How to cut small blocks

[Banga]

Hi,

First post on here. I'm trying to cut small blocks with a mitre saw but I'm a little stuck. I'm using a toggle clamp to hold the work piece in place but the actual clamp is getting in the way of me cutting full depth. Any tips on a better way to do this? Was thinking of buying a table saw but if there's a way of doing it with my mitre saw I'd rather do that. Please check the pic.

Any help much appreciated.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

How many? if it's the odd few, hot melt glue them to pieces of scrap - it'll keep your hands and any metal away from the blade. If it's hundreds, look for a better way of doing it.

 

[Banga]

Hi Phil thanks for the reply. Yes it will be a large amount. Thanks for the tip though.

 

[Beau]

If you place a second block of equal height say 100mm to the left of the first and lay another piece of wood bridging the two you can clamp on this bridging piece further away from the blade but still have you block clamped down. Hope that makes sense but if not I will take a picture of what I mean.

 

[Banga]

Doh! Good idea. Will give it try

 

[Roughcut]

Would Peter Parfitt's gadget be any use?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkOfRZB-2CQ

 

[MattRoberts]

I'd use a bandsaw for sure. If you don't have one, might be worth looking into. I bet you could get a small benchtop one on eBay for less than £50

 

[Banga]

Thanks Roughcut will give that a go.

Matt does a bandsaw have any advantage over a table saw?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

For small work a bandsaw is much more useful than a table saw. What are you doing with all the pieces? Do they need to be 100% accurate?

 

[Banga]

I'm making some vaping mods. I made one for myself and got a lot of interest so making a run of them. Yes they need to be spot on. Making them out of blocks of bamboo. Have some router jigs made to hollow them out. Also have a drill press for the holes. Might just make a thread in the projects section.
So a bandsaw will give me 100% accuracy? Seen a Clarke bandsaw on Ebay that looks decent.

 

[MattRoberts]

A bandsaw blade drives down into the table, meaning that if anything catches, it pushes the work piece down into the table.

If anything catches on a tablesaw, it pushes the work into your face

Nice mod box. I'd definitely recommend a bandsaw for that work. I'd also look at "bandsaw box" videos on YouTube - you could make them with just the bandsaw, and avoid the need to rout out the insides

 

[Banga]

Thanks yeah aware of bandsaw boxes but really want to make them out of one piece without any glued pieces.

 

[Stanleymonkey]

If you place a second block of equal height say 100mm to the left of the first and lay another piece of wood bridging the two you can clamp on this bridging piece further away from the blade but still have you block clamped down. Hope that makes sense but if not I will take a picture of what I mean.

+1 for that idea

 

[hawkeyefxr]

ooo that looks dodgy. A bandsaw for me far far safer.

 

[Ttrees]

What timber have you got to start with ?
Are you making these from small offcuts?
It looks to me like you could do most of the work without sawing these
into small blocks.
We can't advise you on what method would be easiest, as we haven't seen what your working with.
Looks to me like a router could do most stuff shown....if not a drill and chisel
Tom

 

[Banga]

I'm working with blocks of bamboo as mentioned above. I have attached a picture but think you have to look in a computer to view it? They will be around 250mm2 to start with. The plan is to cut to size then place in a vice with a router jig on top to hollow out. I guess i could do all the router part first on the larger block then cut to size. Open to suggestions..