll have to watch it again to wrap my head around it, but it looks like it works amazingly well.

[@1stetson57]

Man I am gonna try this!!!! Thank You so Much! Nice Job on the model too. You should put that on the wall. Lot of work you went through to demonstrate this. Thanks again!!!

[@Gottenhimfella]

Bandsawing metal, I have settled on a slightly different technique. There is less "set" on the teeth than with a wood blade, but still enough that by pushing the workpiece sideways (at right angles to the cut line) the teeth will exert a slight filing action. So I use a varying amount of push, always just enough to bring the toothed end of the blade right to the point of touching the line (the tiniest amount). It's like positioning a ship in the middle of the Suez canal, NOT by steering it, but by pushing sideways at the midpoint with one or other of two pushboat tugs (one on each side). In metal, if you turn the workpiece to try and get back to the middle of the canal, you always end up "hitting the bank" because the blade is not pointing in the direction you need it to go. I don't know if that's helpful for wood, but mention it just in case.

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thank you, interesting distinction! 👍😎

[@kennyg6482]

I just received two Timberwolf blades yesterday that I ordered and will try your method for sure. One is a 1/4" blade and I know you said you don't use them because they break easier, my other one did break. Quite an eyeopener when that happens.

[@RayShaw007]

That was really good. I discovered I'm not the only one that can have the blade wander from the line! What you're suggesting is to stabilise the blade by lining up the rear of the blade to the line. I can see how that works to prevent wander, but what about when you're using the machine fence? I guess the starting cut taking up the width of the blade is pretty critical to make sure the rear of the blade is to the line. Must admit I had some bad wander when trying to cut 4" thick oak. Just couldn't get it straight to line so reverted to sawing by hand. That worked but I needed to rest!

[@pathardage1880]

I love the model. I'd never heard of this. I'd always tried just to keep the line in the middle of the V in the kerf. Thanks.

[@nicodemus7784]

i will have to play with this and see if it makes a difference for me. i was surprised by how high you left your upper blade guide though. i have always found it to be most important to learn how it wants to cut and just working with "Kentucky windage" style. but i also now appreciate how large a difference it makes to have the blade tuned up and adjusted properly, i thought my saw worked pretty well before i went thru and did a complete adjustment and tune job, now it is like a completely different machine.

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thanks, so glad you’re getting good results after adjusting things. I should have noted the guide was intentionally left higher than usual to give better visibility for the camera shots. Thanks for watching!

[@robertnewell5057]

I am going to try this immediately. I wonder how well it works cutting thcker pieces - say 4 inches? Many thanks for the insight

[@EpicWoodworking]

Great, have fun!🤩

[@terrrywilliams3617]

Thank you for that information. I’ve always had problems with drifting off the line while cutting on the bandsaw. I have one question though. Are the blade guides suppose to be as close to the blade as possible and will it have an adverse effect if the are either to close or to far away?

[@curtklemenz4783]

Good explanation about the practice of bandsaw cutting to a line. The model was a great teaching tool and showed something that I was unaware of: the difference in width of the blade teeth compared to the back of the blade and the kerf. WOW. When you were looking for a term to better describe the "steering" available at the back of the blade, I wanted to say think of a boat rudder...same thing?

[@a9ball1]

That was awesome. The larger pieces sure help to visualize what you are saying. I had to subscribe because of this video.

[@robertburgy7735]

Have you done any modifications to your band saw to get such good dust collection?

[@EpicWoodworking]

No, not really. It’s a Felder 510 with two dust ports, one at the base and one just beneath the table so it does quite well. And I have a good Oneida cyclone dust collector as well. 👍

[@donlancaster7669]

Thanks for sharing this. I will try it when I use the bandsaw next

[@cospittner3526]

Really great technique. Thank you.

[@nickdarbenzio1681]

Thanks! Very interesting. I stumbled onto this because I use a wooden fence and when I angle fence slightly I get a straighter line. Now I know why

[@EpicWoodworking]

Glad it was helpful! Yes, sometimes that’s due to the “drift” angle, a little different concept, and I often do the same thing when using the fence. 👍😎

[@DMor-qj1ie]

Thank you for the lesson. You are an excellent teacher.

[@katherynlamarche7308]

Thank you so much. I have used . my bandsaw a lot and have the problem you talking about I will try it out tomorrow. Julien

[@michaelbezoski3096]

Thank you. Seems the blade has yaw & pitch like a small airplane moves through the air to go straight. Great representation that I for one had not a clue. Most appreciated & subscribed.

