How to Cut a Right Circular Cone With a Band Saw

Bandsaw blades come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

A bandsaw is a machine that rotates a continuous band of serrated metal at high speeds. The metal blades are often removable, allowing woodworkers to choose the blade that best suits their tasks. Highly sophisticated serrated blades are optimized for faster cutting with minimum wear and tear. The band of serrated metal is stretched taut and part of it is suspended in the air, providing a continuous cutting edge. Because of their thin blade and continuous cutting action, bandsaws are preferable for cutting curved or irregular shapes.

Things You'll Need

• Bandsaw
• Wooden cylinder
• Ruler
• Plane

Instructions

1. Measure the radius of the cylinder. The radius is needed to calculate the height of the cylindrical cone.

2. Mark off a line separated from the base of the cylinder by a distance equal to the radius of the cylinder.

3. Use the bandsaw to cut along the line. You will now have a cylinder twice as wide as it is tall.

4. On one flat edge of the cylinder, mark the center point. You will be cutting the wood to form a point at this mark.

5. Cut a thin groove on the cylinder along the center mark and slice down so that the blade comes out of the wood exactly at the opposite edge of the cylinder.

6. Rotate the cylinder by a small amount and repeat step 5.

7. Keep rotating the cylinder and slicing down until the wood is very near to a cylindrical shape. It will still have a few edges.

8. Pass the plane over any edges on the side of the cylinder until it is smooth all around.

Tips & Warnings

• Always wear eye protection while operating a bandsaw to keep sawdust out of your eyes.

• Keep your fingers away from the blade of the bandsaw. Bandsaw blades can twist bones and rip through tendons instantly.

References

• Power Tools: Band Saw

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish