Here's a fun project that happened this week. Joe booked a mentoring session to make some interesting cuts on the bandsaw. The plan was to replicate those live edge discs sold on Etsy and other home stores. They're to be used at his son's wedding this summer.

Cutting logs on a bandsaw is made safe through the use of some disposable plywood jigs. Round objects can travel during cuts and become quite dangerous. By attaching the log to a jig with screws, the piece is kept from rotating. Any movement can create binding of the blade or throw the piece.

As the piece is cut, using the fence as a 1" thickness reference, the jig is cut as well. As the piece gets smaller, the screws holding it in place were taken out as we got closer to the blade. It's important not to forget to take out the screws and check for other screws in the plywood base before cutting.

The final product after being treated to prevent checking and splits.

The pieces brought in were two species, Doug Fir and Cottonwood. Both soaking wet. The Cottonwood didn't agree to being cut while wet and expanded, slowing the blade throughout the cut. On the other hand, the fir logs cut quite easily. Since it wasn't safe to cut the Cottonwood logs, there are two more jigs that were donated and available to the community. You can find them near the big bandsaw.

*Don't try this at home. Try it at IsGood and have a mentor check over your setup prior to cutting.