6 Tips for Cutting Shapes and Curves with a Bandsaw

It’s never too early or too late to get involved with woodworking and age does not have a direct correlation to skill, as we have recently seen with one of the youngest members of the Forest 2 Home community.

Annalee is only 14 years old, but has already become a seasoned maker with significant skills in building tables, cutting boards, benches, and more. Check out her projects here. Pretty impressive, right?

Annalee dedicates much of her free time to woodworking and has picked up several tricks in the workshop. One of her favorite tools being a bandsaw. She loves to create funky curves and unique shapes to add flare to her projects.

Interested in using a bandsaw with your next project? Here are 6 tips for you to test out curves and shapes with your bandsaw for your next project.

1. Set Up Your Bandsaw

In order to get a clean and smooth cut with your bandsaw, you need to be able to change and set up the blade properly, as well as know how to tune the blade. Also, to create curves and smaller shapes, you should have a thin blade. If you are unsure about setting up your bandsaw, watch this how to video.

2. Transfer Your Funky Cut Lines to Your Material

If you are making up the shapes and curves as you go, you can just draw right on your material with a pencil. If you are a woodworker who plans in advance, there are several transfer options, but our favorite is the Pencil / Graphite Transfer.

3. Downsize

It can be very challenging to maneuver a large bandsaw as well as bigger pieces of hardwood, so we advise taking your big sheets and cutting them into smaller manageable sections.

4. Tight Curve Relief Cuts

Make a straight cut up to the line in the waste part of your material, and back the bandsaw straight out. Do this everywhere that looks like it could make the blade bind. Doing this will keep the waste material out of the way and your blade won’t be forced to drift off line.

5. Cut on the Outside of Your Line

You can always clean up your edges, but you can never get the product you already cut off back!

6. As You Turn the Material, Always Move the Cut Forward

When cutting curves, don’t turn the material unless you are also pushing forward as you make the cut. If your cut is drifting off the line, turn the saw off, back your material out (after the blade has stopped moving) and start the cut over.

Happy woodworking!

Do you have any tips to share with our woodworkers on using a bandsaw or another favorite tool? Let us know by emailing us at marketing@forest2home.com or on social @ShopF2H.