Please don't sigh

[Mozzy]

Hi all, first time, and yes you guessed in need of help. Looked around but crikey there is so much info on this tinternet thing ...sigh.

I make flat stands, well I suppose you would call it a wood slice. I use plywood and work at around 12mm thickness, cutting out a shape that looks like a slice from a tree. My Festool jigsaw though even with a clean cut blade set at around 45 degrees has great limitations in terms of what shapes I can create. They vary from say 15-25cm in length, and about half as wide, or circular with wavy edges. I then add a faux bark finish to the exposed angled edges, paint to look like bark and finally seal the stained surface of the slice with numerous coats of Liberon finishing oil. The last step is machine burnishing which does give a mirror and extremely hard finish.

I use these to display my Bonsai trees at exhibitions and the smaller slices are for accent/companion plantings. These are small pots with alpines etc. The larger slices are, or can be around 75cm long by 40-50cm wide.

What I would like to do is get around using my jigsaw and get past the limitations of it. I think, but not sure a bandsaw may be the answer.

I'd like to be able to cut a similar shape that say a natural burr or burl walnut slice may have; am I on the right thinking that a bandsaw would do this? I need to cut an angle on the edge (it looks wrong straight )as well as a random curved shape. There would be no straight cutting so a fence is of no use. I maybe thinking wrong so a nudge in the right direction would be really helpful.

I so hope I have posted in the correct section and explained myself correctly. Fingers crossed.

Mozzy.

 

[goldeneyedmonkey]

Hi Mozzy,

A bandsaw would do fine. But you would have to think about how wide the table is to see how big a shape you could cut. Most models would be OK probably, even a bench-top one would be fine. Have a look on Ebay or on Axminsters site.
But you may be better off just using the jigsaw and doing a 90° cut instead of a 45°, then get a router and using a chamfer bit to get the 45° edge on the 'stand'.

How many of these do you need to do, say per week/ month? Because if it's not too many then you may just be able to do what you want with the jigsaw and then cut/ sand out more detail by hand.

A fretsaw is another option for you... much smaller than a bandsaw and you can do more intricate work with them.

Incidentally, do you do Bonsai trees for a living? As I was wondering a while ago whether it was worth a go as a little side-line. I've had a few in the past and they've never died on me . Do you have any examples of your trees? What shows do you go to?

Good luck with it all. Cheers _Dan.

 

[moz]

Hi. Have you thought about a scrollsaw? I have a large Hegner with approximately 600mm throat. It wouldn't cope with the largest size you mention but a good scrollsaw will cut very small radii, even turning on the spot, and leaves a very good finish from the saw. Most have a tilting table to enable angled cuts but I would struggle to cut complex large shapes while holding them at 45 degrees. This one has a tilting body instead of the table which would be better http://www.axminster.co.uk/excalibur-ex ... rod816143/ . I should say I have no experience of this make so can't comment on the quality but it does have a massive capacity, large enough for all the work you mention. You would need a very large bandsaw to match that sort of throat size. Also, the smallest radius possible on such a bandsaw will be much larger with probably a 6mm blade being the smallest it would take. All have tilting tables. A bandsaw cuts very much more quickly but you wouldn't get the same quality of finish. HTH.

John

P.S. a scrollsaw can also make internal cuts which you may also find useful.

 

[Mozzy]

Thanks Dan / Moz

I'm glad now I asked. Pics later Dan.

Mozzy

 

[Boatfixer]

If you do decide the scrollsaw is the way to go then there is what looks like a good one to me for sale here - foe-sale-scroll-saw-fet-saw-t51594.html - I was tempted by it and I have no need whatsoever for one!

 

[Mozzy]

If you do decide the scrollsaw is the way to go then there is what looks like a good one to me for sale here - foe-sale-scroll-saw-fet-saw-t51594.html - I was tempted by it and I have no need whatsoever for one!

Thanks BF, I think this would have been perfect but no way of collecting from Essex. I' retired and in Somerset. Great shame; I think you are right though, this does seem what I was asking about. Typical, why wasn't it available in my own neck o the woods (hammer)

Mozzy

 

[Mozzy]

Hi Mozzy,

Incidentally, do you do Bonsai trees for a living? As I was wondering a while ago whether it was worth a go as a little side-line. I've had a few in the past and they've never died on me . Do you have any examples of your trees? What shows do you go to?

Good luck with it all. Cheers _Dan.

Hi Dan

Quickest way is probably to look at my website:

http://bonsai-passion.co.uk/

Am retired so just an enthusiast of almost three decades now. Website is for fun just as Bonsai is, well, to be fair it really is a a passion for me. Only a small sample of my trees and accents are featured; I'm trying to build the site further but keep running out of time …sigh, how did I ever find the time to work for a living. :roll: