Cutting fiberlgass??? (sight window)

[skeaterbait]

By nature I am a pretty lazy individual about some things, changing my bandsaw blade is one of them, I find it tedious and a nuisance. So I was wondering, would cutting my sight window using a Portaband saw work ok? I wasn't sure if the slower speed would be more prone to splintering the fiberglass.

[skeaterbait]

I guess I should paint the picture a bit better. I have the Portaband set up on a DIY table for cutting knife blanks so I won't be free handing the saw to make the cut.

[kennym]

I'd try it on a scrap and see.  I have an air cutoff tool I made a slide miter out of for it. Lots of dust tho, so now I have a vac system that gets all the dust.

[skeaterbait]

I thought about that but I have a nasty habit of throwing stuff out right before I need it. Such as my old bandsaw blades that went out about two weeks ago when I was cleaning the garage. I also have an irritating "gift" of needing/wanting something and buying right before it goes on a killer sale.

[kennym]

Better back up here, missed the part about cutting the sight window.  I don't cut that with a cutoff tool, I use the tablesaw. ..

Only cut part from each side (back and belly)  so it doesn't tear out.  This way I can use a carbide blade without spending $150 on one for the bandsaw....

Oh, and I put an old blade on there cause I love a sharp blade for cutting other stuff and glass will take the new edge off a 10" blade too...

[skeaterbait]

Thanks Kenny. Can you explain a bit more what you mean "Only cut part from each side (back and belly)..." My brain doesn't always picture things correctly.

[kennym]

Don’t cut clear thru so you aren’t pulling the glass away from riser. I also stand behind the saw so I can see what I’m cutting.

BTW I’m not recommending doing it this way... lol

[skeaterbait]

If you are saying it could be considered a safety hazard then perhaps it would be best if I have a beer or two to steady my nerves....  Don't try this at home

[Forwardhandle]

Lonnie on that same bow your making I just cut mine in with this style Japanese razor saw I cut the ruff shelf to proud of the line then cut at a angle to the corner of the shelf tell I could get a rasp or file in to open it up and used the small oscillating drum to finish I didnt want to mess up any band saw blades and the hand saw was fast & easy Im to chicken to try Kennys method   

[Bvas]

I do mine similar to kenny. But I use a radial arm saw and cut all the way thru on one pass. I put my overlays on first, and cut so that if there is tear out from the blade it will be on the overlay side. The radial arm allows you to work on top, to better see what’s going on.

[kennym]

I do mine similar to kenny. But I use a radial arm saw and cut all the way thru on one pass. I put my overlays on first, and cut so that if there is tear out from the blade it will be on the overlay side. The radial arm allows you to work on top, to better see what’s going on.

 

[C. Johnson]

I do mine similar to Yellowwood.  Except I use a hacksaw with a bimetal blade.  At hand cutting speeds, these blades laugh at fiberglass and I don't have to deal with the smoke and squealing that comes from cutting glass with a bandsaw.  I also glue my overlays on first so tear out isn't a concern.

I cut it out as close as I can and then finish it out with the spindle sander, files, and sand paper.

[monterey]

When I built my first bow I had few power tools and my solution to cutting limb profiles and sight windows was to bend a hacksaw frame to a 45* angle to keep the frame out of the way and have at it.  It's pretty fast and roughs out well enough.  Next comes a farrier's rasp for "final" rough shape.  A farrier's rasp is your friend or enemy.  Just depends, literally, on the angle of application.

[jess stuart]

I have always cut the window in before glue up, just wrap the cut out in plastic wrap and pop it out after the bow come off the form.  Have never had one stick on me it does predetermine which limb is upper and lower is the only possible drawback but, has never been a concern.

[bigbob2]

I use an old blade on my bandsaw, wouldn't take any more than 3 minutes to change over. I only use bimetal woodcutting 4 tpi blades and even when blunt as, still eat the shelf cut.Unfortunately , being like Roy old and senile[ ] one day I forgot which blade was actually on the machine and began cutting through glass with a brand new $50 blade! Very quickly I had two blunt blades for cutting glass and none for wood work!.

[skeaterbait]

I expect I will just create a "new" dull blade to keep on hand for glass. Fortunately I am still using the $20 Grizzly blades so it won't hurt quite as bad.

Thanks all for the input.

[EwokArcher]

I use table saw the way I picked up from one of the Kenny m build alongs then finish with the belt sander.