Another useful machine, although not illustrated, is a small band saw. It is especially helpful for curved cutting like that required in making a graceful chair. After a little practicing has been done, the back legs of a chair can be sawed out almost as easily as a woman sews a seam on a sewing machine.

Many woodworkers who have had some experience in the use of band saws do not know how to twist the saw blade into three loops, which is the usual way of storing or shipping them. Hold the saw in the palms of your hands, teeth pointing outward, and allow a portion of it to rest on the floor. Let the saw form an ellipse. Place your feet on the blade and give the hands a twist inward so as to make the teeth above the feet point inward; drop the saw blade and you will find it in the three loops.

In putting the blade in place, lower the top wheel as far as it will go or sufficiently to allow the blade to be slipped over the wheels. Place the saw on the top wheel first and see that the teeth point forward and down. Then work it on the bottom wheel, revolving the wheels by hand. Next adjust the upper wheel, working the handwheel with the left hand and feeling for the tension with the right hand.

Revolve the wheel a dozen times to see if the saw blade is running in the center of the wheel rims. If it does not run true, it is an easy matter to tilt the top wheel in either direction by turning the adjusting knob in the center of the top wheel. When the blade runs true, see that the guides are supporting the blade.

The table on most band saws can be tilted at an angle when necessary by a few turns on the machine screw under the table in the back part of the machine. See that the table is firmly fastened before starting work. Set the saw guide to the proper height to allow the wood to pass under.

There are only a few safety precautions to observe in running a band saw. First of all, have a good guard on the machine. Always spin the saw around a few times by hand to make certain that everything is as it should be. Do not allow anyone to stand at the side of the machine while it is running. Be sure to keep the machine well oiled at all times.

The actual sawing on this machine requires little practice. No matter what happens, never back out of a cut; to do so may pull the saw blade off. If you get off the line, do not twist the wood but pull it towards you and start that portion of the cut over again.

Fig. 33. - Some typos of portable jig saw motors can be easily dismantled and used as electric band drills for drilling screw boles, making boles for inserting a jig saw, and other light work.

The amateur woodworker will soon master the use of the band saw if he follows the directions carefully and practices on some of the furniture designs.