panel saw tightens up in the cut
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18 January 2014 at 6:23 pm #26143
Recently I have been having issues with my panel saw getting stuck in the cut. Its as if the wood just grabs on and doesn’t let go when the full depth of the blade goes in. I am new to using hand saws, so I am confused as to why this is happening. I tried putting oil on the blade and recutting the kerf but nothing seems to work. I am sure that its not getting pinched because I am only cutting off a few inches, so the cut-off weight is not pinching down and the last time I used my saw I cut 3 feet off a board and didn’t have any issues, that was this past fall. Could it be the cold weather? I haven’t used my saw since the temps dropped. Also I checked the blade and it is perfectly straight, no bends or twists. Any help will be appreciated.
Nathan,
a couple of questions. Are you sawing with a new saw or an old one? What kind of wood are you cutting? I bought several old saws a couple of months ago. Excited about my vintage Disston saws, getting home I grabbed up a piece of wood and gave it a few strokes. Pinched my blade right off the bat. So I read up on saw sharpening and watched Paul’s video on sharpening hand saws. I purchased a saw set and a file and went to work sharpening. When I got finished I wanted something of a challenge and grabbed up a piece of red oak. My saw went through it like butter. I was thinking about what I had accomplished and the piece of wood I had tried to cut the first day was still in my shop. I put it in the vise and about 4 inches into it, it grabbed my saw and I had to stick a chisel in the curf to get it out. I figured out that the piece of wood I was trying to cut was a piece of very green pine (construction lumber). I put it on the table saw and about half way through, it tried to stall my saw out. So it could be the wood you are trying to cut. I’m no expert on hand saws but that is my experience with saw pinch!18 January 2014 at 11:10 pm #26167You can add a bit more set to saw. Sometimes you need a little more set in softwood than hardwoods.
If saw worked before then, this sounds more like a timber issue. Just the nature of some grain configurations or wetness of timber.
Happens in softwood as well as hardwoods.
I would not use a chisel to open kerf just incase it falls out falls on yourself or chisel could damaged it’s edge if hits ground.
Cut a wooden wedge to open kerf. if doing a long rip worth having a few wedges on hand just in case you get the pinch. Oil trick or a bit a paraffin wax helps to ease friction.Nathan, Mark and Sandy are spot on with the wood issue. If your saw is pinching in only one board or boards recently purchased it’s likely the wood. If it’s doing this with most wood you are cutting then it’s likely the saw needs a bit more set.
One time I picked up some 1×1 pine and was ripping it half, about half way through I could literally see the two halves twisting in opposite directions 🙂
It’s usually advisable to let new wood acclimatize to your shop for a few weeks before using them.
Mark works for OSHA… Wedges would probably be safer. A cut proof apron and steel toe shoes…. I can laugh at that because I recenty cut my finger pretty bad doing something stupid.. I wasn’t in my shop though.. I’d post the pictures but it was nasty! Any way it looks like we are all singing from the same song book on this one. That is, if any of the conditions above are present. Do let us know if these suggestions help. Happy sawing!
19 January 2014 at 6:20 am #26183Thank you, Sandy, Mark and Dave for your replies and suggestions! To answer a couple questions, I am using a ’40s era Disston saw and I am cutting “pine” from The Home Depot. It is actually for my workbench I am trying to finish. The pieces I tried to cut are the laminated aprons. The lumber has been in my shop for about 2-3 months, but it could still be a little wet, I have been having issues with it warping after planing it square. After I made this post I cut the legs to length and had no issues at all. The lumber for the legs has been in my shop for about 6 months now. So after reading everyones replies I am going to say that the wood is to blame. I guess a moisture meter would be a good investment now.
19 January 2014 at 4:37 pm #26204Its good to know its not your saw Nathan! I have had ugly issues with boards not wanting to behave on occasions. I am about to have to re-do my workbench, the top started to bow up, and now the front apron has fractured from the stress. Good luck on finishing up your workbench, I know you will be happy when you get it finished.
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