[@jmo85331]

Enjoy your videos! This is a GREAT teaching tool

[@andrewirvine6444]

Impressive accuracy AND speed of work. This is great for anyone earning from their craft: speed+accuracy=productivity

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thanks for that observation, a well tuned bandsaw with a little practice and good technique can be a pleasure! 👍😎

[@Highwayman589]

Wow! Solid gold advice. Incredibly well explained.

[@EpicWoodworking]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stevennedesky2780]

It reminds me of one time in 1977 I was driving from MN to San Francisco and would sometimes steer on long stretches of EMPTY highway by sighting through the rear view mirror for a few seconds.

[@EpicWoodworking]

Yikes, I would flip the car for sure if I tried that! You are a talented soul, great visual! 👍

[@donovancampbell7785]

That was a wonderful video. Thank you for your experience and your knowledge.:)

[@sapelesteve]

Great explanation & demonstration of that blade & technique! You have a new subscriber here! 👍👍🔨🔨

[@johnnylightning1491]

So basically what you are doing is slightly pointing the blade away from the line. I can understand how this works, it keeps the blade from getting sucked into the line and if you do make a mistake it will tend to be into the scrap not into the work piece. It's too late to test this tonight but maybe tomorrow. Thanks and keep the good stuff coming.

[@carldavis6902]

Great technique wow it works like a charm

[@EpicWoodworking]

Yes it does, thanks! 👍

[@cowboy930]

Thank you for sharing I have a lot of trouble on the bandsaw

[@robertburgy7735]

Anything else to consider using a 1in blade to resaw wider boards

[@vicweast]

Great video! Smart visual aid!

[@DirkOgier]

Great thanks for your clear explanation, 👍

[@larrypahl5756]

Call great praise for the three or four people who seem to have sat through that whole thing

[@EpicWoodworking]

Again, a little positivity goes a long way. Actually over 20K people have viewed this video in less than 48 hrs…can it really be that bad?

[@larrypahl5756]

@@EpicWoodworking “…bad….” was never an issue; time:value was the urgent point of comment.

[@larrypahl5756]

@@EpicWoodworking “…call great praise….” used to be quite ‘positive’ thank you for the high quality & informative video

[@rogerhoene61]

Thanks team T&K for turning on the light bulb on this technique. Anxious to try it out soon!

[@victor-jk1ej]

hi excellent video are you located in suffolk ny i would love to take lessons from you. i am self taught and make alot of mistakes. LOL a class like your video would be great and would have saved a lot of wood. thanks for the video

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it! We are in Canterbury, New Hampshire. We have quite a few online classes available and we will be hosting several in person classes summer 2025. If interested, best to get on the mailing list and check out our website at epicwoodworking.com 👍

[@mailleweaver]

I've never thought about this, but it makes sense. It's like the blade is being balanced on the cutting edge. If the back is not leaning on anything, then you never know which way it's going to try to fall and you have to chase it back and forth to stay balanced. If the back is leaning on one side, then it's only ever going to want to go one way and that's easy to compensate for without having to chase it around.

[@marciolangeani9992]

Best learning comes allways from the best teachers! Thanks a lot!!!

[@FranktheDachshund]

Great demonstration, great props.

[@ceaarmarmolejo-zw2kb]

Awesome video I love the expanded form

[@jaimecastells9750]

Fantastic advice! Thank you! (Why haven't I seen this before?)

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thank you! It’s not a common thing taught, although when you spend enough time at the bandsaw I think you unconsciously begin to adopt this technique. 👍

[@darrellnazar5940]

Great explanation. Thank you

[@EpicWoodworking]

You are welcome! Thanks 👍

[@jimmcnett]

Super informative. Thank you for s sharing

[@EpicWoodworking]

My pleasure, means a lot that you found it helpful!

[@billrogers6863]

Very nice. I think ... the side of the line to which the sawyer hews will depend on one's dominant eye. Sort of that parallax thing. One COULD stay on either side. But there will be a preference.

[@rickstewart6047]

Tom, are you still focusing on the teeth to aim while steering with the back edge of the blade?

[@EpicWoodworking]

Yes, I am watching the teeth track while closing the gap between the blade and the line, and feeling the steadying affect 👍

[@johnsanchez1619]

This is an excellent tip, thank you!

[@roberttalluto237]

Thank you excellent video. I think it will help me cut better.

[@bobstephens5429]

Awesome the best video of this type I've ever seen.

[@rhajmand1933]

Wow! Great presentation!

[@garyhome7101]

After watching this in a previous post, I simply could not understand the technique. I gave it a try and discovered that I had to actually lean the piece to make contact with the back of the blade, and then having watched this particular post, the final sequence with the shot from the back of the cut, confirmed my suspicions.

