Q. I have seen some new dollies that are made of titanium. Are these better than the old, tool steel dollies?
Peter Adams
Via the Internet
A. Titanium is considered a space age metal, and it has some unique properties. It is considerably lighter than steel, with the same (or greater) strength. It doesn't rust or corrode, it is non-magnetic, non-sparking, and it's probably no surprise that it is several times more expensive than steel.
I consider 3 pounds the minimum weight for a general-purpose dolly. Restricted areas inside a car will sometimes force you to use a thin dolly, which may only weigh 1 or 2 pounds, but dollies this weight are not designed for everyday use. Therefore, the lighter weight of titanium dollies is not really a benefit, but the other unique characteristics can make it desirable in certain situations.
Q. In the June '09 issue, you gave some safety hints on friction sawing. You said "use gloves, a long sleeved shirt, and a face shield." One problem: have you ever seen what happens when a glove comes in contact with a saw blade? It becomes very, very messy, quick! This can cause a loss of parts of fingers, or worse. Not a good idea!
I have been a machinist for 40-plus years, and have seen the aftermath. Gloves and a vertical saw do not mix.
John Blakemore
Lebanon, KY
A. You bring up a very good point about the use of gloves when bandsawing. For normal bandsaw operation, no sparks are thrown, and I do not recommend the use of gloves while using a bandsaw unless you are doing friction sawing.
For the record, I recommend never using gloves when using any machinery with rotating parts or cutters, such as lathes, milling machines, drill presses, or stationary disc sanders. In fact, a good friend of mine lost a finger when he was brushing chips away from a milling machine cutter with a gloved hand, the tip of a glove finger just barely brushed against the cutter, but it snagged, and in a split second, it pulled his hand in. This horrible accident made a lasting impression on me!
Bandsaws are a little different from machines with rotating parts or cutters. While there is certainly an additional risk factor when using gloves on a bandsaw, the cutting action of the blade normally only pushes down, it doesn't usually have a tendency to draw objects into the blade when snagged. Of course any part of your body that touches the blade will be cut, and bandsaw operators have to constantly be aware of the danger zone, and keep well away from it at all times!
Those who do friction sawing on a bandsaw should have a clear understanding that since they must wear gloves to avoid being burned by the violent storm of sparks thrown off by the blade, they have to work even more carefully, ensuring their hands and gloves are safely away from the blade at all times. It's similar to the guy who drives his '32 coupe at Bonneville at 150 mph, who has to take more safety precautions there than he would when driving the same car at highway speeds.