Anyone with a bandsaw in Eastern MA or RI?

[Norman Bernstein]

Hi,

I'm doing a bit of planing ahead, on my Ellipticat project (http://www.marisystems.com/ellipticat), and need a bit of help.

After I've finished the decking, I need to build the coaming for the cockpit. The coaming curves on a 24" radius for part of it's length, so it will be steam-bent (using the same form I built to laminate the curved carlins). I'd like the coaming to be at least 1/2" thick, or a bit thicker, so I'm anticipating building it as a lamination of 1/4" thick planks... probably out of white ash, since it steams and bends well, and doesn't have the gluing problems that white oak does.

However, I don't have a means of resawing, since I don't own a bandsaw. I could afford a fairly decent bandsaw, like the Grizzly 14"... but owing to the tiny garage that I call a 'shop', I really don't have the space to store it. As it is, I have to move my disc sander / router table out of the garage when I want to work on the boat.

I buy my hardwood from Downes and Reader here in Stoughton, MA, and they will do custom millwork, but only to surface and edge rough lumber; they don't do resawing.

I also need to use a bandsaw to rough-shape the lamination which will become the tiller for the boat.

If there's anyone within reasonable driving distance of eastern MA (Boston to Providence or thereabouts) who 1) has a good bandsaw, 2) has some experience resawing, and 3) might be willing to spare an hour or so to resaw a few boards with my help, for me, I'd greatly appreciate it! Contact me privately, if you like.

[Ken Hutchins]

I'm about an hour and a half north of you, if you can't find anyone closer. The other option is buy the band saw and put wheels under it, you will find it to be the most used tool in the shop (driveway). Also 1/2 inch Ash should bend OK to a 24 inch radius, no need to laminate.

[ 01-13-2006, 10:29 AM: Message edited by: Ken Hutchins ]

[Norman Bernstein]

Thanks for the offer, Ken... I might just take you up on it, if I can't find anyone closer.

Although 1/2" ash would take the bend, I'm trying to be conservative about it... laminating the coamings from two 1/4" planks would increase the chances of success immeasurably, and preclude having to beg the use of a bandsaw a second time! smile.gif

Besides, I like the look of laminations!

If I DID buy the bandsaw, I'd HAVE to put wheels under it. As it is, I have to move everything and anything, each time I work on the boat... the boat itself more or less fills the garage (the design was chosen specifically because it was the biggest thing I thought I could fit, in there).

[ 01-13-2006, 10:38 AM: Message edited by: Norman Bernstein ]

[abe]

You are welcome to use the bandsaw here, located just off RT 495 about 600 yards from the Mass border and 6 miles east of Rt 93. I just resawed some nice cherry and have the new 1/2" resaw blade installed. Should not take long to do. If we can convince Ken to join us (he know's where we are located), the job should be done in 1/2 that time.

May I suggest a resaw to around 3/8" and then we can run it through the thickness planer. Have a new Dewalt that leaves a nice finish.

Will be around here all weekend. I can e-mail directions if you wish.

abe

[Norman Bernstein]

Abe,

Thanks for the offer... have already emailed you that Ed Harrow has also offered, and he's closer... but I'll hold your name in reserve in case for any reason Ed can't help!

I had figured on buying 4/4 ash and having the local dealer S2S/R1E for me... which would leave 3/4", and after resawing, nearly 3/8". I'd leave one face of each piece rough-sawn, for gluing, so there would be no need to plane it further. I'm hoping to be able to select some vertical grain pieces; Downes and Reader allows customers to rummage through the stacks, but it's sometimes hard to find pieces with the right grain pattern.

I'm about two weeks away from needing the resawing help, by the way... need to finish the teak decking first.

[ 01-13-2006, 01:28 PM: Message edited by: Norman Bernstein ]

[Stephen Hutchins]

Another way to resaw small(ish) dimensions is to jack your blade all the way up on your table saw and run the board through, then flip it and run it again, and plane it.

[Norman Bernstein]

Another way to resaw small(ish) dimensions is to jack your blade all the way up on your table saw and run the board through, then flip it and run it again, and plane it. I've done that numerous times. However, my table saw is a big-box-store 'cheapie' and lacks the power or precision to do a good job of it... and the coaming might need to be wider than the width I could re-saw on my table saw.

[abe]

Well yes, Ed is closer for you by a long shot. If for some reason his Delta should suffer any mechanical problems, you are both invited to see what me and Mr. Iturra(Thanks to Ed) did with my Jet!!!

I had figured on buying 4/4 ash and having the local dealer S2S/R1E for me... which would leave 3/4", Had to think about S2S/R1E for a minute. Around New Hampsha we use the short hand version and say S3S. Have a dealer up here who gets top dollar from the weekend woodworkers for pine boards advertised as finished S6S. :rolleyes:

Good Luck
abe

[ 01-13-2006, 03:51 PM: Message edited by: abe ]

[Christopher Locke]

Amazon is selling Delta's entry level bandsaw for $89. I bought one. Not sure if it is up for what you need to do. It is pretty lightweight and can be mounted on a work table, so moving it around is not a challenge.