[@JasonPeltier]

The last shots from behind was the aha moment for me. So basically you're angling the work at around half a degree off of square, but then pushing the work through square. Nice technique!

[@researchandbuild1751]

That doesn't even make sense. I mean he's literally just tilting, which is compensating for drift

[@robertrosskopf4641]

Can't rap my mind around it. If you put a pressure to the left, the right side of the blade will have more cutting force, and the blade will cut to the right. It can't see any line. MDF is the wooden equivalent of butter. So I'm not sure this is a fair test. But even with a cold cube of butter, if you cut one side of the cube of butter, you will have a nice flat pat of butter. If you cut the other side (without reorienting the butter), you will have half a pat of butter, as the butter knife only has a bevel on one side; which ever side has the bevel will create a sideways force opposite to the bevel. The same science applies to wood. Although bandsaw blade doesn't have a bevel, we are favoring one side. So as that blade starts sliding over the line to the right, how do you correct it, if not by twisting the board counter-clockwise?

[@EpicWoodworking]

The back side of the blade is serving as a kind of stabilizer by leaning slightly against it to make up for the wider kerf. Without lightly bearing against the blade you are left to steer with the front edge of the cutting teeth with no stability behind the cutting teeth. Another comparison is a dovetail saw which performs and tracks best when nearly all of the set is removed from the rip teeth. Once you get started on the cut the dovetail saw tracks beautifully because there is very little wobble to the saw in the kerf. On the bandsaw, we don’t want to remove the teeth set but we can use this method of leaning to one side. If you give it a try on 1/2” blade you will feel and see the results. Hope that makes sense and helps. All the best, thanks for watching! 👍😎

[@jamesbaynes4358]

Thanks mate always so helpful 😊

[@jimfromri]

Terrific model, it was invaluable to my understanding of the skill you were teaching. I had never encountered this before. Now I’m headed off to the workshop to try it myself. Thanks!

[@larrypahl5756]

@17:30-18:00so one simple technique; “lean (the back of the blade ) against the side that has the line” Is that what y’all heard?

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thanks for the helpful feedback. These videos are recorded live. I’m pretty sure I gave some free value before the 17 min mark…made a model of the blade, explained verbally with the model, and demonstrated the technique live by making 4-5 cuts. Then added that bit about leaning on the side of the line. Please put a little more effort into your commenting style and try to find and say something positive about the free video before the punchy negative downers. Your constructive negative comments would be received much better and I would enjoy knowing you’re watching. 👍

[@larrypahl5756]

@@EpicWoodworking thanx for the valid reminders on packaging. Thank you for the time and consideration.

[@tkarlmann]

This is a great technique. When do we get to see "The Camera Lady"?

[@roelotterspeer6535]

For people outside of the U.S. it would be nice to inicate the measures in mm also. It's very unconvienent for us to have to convert the imperial measures into metric in our minds. It took me twice as long tot follow your video. Other than that: I learned a lot from you. Thanks!

[@rjhinnj]

Don’t listen to the naysayers. I would hire you as a shop teacher any day. Great production value and thorough explanation of why the “wobble” occurs in thin bandsaw blades. Now, if they could develop a bandsaw blade that tapers to the rear at the same kerf blade width, they would make a mint…unless they already have?? This would steady the blade so you wouldn’t have to give it a torsional force when cutting as you so perfectly described.

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thanks, I appreciate it. And I do try to have thick skin most of the time…but there are those exceptions😎 The narrower back of the blade isn’t all bad, it actually helps keep the blade from binding and over-heating, and allows for a tighter turning radius. So getting along with it using this gentle twist technique gives the best of both worlds 👍

[@rjhinnj]

That’s true, but for straight cutting and resawing, a redesign might be in order to alleviate any width discrepancy of the blade, in my mind also making for a smoother cut. Just musing! Again, great video and thanks for your reply. 👍

[@danmckeever7429]

I do some curves in my home shop and this makes sense. Well done……Dan

[@sethwarner2540]

Good demo!!I call it"RIDING THE BACK OF THE BLADE"

[@mikelongo4689]

Great Job, thanks!

[@EpicWoodworking]

Our pleasure! 😎

[@jaschatz1]

Great tip and video!

[@jimaspinii7579]

Thanks!! Super job!!

[@TheCleric42]

Great job

[@johnridgeway6718]

Terrific. Thank you

[@buzzpatch2294]

you bet- that was great- just what i needed to know- when i needed to know it

[@stephenclingerman4865]

Fabulous! Thanks 😊