Soud advice

Grr I wish the edit function would work properly! I meant 'Sound advice' of course.

I will probably wait on a good deal/opportunity to buy a bandsaw. Until then , the jigsaw or a friends bandsaw will have to do. I am in no rush

Then when routing, you have to work away quite a bit more material, so I take my time and use several passes before my routerbitss' bearing touches the template. Only then I go a few mm deeper and repeat the process

@koendb
I think the advent of affordable CNCs has widened the range of cutters available these days because having to pre-cut a blank and hog out material with a drill before you stick it on the CNC would nullify much of the advantage. Something I want to try is to use a hogging bit (designed to clear material like it's going out of fashion) with a bush guide to take out most of the material and then use a nicer bearing guided cutter for the final count.

When I see people hogging material out with Forstner bits on a pillar drill before routing I always think it seems a bit silly to use a 350 watt drill so you don't put too much strain on your 1400W router!

Hi Koendb and Jonathan, great to meet you both.

I finally managed to find a Record Power bandsaw, the BS350S so have ordred that. Stocks of the machines seem to be trickling into the country now. I've gone for as big a saw as I could afford to try and make it future proof for me. Hopefully it will serve me for many years to come.

I always think it seems a bit silly to use a 350 watt drill so you don't put too much strain on your 1400W router!

I think the idea there @jonhodgson is to lessen the strain on the router bits so they stay sharp longer. 

Record Power bandsaw, the BS350S 

That’s a sweet saw @hursty, great job! That was the one I was considering but as my family all chipped in for my Birthday I went up to the Sabre 350, cuz why not, right? 😂

@mattbeels with the price of quality forstner bits I'm not sure that's a saving.

I'm thinking of trying one of these for bulk removal.

https://routercutter.co.uk/up-cut-3-flute-roughing-spirals-metric-eu

You’re probably right @jonhodgson but since that’s the way Dan Erlewine does it, many will follow. 🤷🏼‍♂️ 

Cheers @mattbeels.

I was originally considering the BS250 but managed to push it to the BS350. I'm pleased I pushed the budget a bit on this. Yes absolutely if you can get the Sabre it's definitely worth going for those upgrades! You have a good family. We will be making tons of man glitter. 😀 

We will be making tons of man glitter. 😀 

Totally @tej! 

I was going to buy the 350S myself but then I fell in love with the Sabre and as my birthday was approaching I thought I’d try to wrangle them up for a group gift as it previously worked for my 30th and 40th. So I then *carefully* proposed the idea for the Sabre and to my surprise (and eternal delight) they came through! (Luckily I have a big family 😆!)

Unfortunately it’s been sold out for a couple of months and the date keeps getting pushed back 😭😤, currently it’s due back in stock on May 10th 🤞🤞

I think you definitely made the right choice to get the 350S, you’ll be right pleased I’m sure as these RP saws get great reviews. They outperform the others in their class plus have that sweet 5 year warranty. 

Ooops, I meant @hursty! D’oh!

Sorry @tej...

That's one sweet gift @mattbeels . 😀 

I had a similar problem with stock of the 350S. Apparently its something to do with shipping being delayed out of China.

I think stocks are starting to drip through though. The place I've ordered mine from got 5 BS350s in just this week. I'm sure there will be some Sabres coming through soon. 

Fingers crossed for you! 😀 

Sorry @tej...

@mattbeels it’s fine, suppose it’s ok for  someone else asks questions too 😛

Hi

  Can be done with a deep reach coping saw with a skip tooth blade. 3-4 tpi. I have done it before on 2 inch thick mahogany tops when my bandsaw broke.