Machining lignum.

[woodywoodwood]

Evening all.
Having read the posts about Stanley routers, and variants, and seen Derek's obscenely good looking ( but does it work??? :wink: ) router, I have decided to use one of my collection of bowling balls to make one too!
I remember some years ago cutting some particularly hard purple heart on the bandsaw, and wrecking a blade.
Does anyone have any advice for me on how to cut the piece down? It is a complete ball, so will need some careful holding , or an edge planing to it, before cutting on a machine. Or should I handcut it?
I'd rather not wreck any other blades. I have a few bowling balls; should I use one that looks like it has a lighter coloured section, or just use one with all heartwood?
Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks guys.
Www
PS - I believe the wrecked blade was caused by the hardness of the wood, rather than poor practice. I use a bit of purple heart, and this bit was something else. It was like metal!

 

[Racers]

Hi

I have machined LV with a band saw, flat bits, planes etc.

Mallets by Racers, on Flickr

I made a clamp to cut flat on bowling balls.
Ball-o-matic 2000 by Racers, on Flickr

I don't think you will have any problems.

Pete

 

[woodywoodwood]

Ah, Pete, thank you very much for your post. The clamp looks good - that's what I'll do. Can I ask whether you ever used a table saw?
I am loathe to pipper up the blade on the big bandsaw - do you think an inca 260 will handle it?
Or am I over concerned? Just do it?
Thx again
Www

 

[woodywoodwood]

Pipper?

 

[Racers]

The blade should be o/k I never had any trouble cutting across the grain with mine, I wouldn't use the table saw its far to dangerous, you will have a lot of unsupported wood it it catches it will pivot into the blade and cause mayhem.

There is a hole at the top and bottom of the Ball-o-matic 2000 to help clamp the ball.

Pete

 

[AndyT]

Pipper?

Rule 2.

 

[Racers]

Pipper?

Rule 2.

You don't talk about fight club?

Pete

 

[Sawdust=manglitter]

When I made a router plane from a Lignum bowls ball all I did was screw a scrap reference piece of wood to one side of the ball to keep it level and cut it on the bandsaw. I didn’t get any problems at all. Take a look here...
the-keeper-router-plane-wip-t109785.html

 

[woodywoodwood]

Thanks folks, will post some wip's when I go for it.
I have the Dakota pro grip resaw jig. It is the right angle clamp thing that slides across the BS table. I might give that a go. Hhmmm.....