WOW! I am really pleased with this new Grizzly bandsaw. I put the 1 inch blade on it this morning, Set up the magnetic resaw guide that holds the workpiece against the fence, and ran a nice piece of quilted maple through it. It was 6 inches wide, and the quilt pattern makes it tough to saw well. This saw just ate it up.
. The yellow device is called a "Magswitch". It features two sets of rollers that press against the wood keeping it in the proper position for the blade to cut. Note the pusher stick to keep your fingers away from that fearsome blade. It all worked perfectly.
Here are the results. I got six nice clean cuts of quilted maple for three instruments. This photo is a bit fuzzy but let me assure you that the wood is lovely and the cut was just right.
Here is a close up that will show you more. Nice Quilted Maple.
Here is one of my last chunks of Walnut that I have been hoarding for 35 years. It is 3 1/2 inches thick. I will soon cut it up for ukulele necks. This is the most efficient use I can figure out. I need a concert neck at the moment for that guy in Minnesota. Out of this piece I will get two reg. concert necks, Several Concert Pinecone necks and a couple of Soprano Pinecone necks. I had the entire tree at one time. I sure wish I had not sold a lot of it. It is lovely, stable and strong wood.
Finally I have made the decision. I am going to build a Kasha Baritone. I found in my stash, some lovely Sitka Spruce with some nice "Bear claw" markings. This will make a great Kasha soundboard. I will get started with the top and then decide about the body. Maybe Australian Blackwood, maybe tiger stripe Maple, Maybe Bubinga. The Bubinga kind of intriques me. Beautiful and hard wood, Might make a great instrument.
The "Bear Claw" is very hard to see in a photograph, but it comes out clearly when finish is applied. The idea is that it looks like a bear has scraped his claws across the wood. Pretty rare on Sitka Spruce, pretty special if you like it. I thought, What the hell lets spend it. I only have two more pieces.