[Dan the Slingshot Man]

Hi guys. I was wondering what was the ideal saws for board cuts. I have been using a jig saw but I have been thinking about buying a band saw. Also is pine multiplex okay because it is hard to find hardwood multiplexes and they are very expensive. Thanks Dan

 

[The Gopher]

all multiplex is pretty strong, it gets its strength because each veneer layer is at 90 degrees to the last one, so there is no grain.

A bandsaw is great, my favorite powertool, but they take up a lot of room and are more expensive than a decent scroll saw. if you are only using it for slingshots i would get a scroll saw. if you are wanting a saw for more woodworking projects,a bandsaw is more versatile.

 

[ZDP-189]

A bandsaw will always cut faster than a scrollsaw. However, I find that even a thin 1/4" bandsaw blade has too large a turning radius for inside the forks and under the outside of the fork arms. Therefore, I cut stock to a manageable size with a bandsaw and then use my scroll saw top cut to profile. I cut inside radii precisely and touch up with a dremel drum. I tend to skip around the outside radii and then sand to shape on a belt sander platen. You can save time by bolting together up to about 4 layers of stock as long as your says and sander is set up for precise 90 degree angles.

I won't comment on multiplex, as I rarely use it.

 

[The Gopher]

yeah with a scroll saw you can get zero-turn blades and do whatever shapes you want. I follow the same basic steps as ZDP: rough out on bandsaw, final cut on scroll saw, oscillating spindle sander, then i go to router table for radiusing edges and fork grooves, hand sanding and off to the finishing steps.

 

[jeff_c]

So which would you guys recommend? Pine Multiplex or nice 3/4 inch poplar?