Woodstock M1113 - Manual (Page 27)

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M1113 18" Wood/Metal Bandsaw
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Workpiece Inspection
(Wood)
Some wood workpieces are not safe to cut or may require
modification before they are safe to cut.
Before cutting wood, get in the habit of inspecting all
workpieces for the following:
• Foreign Objects (Figure 36): Nails, staples, dirt,
rocks and other foreign objects are often embedded
in wood. While cutting, these objects can become
dislodged and hit the operator or break the blade,
which might then fly apart. Always visually inspect
your workpiece for these items. If they can't be
removed, do NOT cut the workpiece.
• Large/Loose Knots: Loose knots can become dis-
lodged during the cutting operation. Large knots can
cause blade damage. Choose workpieces that do not
have large/loose knots or plan ahead to avoid cut-
ting through them.
• Wet or "Green" Stock: Cutting wood with a moisture
content over 20% causes unnecessary wear on the
blade and yields poor results.
• Excessive Warping: Workpieces with excessive
cupping, bowing, or twisting are dangerous to cut
because they are unstable and can move unpredict-
ably when being cut. DO NOT cut excessively warped
wood.
• Minor Warping: Workpieces with slight cupping can
be safely supported if the cupped side faces the
table or fence, as shown in Figure 37. On the con-
trary, a workpiece supported on the bowed side will
rock during a cut, leading to loss of control.
Figure 36. Choosing wood without
embedded foreign objects embedded.
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Figure 37. Cutting wood with minor
warping.
Because of its unpredicatable nature, use extreme
caution if cutting warped stock. The difference
between acceptable and unacceptable warped stock
varies from machine to machine. If you are in doubt,
square-up the stock first or do not cut it.