Cutting Tapers At The Band Saw
By: Rob Petrie
In my work, the band saw is almost always a “roughing” tool, and in whatever shape I may need it to. A taper jig at the table saw works well, but making the jig can be time-consuming. Instead, I cut many of my tapers at the band saw, as you can see in the legs I cut in the photos below.
CUTTING TAPERS
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| Lay out the start and end points of the taper, then connect them. Transfer these lines across the end for visibility. |
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| Set the guide assembly 1⁄4" above the workpiece. Begin the cut from the narrow end of the taper for the best results. |
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| Finish the taper with the second cut. Smooth, steady cuts will get you the best results here. |
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| Joint the tapered faces to clean them up. Orient the workpiece so you’re jointing with the grain to prevent tearout on the faces. |
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| One or two passes on the jointer will flatten out any uneveness in the cuts and clean off the blade marks. |
Published: April 12, 2026
Topics: woodsmith 275
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