[Norman Bernstein]

Amazon is selling Delta's entry level bandsaw for $89. I bought one. Not sure if it is up for what you need to do. It is pretty lightweight and can be mounted on a work table, so moving it around is not a challenge. I suspect you're referring to a 10" bench-type bandsaw... great for hobbyists working on small things, but no where near what's necessary to resaw a 6" wide board, 10 feet long! :D

I don't know what Delta or Jet are getting for their 14" bandsaws, but the Grizzly is a bit under $400, delivered (3/4HP version).

[Bill Thompson]

Abe,
In your reply you mentioned that you have a Dewalt planer - which model did you buy?
Bill

[Bill Thompson]

Norm,
I have some of the same problems with space that you do - all of the cabinet tools and benches have to be moved out from their garage hiding spots in order to do any work. Then of course moved back when I finish up. For a number of years, I think, Bob S over in Seabeck has done a lot his work out of doors and under tarps. (I bet this 25 days of rain (with no end in sight) has been a bugger for him.) Some day I hope to get enough space for a proper work shop.
Bill

[abe]

Bill, The DW735 planer was a selected because I had read some good reviews about it.

DeWalt DW735 (http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_detail.asp?productID=5935)

Now that I have had a chance to use it, I would recommend a set of ear plugs, and a good dust collection method (the hose and cloth barrel cover they supply is OK if your outside the shop). Get the mobile stand as it almost too heavy for one person to move. Get the outfeed tables as well and then your looking at about $650.

Other than a few gripes, it does the job. I have run a few hundred board feet of mixed hard and soft woods: cedar, bass wood, douglas fir, cherry, African mahogany and white oak with great results.

abe

[Bill Thompson]

Thanks, Abe, for the reply. I've looked at that DeWalt model and it looks like the stoutest of the bench top units that I've seen. Where was the review of the planers?

[Steven R]

Norm,

Check with Tublehome Boat Shop (http://www.tumblehomeboatshop.com/) in Kingston. Reuben has a "industrial-strength" bandsaw that he may be willing to let you use if you were to make a donation to the Mass Bay Artisans Association, which he heads up.

Ellipticat is going to look nice on Massapoag ;)

[Norman Bernstein]

Ellipticat is going to look nice on Massapoag It might...but it won't.

I HATE lakes.

Something about stagnant water... I'm not quite sure what. Even if it wasn't the stagnant water, it would be the winds, which are flukey and highly variable. On the very first boat I ever built, nearly 20 years ago (Bolger's 'Gypsy'), I sailed out to the center of Massapoag in light breezes and warm sun... only to have it change in about 30 seconds to 20+ knots and whitecaps... it was all I could do to fetch up on the nearest shore!

No, 'Ellipticat' will reside near the 'big' boat, in East Greewich Bay, on the west side of Narragansett Bay. It's a delightful area for a boat like Ellipticat... plenty of room, fair protection, lots of places to beach her, should a squall occur.

[Steven R]

That was just a lame attempt at being funny. I've done the triathlon a few times on Massapoag and by August the lake has a funky smell to it and is rust colored. Could never figure how people swim in it on a regular basis.

A buddy of mine took his O'Day Daysailer on Massapog for the first time last year and grounded out in the middle of the lake. Of course, if he had paid attention to the buoy's...

I like the looks of Eliipticat. It'll look much better on East Greewich Bay than on Massapoag.

[Jim Fitz]

Norman,

My shop's close by in Norwood and I have the equipment to handle your needs. I'd be happy to help but my schedule's pretty tight so it would have to be some night or weekend. Drop me an email and we can see if something can be worked out.

Jim

[Norman Bernstein]

A buddy of mine took his O'Day Daysailer on Massapog for the first time last year and grounded out in the middle of the lake. Of course, if he had paid attention to the buoy's...

Yup, there's a shallow spot, usually marked by four white bouys, on the eastern side. The rest of the lake is actually fairly deep, though... 40' or deeper in some spots.

I agree, it's not the cleanest water. It's really not a natural lake; 200 years ago, it was a bog from which iron ore was mined. They eventually dammed it up and created the lake, although the recharge sources are just a couple of very small streams, so there's not much water flow.

It's also too small for the Ellipticat; I'd cover the longest dimension of that lake in 15 minutes or less.

[Tom M.]

Norman, it sounds like you have everything worked out. But if anyone's wondering what to do when you can't find friends with tools, do what I've done for years: Become friendly with your local cabinet shop, find a college with a woodshop that'll let you use it for a fee or, my favorite, the retirement community that allows the public to use their communal workshop for a donation. Those old fellas keep their blades sharp smile.gif And you might even pick up a tip or two from them.

[Norman Bernstein]

Those are excellent tips, Tom... I hadn't thought of that. I'll check around for future reference. For now, it looks like Jim Fitz is the closest, and I'll hopefully be able to prevail upon his help sometime next week.