09-24-2015, 09:06 AM
Hello,
I'm working on building the American Trestle Table from the Autumn '06 Woodworking issue. I purchased two large pieces of 5/4" Walnut, about 19"x85". I'm trying to sort out my strategy to make the top.
I'd like the top to finish out at about 32" wide, by as long and thick as possible.
I have a 6" jointer and a 15" planer, so that won't help me.
I have an 18x36 drum sander. I may be able to run the single pieces through the sander, but I doubt I'll be able to run the full top through.
I also have hand planes, although I've never flattened a board entirely by hand.
I can think of three ways to do this:
1) Use a fore plane with an 8" radius iron to knock down the high spots on one side of each board until they sit flat. Run them through the drum sander, flat side down, until one side is flat. Flip and run through until the other side is flat and they are consistent thickness. Joint one edge on each, glue them up, and finish them with planes/sanders.
2) Surface both both entirely with handplanes. If I understand the process, I would use the fore plan across the grain to get it flat on one side, then use the jointer at first diagonal then across the grain, then finish with a smooth plane. My question here is on order of operations - how close should I get each board before gluing up? Is it easier to just get both boards flat, then glue, then use the jointer to level them? Or is it easier to get each board flat and to uniform thickness, then glue up?
3) Glue up boards, and take to the lumber yard and have them run it through their wide belt sander.
One last question - the boards have a bit of checking on the ends. Not sure yet if I'll be able to cut it off or not. What's the best way to address this?
Thanks for any and all suggestions!
I'm working on building the American Trestle Table from the Autumn '06 Woodworking issue. I purchased two large pieces of 5/4" Walnut, about 19"x85". I'm trying to sort out my strategy to make the top.
I'd like the top to finish out at about 32" wide, by as long and thick as possible.
I have a 6" jointer and a 15" planer, so that won't help me.
I have an 18x36 drum sander. I may be able to run the single pieces through the sander, but I doubt I'll be able to run the full top through.
I also have hand planes, although I've never flattened a board entirely by hand.
I can think of three ways to do this:
1) Use a fore plane with an 8" radius iron to knock down the high spots on one side of each board until they sit flat. Run them through the drum sander, flat side down, until one side is flat. Flip and run through until the other side is flat and they are consistent thickness. Joint one edge on each, glue them up, and finish them with planes/sanders.
2) Surface both both entirely with handplanes. If I understand the process, I would use the fore plan across the grain to get it flat on one side, then use the jointer at first diagonal then across the grain, then finish with a smooth plane. My question here is on order of operations - how close should I get each board before gluing up? Is it easier to just get both boards flat, then glue, then use the jointer to level them? Or is it easier to get each board flat and to uniform thickness, then glue up?
3) Glue up boards, and take to the lumber yard and have them run it through their wide belt sander.
One last question - the boards have a bit of checking on the ends. Not sure yet if I'll be able to cut it off or not. What's the best way to address this?
Thanks for any and all suggestions!