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Hi all,

I'm finding myself using more and more Abalam for client inlay. In the past, I've just been using my bandsaw that I use for wood to cut the sheets to the size I need and I didn't really worry too much about it but I'm finding that shell is much worse for the blades than I had anticipated.

I'm looking for suggestions on something relatively cheep that I can buy to cut these sheets to size that also has relatively cheap blades. My thoughts so far are either a cheapie scroll saw or one of those tiny band saws, 9" that sit on a table top.

9" Band saw is front runner now because I already have an ancient dremel scroll saw and it works like absolute crap for this purpose and I'm working under the assumption that a modern version of a cheap scroll saw will be just as crappy.

The cut quality doesn't have to be that great but it also can't be absolutely terrible. Thin kerf is good so I don't waste too much Abalam. I'm ok with sacrificing some hardboard as a backer board to prevent chip out on the back side.

Any thoughts?

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Why not use your CNC machine and dental burrs?

Small band saws are primarily material wrecking toys.. They are almost useless for doing any actual work that requires any sort of precision. About all they are useful for is light very rough work.

My first thought is a high end scroll saw. I have used a few - the Dewalt units at the local working clube were fantastic. I grew up doing wood working on a cheap dremel/home store scroll saw - and the professional units make it look like a toy. They have plenty of power, great guides, a fully tilting table, variable speed... I used the good ones to cut aluminum and even steel plate and they did great.

For me, inlay and Knew Concepts go hand in hand, if you're doing it by hand. Of course this is a bit pricey, but has as thin a kerf as you want, and blades are disposably cheap.
http://knewconcepts.com/power.php

Of course you can get a non-powered version for a fraction of the cost, but I don't think that's what you were looking for.

Holy smokes.....that is awesome!

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Pat

Not wanting to be arguementative, but my experience, at least of using a 10" Axminster bandsaw, for 7 years, resawing hardwood (maple, walnut, mahogany, sapele) up to 4" with a bi-metal blade is that I have had no problems with accuracy.
The problem with these smaller bandsaws seems to be the blades. When I changed to using the bi-metal blades, accuracy, finish off the saw and blade life improved tremendously.
I have only ever replaced blades, bearing guides and one set of tyres.
Even resawed a thicker pair of sides to get 2 sets.
Just my $0.02
P.S. Can't say for 9" bandsaws....

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I could just use an end mill like I do when inlaying but that doesn't solve the problem. The idea is simply to roughly cut strips of the abalam to prep it for inlay duty. The strips or sheets or whatever you call them are glued to a backer of MDF for cutting the inlay itself. This can be done while the machine is busy with other work.

From what I'm picking up here, it seems like anything decent will be rather pricey. Perhaps burning through bandsaw blades might be the cheapest solution?

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

We use inexpensive 9" Delta band saws set up for dedicated operations surprisingly accurate and vibration free. I suggest you send Chris Paulick a message the blades he uses in his videos seem to cut Ablam like butter while leaving a finished edge.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

I've got an old Craftsman tabletop 3 wheel bandsaw that I use quite a bit for that type of cutting. I think it works fine, but I don't have much experience with really good tools. The max depth is only 3", but that's plenty for abalam.

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

These make VERY clean cuts...

http://www.proxxon.com/us/micromot/37070.php?list

I've found a number of small bandsaws on Craigslist for under $100 so I'm going to give that a try. My guess is it will be good enough.

thanks!

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

I have a 9" bandsaw fitted with a fine tooth blade.
I ran a thin board into the blade and affixed the board to make a zero clearance insert.
It works great for shell and small thin pieces.

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

Have you thought about a small wet saw? I assume most of your blanks you need are square or rectangular... something like thishttps://www.prosourcecenter.com/product/2306/qep-60089-master-cut-portable-tile-saw-7-inch/?Item=30614&gclid=CjwKEAjw_PfGBRDW_sutqMbQsmMSJAAMpUap447uus2iKAATbxT2qWTh8QXLY0Xc9FWQZezH7qdolRoCBGLw_wcB

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Check out Micro-Mark. They have a small table saw that might do the trick.